World Legislative Bill Number Three
(Enacted on 12 September, 1982, at the First Session of the Provisional World Parliament)
WHEREAS
Under Article 16, Section A - (a), of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth, all oceans and seabeds from 20 km. offshore are defined as World Territory;
The recently drafted Law of the Seas treaty among nations is contrary to and in violation of important provisions of Article 16 of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth;
The peace and security of Earth, as well as the environmental health and equitable economic development of Earth, depend in large measure upon the conditions of ownership, administration and development of the oceans and seabeds;
It is essential for actions to be taken in line with Article 16, as well as Article 3, Section 23, before undesirable and difficult obstructions and dangerous precedents are established to the contrary. THEREFORE
1. This first session of the Provisional World Parliament, convened pursuant to Article 19 of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth, gives notice to all nations and to all people of Earth that the oceans and seabeds from 20 km. offshore from any and all countries are considered to be the Common Heritage of the People of Earth, and as such are declared to be World Territory, and shall in future be owned, administered and developed as World Territory for the maximum benefit of Humanity.
2. The development and exploitation of ocean resources beyond 20 km. offshore shall be, in future, under the jurisdiction, supervision and administration of a World Oceans and Seabeds Authority (WOSA) which shall be established by the World Parliament of Provisional World Parliament, and which shall be responsible to the World Government under the Constitution for the Federation of Earth.
3. Any claims by any nation to any Exclusive Economic Zones or to any ownership of oceans or seabeds or the resources thereof beyond 20 km. offshore, are declared to be invalid and contrary to the Principle of the Common Heritage of the People of Earth, and shall not be recognized.
4. The nations of the world are requested NOT to ratify the so-called "Law of the Seas" treaty which is currently being submitted for ratification, which at numerous points violates the principle of the oceans and seabeds as the Common Heritage of the People of Earth; and are requested instead to accept the jurisdiction of the World Oceans and Seabeds Authority which is to be established by the World Parliament or the Provisional World Parliament under the terms of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth.
5. All development of the mineral, oil, food and other resources of the oceans and seabeds from 20 km. offshore shall in future be managed under the supervision, licensing and/or direct operation of the World Oceans and Seabeds Authority, so as to insure that all such development shall inure to the primary benefit of humanity as a whole, rather than to any special or private or national interest.
6. No military submarines, warships, military aircraft carriers, nuclear weapons, fissionable materials, or any weapons of mass destruction, nor any other warmaking or military equipment, shall be permitted from 20 km. offshore, and shall not be permitted transit on or within the oceans from 20 km. offshore.
7. All shipping companies, oil tanker companies, fishing companies and other companies using the oceans from 20 km. offshore, including both private and nationally owned companies, shall be licensed by the World Oceans and Seabeds Authority.
This first session of the Provisional World Parliament hereby creates a World Oceans and Seabeds Commission (WOSC) which shall work during the ensuing year to prepare the details for a World Oceans and Seabeds Authority, consistent with the terms of this bill and with the provisions of the Constitution for the Federation of Earth, and shall report back to the second session of the Provisional World Parliament with specific recommendations. The WOSC shall initially be composed of five members, appointed by the Steering Committee of the Provisional World Parliament, and shall have authority to co-opt additional members and consultants.