World Legislative Bill Number Nine
Adopted in plenary session on the 25th of June, 1987 at the Third Session of
the Provisional World Parliament, meeting at Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.A.
TO PROTECT LIFE AND NATURE ON PLANET EARTH, AND TO CREATE A GLOBAL MINISTRY
OF ENVIRONMENT
WHEREAS:
Seventeen years after the first United Nations Conference on the
Environment, held at Stockholm, Sweden, in 1970, many global
environmental problems are evident, and some of them are worsening
progressively;
There are serious problems in our world in terms of --
a. lack of industrial safety;
b. pollution;
c. improper selection of technology;
d. unequal distribution of the benefits of technological
development;
Many problems of the environment affect humanity as a whole, for
example:
a. deforestation,
b. loss of top soil,
c. acid rain and snow,
d. worsening climate,
e. increase of carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere,
f. ozone depletion,
g. toxic wastes,
h. extinction of species,
i. noise pollution,
j. degradation of mountains,
k. widespread hunger, resulting from agricultural disruptions,
l. pollution of major river systems,
m. export of hazardous wastes and pollutants to the "third
world".
The Earth is the only world we have, and environmental problems
disregard boundaries;
Most problems of the environment are supra national, and therefore
require a global or trans-national approach to identify and find
solutions to those problems of the environment which need to be
solved on a global basis, and by the Provisional World Parliament.
THEREFORE:
Article I. A Global Ministry of Environment is needed, having the urgent
tasks of:
a. identifying the major issues of environment disruptions and problems,
b. monitoring environmental dangers,
c. working on solutions to such problems on a global or transnational
scale, and
d. co-ordinating all efforts before problems and situations become
irreversible.
Artice II. Global Environmental Problems to be Solved:
1. Increase of carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere
a. Reduction in the consumption of fossil fuels;
b. Move towards sustainable solar, hydrogen, bio and other energy
sources;
c. Development of a world-wide program of re-forestation and
afforestation, with emphasis on fast growing trees having economic
value;
d. Re-mineralization of all forest lands in order to promote and
protect the healthy growth of all forests.
2. Oceans
a. Tankers carrying oil must be doubly protected, until withdrawn
from use;
b. The sewage from the cities must be adequately treated before
discharged into rivers and oceans;
c. The artic and antartic regions must be fully protected from
harmful exploitation;
d. Oceans and seabeds should be considered the property of all of
humanity.
3. Forests
a. A massive world-wide reforestation and afforestation program is
required, of properly selected trees, being careful not to upset
the eco-system;
b. People who now depend on trees for fuel should be provided with
alternative energy sources, in order to avoid excessive cutting of
trees for firewood;
c. Tree plantations along with family planning should be made part of
the Global Development Program;
4. Acid Rain
a. Pollution control measures in manufacturing must be very stringent
in order to reduce oxides of nitrogen and sulphur;
b. The causes of acid rain in manufacturing and transportation must
be brought under control and eliminated.
5. Mountains
a. High mountains, such as the Himalayas, the Andes and the Alps,
should be designated as "Areas of World Protection";
b. The uses of high mountains needs to be controlled so as to
conserve and protect both the mountain environments and the areas
downstream, which are of transnational concern.
Article III. Further Detailed Steps to be Taken
a. Demand for a total ban on testing nuclear weapons, considering that
cumulative environmental effects may be as deadly as military use;
b. Means must be developed for the safe disposal of all wastes which may
be hazardous or harmful;
c. The protection of animals and plants must be incorporated in the action
program of the Ministry of Environment;
d. Outer space operations which may threaten to harm the environment of
Planet Earth, must be controlled in cooperation with the Ministry of
Environment;
e. Cooperation with environmental organizations and governmental
authorities is needed to exchange information;
f. The Ministry of Environment should cooperate with the environmental
agencies of the U.N.;
g. Establishment of "training centers for survival" is recommended;
h. Energy conservation, recycling and energy-equivalency need to be
implemented; so that energy will be saved;
i. The oceans and seas must be protected against pollution;
j. Surplus agricultural food stocks, such as in the USA and the European
Community, should never be destroyed, but instead should be distributed
to poor people;
k. Wet-lands must be protected from industrial uses;
l. Preference should be given to the use of trains and buses as means of
public transport;
m. Nature must be protected for its unique value in the health and
recovery of humans.
Article IV. Some Guidlines for the Specific Action Program of the Ministry
of Environment
1. Environmental education at every level of society should be promoted in
cooperation with the Ministry of Education of the Provisional World
Cabinet;
2. Appropriate technology, whether large or small, should be selected for
development projects;
3. No major project should be carried out without environmental assessment
and protection;
4. Large-scale measures must be planned to control pollution, and to
protect the eco-system as the basis of human existence;
5. The establishment of an international conservation agency under the
Ministry of Environment must include the recycling of materials;
6. Human society should plan for a sustainable energy future;
7. The action program of the Ministry of Environment shall be revised at
each session of the Provisional World Parliament, and an annual report
shall be given at each session.
Article V. Creation of the Global Ministry of Environment
Within three months after the approval of this Bill by the Provisional World
Parliament, the Global Ministry of Environment shall be created. The
Environment Ministry shall have the power to supervise the determinations
and implementation of this Bill. The Environment Ministry shall be
responsible to the Provisional World Parliament, as well as to the
Provisional World Cabinet.
Article VI. Composition of the Global Ministry of Environment
The governing council of the Global Ministry of Environment shall be
composed of from 15 to 95 Trusteeship Council Members, composing a Council
of which a maximum of 32 members may come from any single continent of
Earth, and a maximum of 12 members from any single country. At no time can
more than one-third of the Council members be from any single continent.
The Trusteeship Council shall decide the form of organization and the
functions of the Global Ministry of Environment, in accordance with the aims
and specifications of this Bill, and in accordance with the Constitution for
the Federation of Earth. The Trusteeship Council shall at all times be
responsible to the Provisional World Parliament and to the Provisional World
Cabinet.