[DEFEATED] Agricultural Invasive Species Act

[Wallenburg]

"For clause 1, the word 'imperil' requires an 's' to become 'imperils'. This would allow for better tense and aspect agreement."

The definition uses "species" in the plural sense. I'll admit that it's a bit awkward, considering it is identical to the singular sense, but it checks out.

[Bears Armed]

I think I'm going to go with Advancement of Industry instead. It clearly protects the agricultural industry, and although it does not really do much to directly affect the environment, you could interpret the extreme prejudice against invasive species to have the potential of indirectly harming the environment.

Invasive species have the potential of directly harming the environment, though, and probably to a greater extent than that "prejudice" might do.
Not sure yet what the rest of GenSec would say, but I am not convinced by your argument for this change of category.

[Wallenburg]

I think I'm going to go with Advancement of Industry instead. It clearly protects the agricultural industry, and although it does not really do much to directly affect the environment, you could interpret the extreme prejudice against invasive species to have the potential of indirectly harming the environment.

Invasive species have the potential of directly harming the environment, though, and probably to a greater extent than that "prejudice" might do.
Not sure yet what the rest of GenSec would say, but I am not convinced by your argument for this change of category.

You seem to think that this proposal targets all invasive species. It does not. It only goes after those that threaten agriculture.

[Bears Armed]

Invasive species have the potential of directly harming the environment, though, and probably to a greater extent than that "prejudice" might do.
Not sure yet what the rest of GenSec would say, but I am not convinced by your argument for this change of category.

You seem to think that this proposal targets all invasive species. It does not. It only goes after those that threaten agriculture.

And you think that none of those would affect the non-agricultural environment too?

[Wallenburg]

A belated happy new year to this thread! I'm brushing the dust off this one, hoping to submit it soon.

You seem to think that this proposal targets all invasive species. It does not. It only goes after those that threaten agriculture.

And you think that none of those would affect the non-agricultural environment too?

If someone were to propose legislation to ban automatic weapons, we would put it under the gun control category, even though it would also have effects that we would expect from a global disarmament resolution. The primary purpose of this proposal is to protect and promote agriculture, even if it also has effects that could be expected from an environmental resolution. I find your argument unconvincing.

[Araraukar]

The primary purpose of this proposal is to protect and promote agriculture, even if it also has effects that could be expected from an environmental resolution. I find your argument unconvincing.

OOC: For Advancement of Industry the correct AoE for this would be "Environmental Deregulation" (there's no "Agriculture" AoE for that category). And because of that, I'm against, both OOCly and ICly, but I'll have a look at it a bit later to give constructive criticism anyway.

[San Hieronymi]

((OOC

Is there not a pre existing agency this can be tasked to rather than erecting a new one? I would also object to the first line of the preamble, I would imagine that many member states would consider agriculture a more minor part of their economy. We must think of our desert kingdoms and asteroid based nations etc. It seems unnecessary, though as it's not an active clause I suppose it's not too major of an issue.

Otherwise we might very well be able to support this ))

[Wallenburg]

The primary purpose of this proposal is to protect and promote agriculture, even if it also has effects that could be expected from an environmental resolution. I find your argument unconvincing.

OOC: For Advancement of Industry the correct AoE for this would be "Environmental Deregulation" (there's no "Agriculture" AoE for that category). And because of that, I'm against, both OOCly and ICly, but I'll have a look at it a bit later to give constructive criticism anyway.

OOC: It seems you are right. I recall thinking about tweaking the proposal to make it fit under protective tariffs, by punishing those who import infested material or invasive species with levies.

[Imperium Anglorum]

Lets have tariffs this time too, instead of just vague prohibitions.

[Wallenburg]

All OOC:

((OOC

Is there not a pre existing agency this can be tasked to rather than erecting a new one?

There is no existing committee that I could reasonably assign these responsibilities.

I would also object to the first line of the preamble, I would imagine that many member states would consider agriculture a more minor part of their economy. We must think of our desert kingdoms and asteroid based nations etc. It seems unnecessary, though as it's not an active clause I suppose it's not too major of an issue.

Otherwise we might very well be able to support this ))

Without agriculture, there is no food. Without food, everyone dies. Agriculture is pretty important, since without it there is no civilization to build anything else upon.

Lets have tariffs this time too, instead of just vague prohibitions.

With the money collected going directly to the WA General Fund.

[Aclion]

All OOC:

((OOC

Is there not a pre existing agency this can be tasked to rather than erecting a new one?

There is no existing committee that I could reasonably assign these responsibilities.

I would also object to the first line of the preamble, I would imagine that many member states would consider agriculture a more minor part of their economy. We must think of our desert kingdoms and asteroid based nations etc. It seems unnecessary, though as it's not an active clause I suppose it's not too major of an issue.

Otherwise we might very well be able to support this ))

Without agriculture, there is no food. Without food, everyone dies. Agriculture is pretty important, since without it there is no civilization to build anything else upon.

I'm sure there are sciwank nations that make food by harvesting energy for replicators.

[Araraukar]

I'm sure there are sciwank nations that make food by harvesting energy for replicators.

OOC: Forget making food out of energy, just make your whole population artificial and you only need to be able to make electricity.

[Tinfect]

I'm sure there are sciwank nations that make food by harvesting energy for replicators.

OOC: Forget making food out of energy, just make your whole population artificial and you only need to be able to make electricity.

OOC:
Don't tell them the Master Plan^TM!

[Wallenburg]

All OOC:

There is no existing committee that I could reasonably assign these responsibilities.

Without agriculture, there is no food. Without food, everyone dies. Agriculture is pretty important, since without it there is no civilization to build anything else upon.

I'm sure there are sciwank nations that make food by harvesting energy for replicators.

Oh, there most certainly are. And yet it is perfectly reasonable to recognize that most members are not like that, and to establish that as a basis for defending the agriculture industry.

[Wallenburg]

Moved to Protective Tariffs, and switched out a few clauses with new ones and a new layout.

[Whovian Tardisia]

"We agree that agriculture should be protected, and will likely support the proposal. However, increasing bio-security raises additional concerns for us. Should this pass, we will be considering drafting something to address these concerns."

[Wallenburg]

"We agree that agriculture should be protected, and will likely support the proposal. However, increasing bio-security raises additional concerns for us. Should this pass, we will be considering drafting something to address these concerns."

"What concerns might those be, and how would you intend to address them? I may be able to modify this proposal to satisfy your concerns, or to leave room for future legislation to address them properly."

[Whovian Tardisia]

"What concerns might those be, and how would you intend to address them? I may be able to modify this proposal to satisfy your concerns, or to leave room for future legislation to address them properly."

"Our worries don't necessarily concern invasive species specifically, but rather items going through customs that are of scientific or cultural importance. We worry increased scrutiny in bio-security may lead to unnecessary destruction of important samples or artifacts. Perhaps providing an exemption or conditions on how to handle these items would help, but it seems out of this legislation's scope. We feel a separate piece of legislation focused on that topic would help more."

[Kenmoria]

"2b could be constructed as an instruction to levy fines against the object in question, rather than its owners or home nation."

[Masurbia]

[*]Mandates fines on inspected goods that are found contaminated with species invasive to the area of the goods' destination,

This bothers me a bit. Putting fines on people who didn't even know they were carrying an invasive species would cause a lot of anger among travelers. Maybe a way to fix this is having people who are traveling to an area where invasive species are known to come from have to use some sort of bag to put their baggage in. I know many world travelers who do this to prevent harmful substances, or species in this case, from getting on their luggage.

[Wallenburg]

"2b could be constructed as an instruction to levy fines against the object in question, rather than its owners or home nation."

"Not really, Ambassador."

[*]Mandates fines on inspected goods that are found contaminated with species invasive to the area of the goods' destination,

This bothers me a bit. Putting fines on people who didn't even know they were carrying an invasive species would cause a lot of anger among travelers. Maybe a way to fix this is having people who are traveling to an area where invasive species are known to come from have to use some sort of bag to put their baggage in. I know many world travelers who do this to prevent harmful substances, or species in this case, from getting on their luggage.

"I will look into that. Even so, careless obliviousness does not undo the damage invasive species can cause. Perhaps individuals or businesses can avoid fines by immediately enacting extermination measures or packaging in a manner that guarantees invasive species will not escape into agricultural developments."

[Masurbia]

This bothers me a bit. Putting fines on people who didn't even know they were carrying an invasive species would cause a lot of anger among travelers. Maybe a way to fix this is having people who are traveling to an area where invasive species are known to come from have to use some sort of bag to put their baggage in. I know many world travelers who do this to prevent harmful substances, or species in this case, from getting on their luggage.

"I will look into that. Even so, careless obliviousness does not undo the damage invasive species can cause. Perhaps individuals or businesses can avoid fines by immediately enacting extermination measures or packaging in a manner that guarantees invasive species will not escape into agricultural developments."

Yes, but what extermination measures? And at what cost?

[Wallenburg]

"I will look into that. Even so, careless obliviousness does not undo the damage invasive species can cause. Perhaps individuals or businesses can avoid fines by immediately enacting extermination measures or packaging in a manner that guarantees invasive species will not escape into agricultural developments."

Yes, but what extermination measures? And at what cost?

"That would probably be up to the entity that owns the goods, as long as the measures do not endanger anyone."

[Masurbia]

Yes, but what extermination measures? And at what cost?

"That would probably be up to the entity that owns the goods, as long as the measures do not endanger anyone."

I see your point, but I am still not set on the fact that this requires individuals to have to go through these extensive extermination measures. Traveling is already hard and painful, and this is like pouring a pile of bricks onto it.

[Wallenburg]

"That would probably be up to the entity that owns the goods, as long as the measures do not endanger anyone."

I see your point, but I am still not set on the fact that this requires individuals to have to go through these extensive extermination measures. Traveling is already hard and painful, and this is like pouring a pile of bricks onto it.

"This proposal has nothing to do with traveling. It applies only to goods."