[PAUSED] Aquatic Waste Responsibility Act
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2021 8:58 am
[FIXING: PLEASE STAND BY]
Because sometimes even national leaders just want to hang out
https://forum.nationstates.net/
Sincluda wrote:3. Member states are required to enact at least one law to minimize the production, or dumping of, non-degradable waste.
Sincluda wrote:Planning on submitting tomorrow at around 11 am EST.
If I see anything by or at that time I'll change it.
Niveusium wrote:Since we are holding nations accountable for cleaning up waste in the ocean, you need to make sure you cover all bases here.
1. How will we hold private corporations for reckless polluting accountable?
2. Should nations be accountable for the wastes produced by private corporations? If so, how can we discourage private corporations from continuing their reckless behavior?
3. Patch that part up so countries can't use a loophole and give their wastes to private corporations to dump and avoid responsibility for cleaning up their waters.
Ardiveds wrote:Niveusium wrote:Since we are holding nations accountable for cleaning up waste in the ocean, you need to make sure you cover all bases here.
1. How will we hold private corporations for reckless polluting accountable?
2. Should nations be accountable for the wastes produced by private corporations? If so, how can we discourage private corporations from continuing their reckless behavior?
3. Patch that part up so countries can't use a loophole and give their wastes to private corporations to dump and avoid responsibility for cleaning up their waters.
OOC: Regarding these, it stands to reason that if nations are forced to clean their nation's waters and shores, rhey will most likely crack down on private entities dumping waste into such places. Also, if a resolution says X is illegal, it applies to both the governments of members and legal and natural persons subject to those governments' laws.
Regarding the proposal, I don't get why the mandate of clause 1 is only for one year? If you think making something illegal will instantly make it disappear within an year, you're mistaken. This is like banning cocoain and then closing down the narcotic control division after one year.
Sincluda wrote:Noting the surge of non-degradable waste ending up in the oceans.
Concerned that: The buildup of non-biodegradable waste within oceans without cleanup is causing extreme harm to the environment and is killing multiple animals, and can potentially cause the extinction of many more.
Angered that: So many nations have refused to correct their mistakes and clear their waste, as well as not working at preventing the dumping of non-biodegradable waste. This legislation aims to correct that.
Believing that: member states should create their own taskforce to clean up their own waste that they are responsible for. It is important that territorial oceans get cleared of waste before that waste is lost in the near-infinite expanse of international oceans.
Acknowledging that: member states may face economic consequences as plastic is a universal tool that generates a lot of trade for countries.
Recognizing that: some member states may be more impoverished than others, which means that it may be harder for them to clean up their own waters.
Understanding that: International waters may be too vast and too contaminated to clean up. This is still clearly a problem, but not one to be addressed by this legislation.
Hoping that: this legislation can create a healthier ocean and overall environment for all.
Hereby enacts the following:
1. Member states must create and monitor a government-sponsored cleanup taskforce to remove non-biodegradable waste from their territorial oceans. Governments can supply this taskforce however they choose.
a. Governments must make sure that the taskforce is actually succeeding in thoroughly and efficiently removing waste.
b. The taskforce will measure the amount of plastic gathered and how much of the territorial ocean they traversed. The collections from the first month will be used to calculate how long it will take for the task force to clear the rest of their territorial ocean. The taskforce will continue to work for the calculated time as they were in the first month.
c. Defines "poor government" as a government that does not have the money required to fund the creation and development of the taskforce.
I. Poor governments are allowed to draw from the World Assembly General Fund to fund the development of their taskforce.
II. Poor governments, and only poor governments, can accept donations from other governments to fund their taskforce. These are donations, and the donating governments are prohibited from using this donation as a negotiation tool, or requesting a quid pro quo.
d. While governments are given the power to choose who will work on the taskforce and how they come to work on it (along what the wages/benefits will be, if any), they must treat the workers on the same level they treat other government employees/volunteers.
e. The non-biodegradable materials retrieved can be used for any of the following methods, as chosen by the government of each individual member state (and multiple can be chosen at once): Recycling/reusing for practical purposes, studying/researching effects of non-biodegradable material, studying/researching alternatives to non-biodegradable material.
2. Member states will begin research on safer, biodegradable alternatives to non-biodegradable materials. The safeness of the alternatives must be ensured, and when they are, the government must take strides to replace the non-biodegradable materials with the new alternatives.
a. How the transition from non-biodegradable materials to biodegradable alternatives is enacted is up to the government, as long as they manage to completely halt the manufacturing of non-biodegradable materials within 20 years of the alternative being authorized for manufacturing.
b. If any one member state finds/develops a safe and efficient alternative to non-biodegradable waste, they must share their findings with the international community. Before it is shared, it must reach the proper safety standards required for manufacturing.
3. Member states are required to make the dumping of non-biodegradable waste into bodies of water illegal. This law will be enforced upon everyone within the nation, including entities such as corporations or branches of government.
a. Should this law be violated, governments must enforce the minimum punishment to be a fine, although this can be increased if desired.
Sincluda wrote:OOC: This is my first proposal. Not asking for gentle feedback or anything, just constructive feedback.
Oh, and I need help with Industry Affected here. I'm pretty sure it's "All Businesses" but I still need help with strength.
Older drafts are on a post on page 2.
Draft 6 (CURRENT)
Changes from last draft: Made clarifications, greatly expanded clause 1, expanded clauses 2 & 3.
The World Assembly,
Noting the surge of non-degradable waste ending up in the oceans.
Concerned that: The buildup of non-biodegradable waste within oceans without cleanup is causing extreme harm to the environment and is killing multiple animals, and can potentially cause the extinction of many more.
Full support
Angered that: So many nations have refused to correct their mistakes and clear their waste, as well as not working at preventing the dumping of non-biodegradable waste. This legislation aims to correct that.
Believing that: member states should create their own taskforce to clean up their own waste that they are responsible for. It is important that territorial oceans get cleared of waste before that waste is lost in the near-infinite expanse of international oceans.
Acknowledging that: member states may face economic consequences as plastic is a universal tool that generates a lot of trade for countries.
Recognizing that: some member states may be more impoverished than others, which means that it may be harder for them to clean up their own waters.
Understanding that: International waters may be too vast and too contaminated to clean up. This is still clearly a problem, but not one to be addressed by this legislation.
Hoping that: this legislation can create a healthier ocean and overall environment for all.
Hereby enacts the following:
1. Member states must create and monitor a government-sponsored cleanup taskforce to remove non-biodegradable waste from their territorial oceans. Governments can supply this taskforce however they choose.
a. Governments must make sure that the taskforce is actually succeeding in thoroughly and efficiently removing waste.
b. The taskforce will measure the amount of plastic gathered and how much of the territorial ocean they traversed. The collections from the first month will be used to calculate how long it will take for the task force to clear the rest of their territorial ocean. The taskforce will continue to work for the calculated time as they were in the first month.
c. Defines "poor government" as a government that does not have the money required to fund the creation and development of the taskforce.
I. Poor governments are allowed to draw from the World Assembly General Fund to fund the development of their taskforce.
II. Poor governments, and only poor governments, can accept donations from other governments to fund their taskforce. These are donations, and the donating governments are prohibited from using this donation as a negotiation tool, or requesting a quid pro quo.
d. While governments are given the power to choose who will work on the taskforce and how they come to work on it (along what the wages/benefits will be, if any), they must treat the workers on the same level they treat other government employees/volunteers.
e. The non-biodegradable materials retrieved can be used for any of the following methods, as chosen by the government of each individual member state (and multiple can be chosen at once): Recycling/reusing for practical purposes, studying/researching effects of non-biodegradable material, studying/researching alternatives to non-biodegradable material.
2. Member states will begin research on safer, biodegradable alternatives to non-biodegradable materials. The safeness of the alternatives must be ensured, and when they are, the government must take strides to replace the non-biodegradable materials with the new alternatives.
a. How the transition from non-biodegradable materials to biodegradable alternatives is enacted is up to the government, as long as they manage to completely halt the manufacturing of non-biodegradable materials within 20 years of the alternative being authorized for manufacturing.
b. If any one member state finds/develops a safe and efficient alternative to non-biodegradable waste, they must share their findings with the international community. Before it is shared, it must reach the proper safety standards required for manufacturing.
3. Member states are required to make the dumping of non-biodegradable waste into bodies of water illegal. This law will be enforced upon everyone within the nation, including entities such as corporations or branches of government.
a. Should this law be violated, governments must enforce the minimum punishment to be a fine, although this can be increased if desired.
The Grand Leader wrote:Are we allowed to incorporate the death penalty instead of a fine? We've been looking for more ways to execute people. It is a glorious affair here! Unfortunately, our playthings are far too compliant.