On 25th August 2000, a petition was submitted to the Tribunal by the International Institute for Sustainable Development requesting permission to submit an amicus curiae brief to the Tribunal (the “Institute Petition”). On 6th September 2000, a joint Petition was submitted to the Tribunal by (i) Communities for a Better Environment and (ii) the Earth Island Institute for permission to appear as amici curiae (the “Communities/Earth Island Petition”).