THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS 2001 A Catalyst for Pro-Volunteer Policies and Legislationby Diana Perez-Buck, Looking Beyond 2001 IYV is a powerful springboard, a starting point, which we hope will lead to further discussions and concrete, sustainable action in the years to come. FROM AMAZONIA’S SHAMANS LETTER FROM SAO LUIS DO MARANHAOThe document is the result of a meeting which took place in early December, 2001 in Sao Luis (MA). The event was organised by the National Industrial Property Institute. The so-called Sao Luis Letter makes 16 suggestions about how to better protect the millenial knowledge of the Indians and avoid biopiracy Shamans from 20 indigenous tribes have sent these suggestions to the Intergovernmental Committee of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, which is linked to the United Nations Organisation.