Puertollano wrote:
- Diversity of Life - It is the right to the preservation of the differentiation and variety of the beings that comprise Mother Earth, without being genetically altered, nor artificially modified in their structure, in such a manner that threatens their existence, functioning and future potential;
This right would see the prohibition of genetic engineering and artificial selection; both of which would greatly affect ongoing research in agricultural studies. This sort of research has, in the past, increased agricultural output and therefore assisted with the food supply for the growing global population. Some research has also been able to improve agricultural output with fewer inputs of toxic chemicals or less use of valuable resources, like water and land. Tree grafting, which also has use in agricultural production of fruits, would similarly be prohibited. This would more seriously affect Asian and European agriculture, where the practice is more widespread. Additionally, the term “beings” is vague; if applied to pathogenic or parasitic organisms and viruses, this would greatly affect research into the preservation of public health.
Puertollano wrote:
- Water - It is the right of the preservation of the quality and composition of water to sustain life systems and their protection with regards to contamination, for renewal of the life of Mother Earth and all its components;
This too contains vague terms. This would supposedly prevent contaminants from entering aquatic habitats, but fails to define what contaminants are. Heavy metals such as zinc, copper, and lead enter riverine and marine systems through agricultural and industrial runoff. However, many of these heavy metals are, in moderation, necessary for the growth and maintenance of aquatic species. Additionally, these compounds can be produced and released by tectonic events, which would be entirely outside of human control. The portion mandating preservation of quality and composition would also prohibit hydroelectric dams and navigational improvements, such as channeling and dredging, which are important for artificial international waterways like the Suez or Panama Canals.
Puertollano wrote:
- Clean Air - It is the right of the preservation of the quality and composition of air to sustain life systems and their protection with regards to contamination, for renewal of the life of Mother Earth and all its components;
Again, “contamination” is a vague term. The atmosphere contains a number of gaseous compounds, most notable nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide. Many of these compounds are released into the atmosphere through natural cycles, such as denitrification, decomposition, and respiration. How would industrially produced ammonium through the Haber-Bosch process be differentiated from microbe-causes ammonification?
Puertollano wrote:
- Equilibrium - It is the right to maintenance or restoration of the inter-relation, interdependence, ability to complement and functionality of the components of Mother Earth, in a balanced manner for the continuation of its cycles and the renewal of its vital processes;
- Restoration - It is the right to the effective and opportune restoration of life systems affected by direct or indirect human activities;
This right seems to contradict one another. Over centuries, many ecosystems have been affected by human intervention, resulting in greatly changed environments. To restore some of these to their earlier states now would in fact be counterproductive to the maintenance of biodiversity. Additionally, some effective methods of environmental restoration involve the disturbance or even wiping out of more recently-formed communities. Environmental restoration is also complex and difficult to predict, as inter-specific (predation, herbivory, symbioses) and intra-specific (competition) relations change entirely based on order or (re-)introduction, population sizes, and environmental characteristics. Such challenges make restoration difficult without years, even decades of research into communities and ecological systems.
Puertollano wrote:
- Live free of contamination - It is the right for preservation of Mother Earth and any of its components with regards to toxic and radioactive waste generated by human activities
The term “toxic” is again vague in this rule. Certain chemicals can be toxic to certain species of an environment while benefitting others. Some chemicals are used to selectively target invasive species, assisting in environmental restoration.
Another issue many of these rules fail to adjust for is the fact that ecosystems and environments are extremely dynamic, even without human effects. Species turnover occurs often in ecosystems, as does local extinction of parts of meta-populations. Aquatic ecosystems differ in composition and quality often, with water differentiating and storing nutrients and chemicals in separate levels according to temperature, density, salinity, etc. These rules seem to think of ecosystems as static and attempt to preserve this perceived state, which would in fact be detrimental to the environment.
Many of these issues similarly do not take into account biological and ecological conservation research, which very often includes introducing contaminants or invasive species and simulating disturbances that wipe out species in large plots for the purposes of the experiments.
We also find it pertinent to mention that many of these restrictions will selectively affect underdeveloped and developing nations.
San Martinia therefore fully opposes this proposal. We find the use of set rules to preserve the great diversity of ecosystems and habitats ridiculous and instead offer a more focused, effective endeavor on specific issues, as in the passed San Martinian Sustainable Fisheries Bill. Proposals should be on specific issues, such as overfishing as in that one, and should offer flexible solutions to fit the needs of different environments. For example, a future proposal could focus on agricultural runoff into aquatic ecosystems and regulate that. We believe this will be far more effective at environmental protection than simply attempting to protect the entire world with one bill, as the current one seems to attempt. We encourage other nations to carefully consider and reconsider their votes with this information taken into account.
