NationStates

The World Assembly,

Lauding previously passed World Assembly resolutions regulating waste, litter, and other pollutants in the marine environment,

Understanding the crucial role oceans play in global ecological and economic stability, demonstrated by industries such as fishing, marine aquaculture, shipping, and recreation, as well as providing countless ecosystem services such as providing habitat for oxygen producing organisms,

Noting the dumping of hazardous wastes into oceans have catastrophic impacts on all of the above industries and organisms,

Aware that once dumped in ocean hazardous waste can travel great distances and have international impacts,

Hereby,

1. Defines 'hazardous waste' as:
   
   
   
   1. Radioactive substances created as a by-product of industry,
      
      
   2. Industrially produced carcinogens and waste known to be of a densely concentrated carcinogenic nature,
      
      
   3. Waste deemed chemically hazardous, either due to acidity, flammability, or chemical reactivity,
      
      
   4. Sewage or other materials containing a high level of waterborne pathogens and/or pharmaceutical compounds;
   
   
2. Prohibits the intentional disposal of hazardous waste, materials containing hazardous waste, or materials known to break down into hazardous waste into oceans or water bodies that feed into the ocean;
   
   
   
3. Clarifies that waste, once treated to remove its hazardous characteristics, is no longer regulated by this resolution;
   
   
   
4. Provides an exception to waste disposed of in an effort to mitigate an acute unforeseen situation involving the potential for the immediate loss of life, massive property damage, or national security threat,
   
   
   
5. States that the processes of subcontracting or other ways to intentionally work around the 'unforeseen' requirement above are entirely foreseen and will be treated as such;
   
   
   
6. Encourages member nations to find more environmentally friendly ways of disposing of such waste,

Co-Authored by Ransium

The General Assembly,

Lauding previously passed World Assembly Resolutions protecting the natural environments of the world from pollutants,

Understanding the crucial role oceans play in global ecological and economic stability, having a major impact on industries such as fishing, marine aquaculture, shipping, and recreation, as well as playing host to many critical oxygen producing organisms,

Noting that the state of the oceans pollution levels has a drastically negative effect on all of the above industries and organisms,

Distressed that many World Assembly Member Nations are already experiencing the consequences of damaging ocean waste dumping,

Hereby,

1. Defines 'toxic waste', for the purpose of this resolution, as the:
   
   
   
   1. Decidedly hazardous radioactive results and by-products of intentionally performed nuclear fission,
      
      
   2. Industrially produced carcinogens and waste of known densely concentrated carcinogenic nature,
      
      
   3. Waste which can be defined as an industrial chemical hazard,
      
      
   4. Uncleaned waste water and excrement (untreated sewage),
   
   
2. Defines an 'Ocean Tributary', for the purpose of this resolution, as a body of water which directly drains into the ocean,
   
   
3. Prohibits the intentional disposal and discharge of such toxic waste in any way shape or form into the Oceans and/or Ocean Tributaries,
   
   
4. Encourages member nations to find more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of disposing of such waste,

Hoping to see further legislation regarding the marine environment in regards to plastic disposal,

Establishes the above, implementing the Oceans Protection Act.

The General Assembly,

Lauding previously passed World Assembly Resolutions protecting the natural environments of the world from pollutants,

Understanding the crucial role oceans play in global ecological and economic stability, having a major impact on industries such as fishing, marine aquaculture, shipping, and recreation, as well as playing host to many critical oxygen producing organisms,

Noting that the state of the oceans pollution levels has a drastically negative effect on all of the above industries and organisms,

Distressed that many World Assembly Member Nations are already experiencing the consequences of damaging ocean waste dumping,

Hereby,

1. Defines 'toxic waste', for the purpose of this resolution, as the:
   
   
   
   1. Decidedly hazardous radioactive results and by-products of intentionally performed nuclear fission,
      
      
   2. Industrially produced carcinogens and waste of known densely concentrated carcinogenic nature,
      
      
   3. Waste which can be defined as an industrial chemical hazard,
      
      
   4. Uncleaned waste water and excrement (untreated sewage),
   
   
2. Prohibits the intentional disposal and discharge of such toxic waste in any way shape or form in the oceans,
   
   
3. Encourages member nations to find more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of disposing of such waste,

Hoping to see further legislation regarding the marine environment in regards to plastic disposal,

Establishes the above, implementing the Oceans Protection Act.

The General Assembly,

Lauding previously passed World Assembly Resolutions protecting the natural environments of the world from pollutants,

Understanding the crucial role oceans play in global ecological and economic stability, having a major impact on industries such as fishing, marine aquaculture, shipping, and recreation, as well as playing host to many critical oxygen producing organisms,

Noting that the state of the oceans pollution levels has a drastically negative effect on all of the above industries and organisms,

Distressed that many World Assembly Member Nations are already experiencing the consequences of damaging ocean waste dumping,

Hereby,

1. Defines 'toxic waste' as the:
   
   
   
   1. Decidedly hazardous radioactive results and by-products of intentionally performed nuclear fission,
      
      
   2. Industrially produced carcinogens and waste of known densely concentrated carcinogenic nature,
      
      
   3. Waste which can be defined as an industrial chemical hazard,
   
   
2. Prohibits the intentional disposal of such toxic waste in any way shape or form in the oceans,
   
   
3. Bans member nations from discharging untreated sewage into the oceans,
   
   
4. Encourages member nations to find more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of disposing of such waste,

Hoping to see further legislation regarding the marine environment in regards to plastic disposal,

Establishes the above, implementing the Oceans Protection Act.

The General Assembly,

Lauding previously passed World Assembly Resolutions protecting the natural environments of the world from pollutants,

Understanding the crucial role oceans play in global ecological and economic stability, having a major impact on industries such as fishing, marine aquaculture, shipping, and recreation, as well as playing host to many critical oxygen producing organisms,

Noting that the state of the oceans pollution levels has a drastically negative effect on all of the above industries and organisms,

Distressed that many World Assembly Member Nations are already experiencing the consequences of damaging ocean waste dumping,

Hereby,

1. Defines 'toxic waste' as the:
   
   
   
   1. Decidedly hazardous radioactive results and by-products of intentionally performed nuclear fission,
      
      
   2. Industrially produced carcinogens and waste of known densely concentrated carcinogenic nature,
      
      
   3. Waste which can be defined as an industrial chemical hazard,
2. Prohibits the intentional disposal of such toxic waste in any way shape or form in the oceans,
   
   
3. Bans member nations from discharging untreated sewage into the oceans,
   
   
4. Requires Member States to:
   
   
   
   1. Create a watch list of marine species in those oceans that may be faced with extinction or endangerment due to such existing contaminants,
      
      
   2. Report said species to the WA Endangered Species Committee,
   
   
5. Encourages member nations to find more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of disposing of such waste,

Hoping to see further legislation regarding the marine environment in regards to plastic disposal,

Establishes the above, implementing the Oceans Protection Act.

The General Assembly,

Believing the gem that is the beautiful blue expanse of the oceans must be protected,

Noting the state of many oceans across the multiverse to be dismal due to issues caused by improper waste disposal,

Saddened by the ever increasing amounts of waste disposed into the oceans,

Wishing to correct and prevent these actions,

Shocked by the lack of legislation covering this in the General Assembly,

Hereby,

1. Defines 'toxic waste' as the:
   
   
   
   1. Decidedly endangering radioactive results and by-products of intentionally performed nuclear fission,
      
      
   2. Unnatural Carcinogens and unnatural waste of known Carcinogenic nature,
      
      
   3. Waste which can be defined as an industrial chemical hazard (excluding toxic heavy metals),
2. Prohibits the disposal of such toxic waste in any way shape or form in the oceans,
   
   
3. Bars member nations from dumping plastic waste and untreated sewage into the oceans,
   
   
4. Creates the Ocean Safety Organization (OSO) to:
   
   
   
   1. Restore whatever oceans may currently be polluted by such contaminants in the Marine Biosphere Restoration Programme which:
      
      
      
      1. Shall clean the ocean environments primarily polluted by Member States with various techniques that must be applied in the given situation,
         
         
      2. Shall work only within international waters unless otherwise permitted to work within those of a member state,
         
         
      3. Shall work to improve biodiversity in oceans clean of most pollutants,
      
      
   2. Create a watch list of marine species in those oceans that may be faced with issues regarding the contaminants,
      
      
   3. Protect said species and alert states which may be directly affected by their absence or their endangerment,
   
   
5. Encourages member nations to find more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of disposing of such waste,

Hoping to see further legislation regarding the marine environment,

Establishes the above, implementing the Oceans Protection Act.

The General Assembly,

Believing the gem that is the beautiful blue expanse of the oceans must be protected,

Noting the state of many oceans across the multiverse to be dismal due to issues caused by improper waste disposal,

Saddened by the ever increasing amounts of waste disposed into the oceans,

Wishing to correct and prevent these actions,

Shocked by the lack of legislation covering this in the General Assembly,

Hereby,

1. Defines 'toxic waste' as the:
   
   
   
   1. Decidedly endangering radioactive results and by-products of nuclear fission,
      
      
   2. Unnatural Carcinogens or waste of known Carcinogenic nature,
      
      
   3. Waste which can be defined as an industrial chemical bio-hazard (excluding toxic heavy metals),
2. Prohibits the disposal of such toxic waste in any way shape or form in the oceans,
   
   
3. Bars member nations from dumping of plastic waste and sewage into the oceans,
   
   
4. Creates the Ocean Safety Organization (OSO) to:
   
   
   
   1. Restore whatever oceans may currently be polluted by such contaminants in the Marine Biosphere Restoration Programme which:
      
      
      
      1. Shall clean the oceans of the world with various techniques that must be applied in the given situation,
         
         
      2. Shall work only within international waters unless otherwise permitted to work within those of a member state,
         
         
      3. Shall work to improve biodiversity in oceans clean of most pollutants,
      
      
   2. Create a watch list of marine species in those oceans that may be faced with issues regarding the contaminants,
      
      
   3. Protect said species and alert states which may be directly affected by their absence of their endangerment,
   
   
5. Encourages member nations to find more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of disposing of such waste,

Hoping to see further legislation regarding the marine environment,

Establishes the above, implementing the Oceans Protection Act.

Oceans Protection Act

Category: Environmental
Industry Affected: All Businesses - Strong

The General Assembly,

Believing the gem that is the beautiful blue expanse of the oceans must be protected,

Noting the state of many oceans across the multiverse to be dismal due to such issues,

Shocked by the lack of legislation covering this in the General Assembly,

Saddened by the ever increasing amounts of waste disposed of into the oceans,

Wishing to correct and prevent these actions,

Hereby,

1. Defines 'toxic waste' as the:
   
   
   1. Decidedly endangering results and by-products of nuclear fission,
      
      
   2. Unnatural Carcinogens or waste of known Carcinogenic nature,
      
      
   3. Waste which can be defined as an industrial chemical bio-hazard (excluding toxic heavy metals),
   
   
2. Prohibits the disposal of such toxic waste in any way shape or form in the oceans,
   
   
3. Bars member nations from dumping of plastic waste and sewage into the oceans,
   
   
4. Creates the Ocean Safety Organization (OSO) to:
   
   
   1. Restore whatever oceans may currently be polluted by such contaminants in the Marine Biosphere Restoration Programme which:
      
      
      1. Shall clean the oceans of the world with various techniques that must be applied in the given situation,
         
         
      2. Shall work only within international waters unless otherwise permitted to work within those of a member state,
         
         
      3. Shall work to improve biodiversity in oceans clean of most pollutants,
      
      
   2. Create a watch list of marine species in those oceans that may be faced with issues regarding the contaminants,
      
      
   3. Protect said species and alert states which may be directly affected by their absence of their endangerment,
   
   
5. Encourages member nations to find more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of disposing of such waste,

Hoping to see further legislation regarding the marine environment,

Establishes the above, implementing the Oceans Protection Act.

Hi there!

I noticed you have approved a GA proposal titled "Oceans Protection Act" to get it to voting stage. I was wondering if you were aware of the issues in the proposal, which had been pointed out to the author and which they had promised to sort out prior to submitting it, but actually hadn't?

First of all, the definitions for toxic waste are far too all-encompassing, and include relatively safe chemicals as well.

"Results and by-products of nuclear fission" doesn't specify radio-activity, and indeed includes completely stable end products like lead. Also, since it doesn't mention uranium specifically, this includes all naturally-occurring radioactive materials, which are present in everything organic (carbon dating is based on radioactive carbon found in all living things).

"Unnatural carcinogens or waste of known carcignogenic nature" includes almost all fresh plants - everything from grass clippings to tobacco leaves to orange peels - because of how most plants try to protect their parts from being eaten with chemicals that, among other things, can cause cancer. Even grilled meat is a carcinogen.

"Industrial chemical bio-hazard" on the other hand just makes no sense, because a bio-hazard is a disease-causing pathogen, like salmonella, not a chemical. If it indeed bans industrial chemicals rather than biohazards, it creates a whole new level of problems.

The vagueness of the definitions - which the author didn't fix despite promising to - when taken together with "disposal ... in any way shape or form" in clause 2, create a situation where waste-water management becomes near-impossible (due to the ban on carcinogenic materials and industrial chemicals, such as what are used to kill fecal bacteria), as well as more or less bans allowing any leftover foods or, well, anything produced by humans from ever ending up in an ocean. Say goodbye for ever using fishing baits again.

Clause 3's plastic waste ban is much less insane due to the word "dumping" being present in that clause. Though the dumping of "sewage" doesn't make a distinction between untreated sewage (which I think the author meant) and treated sewage, which would halt waste-water treatment everywhere, and put nations in a situation where they must store or dispose of all sewage on land, because anything let to get into any waterway, will eventually find its way into an ocean.

The committee created in clause 4 is, among other things, tasked to clean up the oceans. As a WA committee, this clean-up is funded by all WA nations, but given that WA nations form only 14% of all nations, that means that WA nations would be predominantly paying to clean up pollutants spewed forth by non-WA nations. It is the same unfairness of a situation as if in Real Life just 29 nations paid for the clean-up of all the oceans.

This was specifically pointed out to the author and they said they'd take it out, but obviously haven't.

I humbly request that you withdraw your approval and instead urge the author to fix the issues as they promised they would do. You can post here to do so: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=459597