Originally an innovative initiative, The Earth Organization, an association of international protection based in South Africa, submitted TODAY 'Today a proposed resolution to the UN Secretary General asking that zoos, nature parks, reserves marine facilities and adjoining their carers, are declared illegitimate targets of war. The resolution also requires the recognition that certain deliberate actions or irreversible environmental or destruction of animal life during armed conflicts should be declared war criminals.
"Zoos and parks are becoming modern Noah's arks and allow the world to enjoy, preserve, study and better understand our biodiversity, so that a lasting solution will not be found "said Lawrence Anthony, founder of The Earth Organization. "There is clearly a duty of states to protect their biodiversity where armed conflict occurs, and the safety of installations, such as veterinarians and ecologists who care, must be guaranteed by the international community ".
Lawrence Anthony added:" We have entered an era where the extinction of species has taken on considerable proportions due to human activities. Armed conflicts are only the expression of the failure of humans to properly protect its natural environment and life forms that depend on it. "
The paper finds that the evolution of Zoos and protected areas ranging from facilities that house the wildlife attractive to the public, essential to the bastions of biodiversity and the last refuges of endangered species extinction.
The resolution also requests the presence of environmental experts in all peace negotiations and conflict resolution the United Nations. "The environment, fauna and flora are still suffering from armed conflict and must be represented in any peace negotiations," said Anthony.
Lawrence Anthony is an internationally renowned environmentalist and author well known for having saved the zoo in Baghdad during the invasion by the Coalition in Iraq in 2003.
the attention of Mr. Secretary General of the UN
APPLICATION FOR ACCEPTANCE OF A RESOLUTION USING THE MEMBER STATES TO PROTECT THE FACILITY USED IN THE PRESERVATION, RESEARCH, LIVESTOCK, TREATMENT OR THE STUDY OF WILD ANIMALS AND WILD ANIMALS IN WHICH ARE TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY GUARDS,
AS THE PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE, FLORA AND MARINE RESERVES IN ARMED CONFLICT,
AS THE RECOGNITION OF THE NEED TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF EMPLOYED PERSONS IN THESE FACILITIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL AID ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE TO POST THE PROTECTION, PRESERVATION AND TREATMENT OF WILD ANIMALS IN AN ARMED CONFLICT, AS
RECOGNITION OF CERTAIN FORMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE DURING ARMED CONFLICT AS WAR CRIMES.
The twentieth and twenty-first century saw the birth of International Environmental Law, despite the impending environmental crises and the adoption of the obligation to preserve and protect the natural environment in situ and ex situ by member states.
The devastating effect of armed conflict on programs preservation and study of wild animals ex situ is less obvious that abandonment and neglect of wild animals in captivity during armed conflict, and therefore it is requested:
RECOGNITION of the obligation of member states respect and protect the natural environment;
RECOGNITION of the obligation of states to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not harm the environment of neighboring states or areas beyond limit their jurisdiction;
RECOGNITION of the obligation of states to develop strategies, plans and programs for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including:
(i) identification and monitoring of biodiversity;
(ii) the adoption of conservation methods in situ and ex situ
( iii) the establishment of research programs and training and
(iv) engagement in public education and awareness
RECOGNIZING that the establishment of facilities for the preservation, research, livestock, treatment or study of wild animals, and in which wild animals are kept temporarily or permanently and reserves marine fauna and flora, is a legitimate expression of the obligations of the state;
RECOGNITION that the regulations of international law continue to be applicable in armed conflict;
RECOGNITION that facilities for preservation, research, breeding, treatment or study of wild animals, and in which wild animals are kept temporarily or permanently and marine reserves, fauna and flora are essential to preserving and understanding biodiversity and to protect endangered species and their destruction may be extensive damage, lasting and severe the natural environment;
recognition that states must take into account environmental considerations when assessing the means necessary and proportionate in the pursuit of legitimate military objectives, and that respect for the environment is one of the factors taken considered in determining whether an action is consistent with the principles of necessity and proportionality;
RECOGNITION specific examples of serious threats to endangered species or protected areas during the armed conflict can lead to severe injury and permanent irreversible damage and extensive on the natural environment and eventually be an environmental emergency;
RECOGNITION an intentional attack during an armed conflict in the knowledge that such attack will result in extensive damage, severe and lasting for natural environment, which clearly exceeds the overall military advantage anticipated, is a war crime;
APPROVAL of a request for a Universal Declaration of Animal Welfare on a more humane treatment of animals .
AND, THEREFORE, call the United Nations to adopt a resolution:
I. EXPRESSING interest deep on the plight of wild animals in captivity and in nature, and about the threat to wildlife, flora and marine reserves during armed conflict;
II. RECOGNIZING the need to continue research and preservation during armed conflict;
III. COMMENDING the sacrifice and courage of people who continue to protect and keep wild animals in captivity, wildlife, flora and marine reserves during armed conflict.
IV. AND CALLING member states to pass a treaty and review existing treaties to take into consideration:
BAN to use the facilities for the preservation, research, breeding, treatment or study of wild animals, and in which wild animals are kept temporarily or permanently and marine reserves, fauna and flora, for military operations of the member states during armed conflict;
BAN consider the facilities for the preservation, research, breeding, treatment or study of wild animals and wild animals which are temporarily or kept permanently as well as marine reserves, fauna and flora as military targets by the member states except where such facilities or reserves have been steadily, despite the warnings, used for military operations;
OBLIGATION member states involved in armed conflict to respect and protect the plants for preservation, research, breeding, treatment or study of wild animals, and in which wild animals are kept temporarily or permanently and marine reserves, fauna and flora;
the obligation to accord Staff working in facilities for the preservation, research, breeding, treatment or study of wild animals, and in which wild animals are kept temporarily or permanently and marine reserves, fauna and flora, status and protection equivalent to those of medical and religious personnel by the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, and to provide their identity and appointment when requested by neutral states;
OBLIGATION neutral states to cooperate to the greatest possible way with the parties in conflict to assume the responsibilities of the parties in conflict concerning cross-border natural areas in which such neutral states have responsibilities ;
OBLIGATION Security Council, peacekeeping and regional member states to include conservationists and environmental experts in the delegations whose mission is to negotiate, conclude and implement the ceasefire monitoring -fire and peaceful resolution of armed conflict;
a mandate for the Security Council to intervene in case of armed conflict, and to deploy force if necessary to prevent environmental emergencies where no this force, the result would be the extinction of a species or the irreversible destruction of a protected natural area;
RECOGNITION that the following acts during armed conflict constitute war crimes:
(i) the deliberate or systematic massacre of endangered species;
(ii) the deliberate destruction or systematic natural protected areas;
(iii) the deliberate attack of facilities for the preservation, research, breeding, treatment or study of wild animals and wild animals which are kept either temporarily or permanently, and marine reserves , fauna and flora, unless these facilities or reserves have been regularly, despite the warnings, used for military operations;
and (iv) the use of threat of massacre on the endangered species as a bargaining tool during an armed conflict.
We believe that there is no universal recognition of the value of biodiversity until a major event various animal sacrifices in wartime.
We ask the UN to seize the opportunity to adopt this call for more humane treatment of the natural environment in times of armed conflict.
Thus, 13 March 2009, a "Walk for Wildlife" was organized in partnership with Miss Earth South Africa to raise public awareness to the cause of the fauna and flora in areas of conflict. International
The Earth Organization (TEO) is already associated with Miss Earth South Africa and jointly organized a "Walk for Wildlife" at the Johannesburg Zoo in spring 2009.
According Yvette Taylor, international director of TEO, "The mission of Miss Earth beauty is to serve a cause. Our association seeks to achieve positive results and we have here the opportunity educate people to preserve our natural heritage, particularly in wartime. "
All those present signed the resolution for the protection of wildlife in war zones and Lawrence Anthony, founder of TEO to conclude:" Our group intends to change some international laws. We're engaged in a worldwide campaign for the survival of fauna and flora in conflict zones. "
