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Peace Platform
offered
by:
The Coalition for a Strong United Nations May 16, 2003
III.
THE ENVIRONMENT
As in the relationship among the earth’s peoples, there is strong
interdependence between humanity and the environment. Conservation
and economic well-being are not mutually exclusive choices;
environmentally destructive practices not only destroy the world’s
natural beauty and endanger the diversity of life, but also in the long
run undermine the foundations of prosperity. Overuse of
non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels can create international
tensions that lead to war. Documents such as the Earth Charter point out
the need for sustainable societies, meaning societies that do not draw on
nature’s resources in a way that will compromise the access of future
generations to these resources. The U. S. should:
1. Take a leading role within the UN to articulate that we must all be good stewards of the "global commons"- water, air, air waves, outer space, rainforests, oceans and agricultural land. For example, we should place oil and water, two of our earth’s most precious resources, under the scrutiny of the United Nations Environment Program and the United Nations Development Program. The public interest, rather than private gain, is clearly the highest priority.
2. Take account of the environmental costs of war, for future generations, as well as those directly impacted. This includes accounting for health costs to affected populations and their unborn children, care for refugees, cleanup of pollution, removal of landmines, unexploded bombs and weapons of mass destruction.
3. Work to obtain Senate ratification of the Landmines Treaty and commit funds to assist countries through the UN in safely removing these mines and bombs.
4. Recommit to the
international environmental treaties to reduce global warming and damage
to the ozone layer. Encourage and fund the use of renewable
resources, such as wind and solar power, and set goals to reduce
dependence on fossil fuels.
5. Encourage collaborative relationships among industries that lead to reduced wastes and reuse of materials.
6. Work with other nations to establish international standards and planning for the use of water, to assure that private enterprise does not supersede the public’s right to manage this natural resource and to assure equitable distribution.
7. Assist the UN in establishing an environmental information bank and technical assistance program on sustainable technologies for all countries.
8. Be guided by the Precautionary Principle, which states that in cases of scientific uncertainty about product or process safety, governments and businesses should take action erring on the side of protecting health and the environment. The world community must hold corporations accountable for highest environmental standards in whatever country they are located.
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