---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Great Transition Network <[email protected]> Date: Tue, Jul 5, 2016 at 3:04 AM Subject: Against Ecocide (GTN Discussion) To: [email protected]
>From Steven Freeland <[email protected]> ------------------------------------------------------- Femke's essay is a very timely and thoughtful piece that clearly outlines many of the reasons why the destruction of the environment in certain circumstances might constitute an 'international crime' that should be incorporated into the mechanisms of international criminal justice, in particular the permanent International Criminal Court (ICC). I have also argued for the inclusion within the ICC Statute of such a crime, which I have called 'Crimes against the Environment'. The rationale behind this is set out in a short opinion piece at < theconversation.com/crimes-against-the-environment-the-silent-victim-of-warfare-50215 > and in more detail in a book published last year - details at < intersentia.com/en/addressing-the-intentional-destruction-of-the-environment-during-warfare-under-the-rome-statute-of-the-international-criminal-court.html > I believe that international criminal law is one important legal tool (out of a suite of legal tools) that can be effectively utilised to address certain acts of deliberate environmental destruction. In my view, the nature and scope of international criminal law, and the role of the International Criminal Court - not to mention the politics associated with any change to that Court's jurisdictional mandate - warrant that, at least in the first instance, the crime to be included in the ICC Statute should be primarily directed towards acts that demonstrate an intention to significantly target the environment as a victim of warfare. The existing international rules relating to warfare have in practical terms done little to deter deliberate environmental destruction, particularly when measured against perceived military advantages, and these needs to be urgently addressed. At the same time, other complimentary legal tools - including national (and regional) civil/criminal law - can and should be utilised to address other instances of environmental damage that fall outside of this description, but which still warrant appropriate legal sanction. Steven Freeland ************************* Friday, July 1, 2016 >From Paul Raskin Dear GTN: Our JULY discussion will approach GTI’s overarching theme – shaping a civilized planetary future – from a fresh angle: the legal effort now gaining traction to criminalize the wanton destruction of nature. Femke Wijdekop takes this on in a new Viewpoint, “Against Ecocide: Legal Protection for Earth.” Femke introduces the idea of the “rights of nature” and the history of the concept of “ecocide.” However, her primary focus is on action, specifically, the movement to add ecocide as a crime against peace under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. Expanding the juridical architecture for protecting rights will surely be a vital prong in the systemic movement we so urgently need. But to what degree can it succeed in isolation? And what is the larger role of law and legal activism in a Great Transition? Please read Femke’s short piece at www.greattransition.org/publication/against-ecocide and weigh in with your thoughts. It will be published in August, along with selected comments drawn from the forthcoming discussion Comments are welcome through JULY 31. Looking forward, Paul Raskin GTI Director ------------------------------------------------------- Hit reply to post a message Or see thread and reply online at http://www.greattransition.org/forum/gti-discussions/176-against-ecocide/1644 Need help? Email [email protected] -- P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss: http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens; http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens
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