Ian Cox
Ian Cox is an attorney in Durban, specialising in commercial law. In recent years he has become increasingly involved in the constitutional and administrative law aspects of environmental law-making. His particular area of interest is conflict between the ‘nature first’ or biocentric perspective adopted by conservationists and the ‘people first’ or anthropocentric sustainable development approach required in terms of the Constitution. In this capacity, he has taken on both an activist and advisory role in the fight to prevent trout from being declared an invasive species, and has helped the freshwater aquaculture industry challenge attempts to unreasonably regulate its industry. He has also advised elements in the game ranching industry. In his personal capacity, he made submissions to the High Level Panel on game breeding, hunting and trade.
Articles By This Author
SA and the ICJ: a lesson from the Zuma saga
The reasoning of Judge Sebutinde in her dissenting opinion handed down in the International Court of Justice recently called to mind the stinging rebuke that
Middle East conflict: a proxy war over competing values
There are many reasons why the war between Gaza and Israel should be of interest to South Africans. One reason is that many South African
Developing the key to adapting to climate change
In days of yore, we looked to soothsayers for a glimpse of the future. They, according to the prevailing custom, rattled their bones or peered
The judgment that broke Sapref’s back
Once upon a time, South Africa had four oil refineries capable of refining 508 000 barrels of oil a day. This, along with the 150 000
When words hurt
My generation was taught to meet verbal bullying at school with the doggerel, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt
The myopia of belief
Animal welfare is governed by legislation in South Africa. However, while our animal welfare laws make frequent mention of cruelty, they do not define what
The Wild Coast judgment: science triumphs
The recent judgment refusing an interdict against Shell’s exploration 20 to 80km off the Wild Coast is interesting because the decision was based on the
The preservation of poverty
My great grandfather arrived in the Transkei in 1862 and built a mission station near the town we now know as Tsolo. But there was
Rent-seeking neo-colonialism and conservation
The American environmental historian Roderick Nash speaks of ‘wilderness’ as driving an economy made up of importers and exporters of a wilderness experience. On the
Lawmaking, and the right to public participation
The right to public participation in lawmaking is fundamental, yet South Africa’s environmental authorities have denied this right for more than ten years and show