[DRAFT] Promotion of Sustainable Agricultural Practices

[West Barack and East Obama]

Barack H. Obama, President of West Barack and East Obama: Good afternoon fellow World Assembly people of the World Assembly, or whatever. Today, we will celebrate a grand occasion! West Barack and East Obama will officially submit its first World Assembly draft! As I am the leader, I have taken the liberty towards authoring basically everything in here. Ignore claims by anyone else that it was ghostwritten. Handwriting analysis is unreliable. Uh, anyways. Over to... Dr Justin Obama? Whoever that it, they will do my job now. Of course inferiorly. I have urgent President things to do.

Dr Justin Obama, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: Thank you... dear leader. In West Barack and East Obama, we frequently face food shortages due to crop failure. Despite our best efforts in imprisoning those who waste resources, we reached a roadblock when we realised that we managed to send all of our farmers to prison. Therefore, we think that member nations would benefit from an army of farmers who actually know what they're doing.

Title: Promotion of Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Authored by: His Excellency Barack Horatio Obama
Co-authored by: The delegation from Thich Chau, Michael Octavius Bama, Aaron Obama-Richards, Charles Jared Obama, Drew Andrews, His Excellency Otto the Daschund, and Justin Leonardo Obama.

Category: Education & Creativity
Area of Effect: Educational

Text:

The World Assembly,

Understanding that a vast majority of the member nations of the World Assembly rely on agriculture for food and therefore survival,

Distressed that unsustainable farming practices can have irreparable effects on the environment and waste resources, threatening the food security of many nations,

Further distressed at the potential misuse of flamethrowers in agriculture due to a lack of guidance, which could cause third degree burns,

Hoping that World Assembly legislation can remedy this issue and promote a culture of sustainable farming practices, hereby:

Hereby:

1. Establishes the Committee Of the World Assembly to Bring Upon a New Generation of Agriculture (COWABUNGA) within the Environmental Survey of the World Assembly (ESWA), and tasks it with the following:
   
   
   1. subsidising and conducting research into the development of sustainable agricultural practices, and obtaining the rights to publish other research on sustainable agricultural practices through duly compensating those who own them,
      
   2. compiling a list of recommendations that encourage sustainable agricultural practices and how to engage in them, and publishing this information for all people in World Assembly member nations to view free of monetary charge,
      
   3. identifying areas that engage in unsustainable agricultural practices which can benefit from World Assembly outreach,
      
   4. reaching out to these areas (prioritising areas within WA member nations where feasible) and advising them in the implementation of more sustainable farming practices,
      
   5. ensuring that the sustainable farming practices encouraged in these areas are suitable for these regions and comply with extant World Assembly legislation,
2. Prohibits member nations from discouraging or prohibiting sustainable agricultural practices encouraged by COWABUNGA, unless it can be demonstrably proven that these agricultural practices encouraged by COWABUNGA are not sustainable or suitable for the area, and charges COWABUNGA to cease promoting said practice and actively helping to discourage or repair damage caused by it,
   
3. Strongly urges member nations to further educate their residents on sustainable agricultural practices.

[Separatist Peoples]

"Providing education to those with no need seems an unnecessary expenditure. A better approach would be to have the WA subsidize both research into and outreach for sustainable farming practices in subsistence or near-subsistence farming areas to improve efficiency and avoid either economically induced monoculture of cash crop or defaulting to environmentally unsustainable practices. Such a policy would not only combat the effects of extreme poverty in agricultural areas, it would provide a beneficial opportunity to lift those areas out of such poverty without disincentivizing local action the way financial aid might."

[Anne of Cleves in TNP]

Title: Promotion of Agricultural Education
Authored by: His Excellency Barack Horatio Obama
Co-authored by: Michael Octavius Bama, Aaron Obama-Richards, Charles Jared Obama, Drew Andrews, His Excellency Otto the Daschund, and Justin Leonardo Obama.

Category: Education & Creativity
Area of Effect: Educational

Text:

The World Assembly,

Recognising that advancements to agricultural methods has improved the efficiency and environmentally friendliness of farming, ensuring that nations can have food security whilst polluting the environment less and using less resources,

Understanding that the promotion of these methods can be achieved via the education of a nation’s farmers,

Hoping that the World Assembly can simultaneously become a farmers league and an international superpower, hereby:

1. Defines “agricultural education” as the comprehensive education on relevant agricultural practices and methods, including but not limited to irrigation, raising livestock, growing crops, preventing food shortages, conserving resources and preventing pest infestations,

2. Requires World Assembly member states to provide easily accessible agricultural education to any interested citizens free of charge,

3. Mandates that the agricultural education provided by member states teach and encourage agricultural methods that are environmentally friendly and comply with World Assembly regulations,

4. Prohibits the deliberate teaching of false information during agricultural education,

5. Encourages member states to continue to research into more efficient and more environmentally friendly agricultural methods, and to include these in their agricultural education curriculum when possible, and

6. Clarifies that, subject to World Assembly law, member states may place restrictions on people who are not their citizens from receiving their agricultural education, such as by denying them admittance into agricultural education courses or charging them for it.

“Ambassador, I have to say that I do not approve of having free stuff being mandated in proposals. And from studying the economics of other countries, here why. One no-cost institution is fine, since only some potential money would not be made. But when there are millions of such institutions in the multiverse, the agricultural education sector of the multiversal economy will lose so much potential money to the point at which the price of shares in agricultural education companies will drop, causing a panic in which many people sell their shares in those companies. And when such panics happen, the multiversal stock exchange will die out, so an economic calamity will pursue, which will especially affect the less developed countries of the multiverse. So to avoid this, I would suggest modifying clause 2 so that those who attend the agricultural education sessions have to pay a debt 7 months after they complete their agricultural education, which can easily be payed off with the profits of a good harvest. For clauses 3 and 4, it would be helpful if you listed specific punishments for not complying by the clauses. Lastly, clauses 5 and 6 are ineffective, since they do not actually mandate anything, but only encourages/allows particular actions.”
-Ms. Charlotte Schafer, WA Ambassador for the Clevesian Empire

[West Barack and East Obama]

"Providing education to those with no need seems an unnecessary expenditure. A better approach would be to have the WA subsidize both research into and outreach for sustainable farming practices in subsistence or near-subsistence farming areas to improve efficiency and avoid either economically induced monoculture of cash crop or defaulting to environmentally unsustainable practices. Such a policy would not only combat the effects of extreme poverty in agricultural areas, it would provide a beneficial opportunity to lift those areas out of such poverty without disincentivizing local action the way financial aid might."

Barack H. Obama, President: How DARE you criticise my draft. This act to regulate insurance is perfect! Guards, send this man to the dungeons!

Unnamed Aide: whispers into his ear

Barack H. Obama, President: Uh huh... so it's about farmers is it... and there is no dungeon here uh huh... and my guards are all in prison for treason? Oh and... yeah... this guy actually knows what he's doing... Ahhh. Yes, I was playing a prank! Haha! April fool's! Anyways, let me let this aide take over.

Dr Justin Obama, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: Thank you your majesty. Yes, your ideas, Mr Separatist Person, sound brilliant. Would establishing a committee to judge potential projects to research into practices and to do outreach be suitable for this purpose? Also, would a category change be required if the focus of the proposal shifted to that?

[West Barack and East Obama]

Dr Justin Obama, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: After much deliberation and resistance from lobbyists, we have finally submitted a second draft for consideration. It is rather different so feedback would be appreciated!

[West Barack and East Obama]

Barack H. Obama: As expected, this is perfection! No objections! Bravo! We should submit this immediately!! Er... I mean in a few days!

[West Barack and East Obama]

Dr Justin Obama, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: Any thoughts on this?

[The Orwell Society]

Support! Promising draft, I must say

[Anne of Cleves in TNP]

“My complaint on the original draft is no longer in effect since the clause on agricultural education has been reworded. The Clevesian people now support this.”
-Ms. Charlotte Schafer, WA Ambassador for the Clevesian Empire

[The Wallenburgian World Assembly Offices]

Without even a passing mention of the agricultural uses of flamethrowers, I cannot support this.

[West Barack and East Obama]

Without even a passing mention of the agricultural uses of flamethrowers, I cannot support this.

Dr Justin Obama, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does this satisfy you and your fellow arsonists?

[Anne of Cleves in TNP]

“Let’s stop talking about flamethrowers before someone gets the bright idea to burn down this committee room “
-Ms. Charlotte Schafer, WA Ambassador for the Clevesian Empire

[West Barack and East Obama]

OOC: My good friend who I dragged to NS has helped me on some parts of the new draft and is now a coauthor. If there are no more comments, we will be submitting this next week.

[Separatist Peoples]

“Let’s stop talking about flamethrowers before someone gets the bright idea to burn down this committee room “
-Ms. Charlotte Schafer, WA Ambassador for the Clevesian Empire

Ambassador Bell leans over to the Clevesian delegation and whispers in a conspiratorial tone: "Everything has been coated in a layer of flame retardant ever since Janis got the dose wrong on her flamethrower fuel blend, so the only thing you need to worry about is your personal affects and various appendages. Go nuts!"

[West Barack and East Obama]

Quick question: would this be better under the Education category, or the Environment category?

[Fachumonn]

Quick question: would this be better under the Education category, or the Environment category?

Definitely environment, I don't think this would fit in the education category.

[Anne of Cleves in TNP]

Quick question: would this be better under the Education category, or the Environment category?

It definitely leans more towards the environmental side

[The Orwell Society]

I really like COWABUNGA. Finally we have some humor in a serious proposal.

[Fachumonn]

I really like COWABUNGA. Finally we have some humor in a serious proposal.

OOC: Finally? I think "Comfortable Pillows for All Protocol" (is that the name, I honestly forget) would fit into that category,

[The Orwell Society]

I really like COWABUNGA. Finally we have some humor in a serious proposal.

OOC: Finally? I think "Comfortable Pillows for All Protocol" (is that the name, I honestly forget) would fit into that category,

I consider that a full-on joke proposal, to be fair. What I meant is that we have an actual serious proposal with a few jokes thrown in instead of a joke proposal with a few serious things thrown in.

[Bananaistan]

"The People's Republic of Bananaistan is opposed due to the potentially open ended and unaudited charge on the General Fund contained in section 1d. Section 3 allowing for WA funds to be disbursed to non-members is particularly offensive. If such nations wish to benefit from WA funds they are free to join the WA and implement the necessary human rights regime required by WA law."

[West Barack and East Obama]

"The People's Republic of Bananaistan is opposed due to the potentially open ended and unaudited charge on the General Fund contained in section 1d. Section 3 allowing for WA funds to be disbursed to non-members is particularly offensive. If such nations wish to benefit from WA funds they are free to join the WA and implement the necessary human rights regime required by WA law."

Dr Justin Obama, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: What do you suggest in terms of audits for clause 1d? Assistance is pretty broad so it would be hard to define when they won't need it. Or is just saying 'as necessary' sufficient?

The idea of the non-member clause was so that nations that rely on agriculture from said nations could benefit, but I see your point and will remove it from the next draft.

[Bananaistan]

"The People's Republic of Bananaistan is opposed due to the potentially open ended and unaudited charge on the General Fund contained in section 1d. Section 3 allowing for WA funds to be disbursed to non-members is particularly offensive. If such nations wish to benefit from WA funds they are free to join the WA and implement the necessary human rights regime required by WA law."

Dr Justin Obama, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: What do you suggest in terms of audits for clause 1d? Assistance is pretty broad so it would be hard to define when they won't need it. Or is just saying 'as necessary' sufficient?

The idea of the non-member clause was so that nations that rely on agriculture from said nations could benefit, but I see your point and will remove it from the next draft.

"Wealthy member states who simply neglect the area or those who prioritise spending their money on nuclear weapons, for example, should be obliged to spend their own money. WA funds should be expended only on those who truly need the assistance. The General Fund, despite reports to the contrary, is not a bottomless pit and it is the longstanding policy of Bananaistan to oppose fiscally responsible socialists bailing out reckless boom and bust capitalists. See for example the funding mechanism and procedures outlined in GAR#97, section 2. Or at the least, something like GAR#606 which restricts the WA spending to nations who "cannot afford" the requirements."

[West Barack and East Obama]

Dr Justin Obama, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: What do you suggest in terms of audits for clause 1d? Assistance is pretty broad so it would be hard to define when they won't need it. Or is just saying 'as necessary' sufficient?

The idea of the non-member clause was so that nations that rely on agriculture from said nations could benefit, but I see your point and will remove it from the next draft.

"Wealthy member states who simply neglect the area or those who prioritise spending their money on nuclear weapons, for example, should be obliged to spend their own money. WA funds should be expended only on those who truly need the assistance. The General Fund, despite reports to the contrary, is not a bottomless pit and it is the longstanding policy of Bananaistan to oppose fiscally responsible socialists bailing out reckless boom and bust capitalists. See for example the funding mechanism and procedures outlined in GAR#97, section 2. Or at the least, something like GAR#606 which restricts the WA spending to nations who "cannot afford" the requirements."

Dr Justin Obama, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: Let me clear, comrade Ted: I very much agree, and sincerely thank you for your advice. Hopefully the amendments I have made are acceptable.

[Imperium Anglorum]

C Marcius Blythe makes a comment, "As to the auditing and control mechanisms, below:"

Clarifies that assistance as per Clause 1.d. may only be provided if a member state can demonstrably prove that they are unable to afford implementing the sustainable farming practices themselves, and that assistance can be withdrawn if it is proven that a member state has been using it for purposes other than carrying out the implementation of sustainable farming practices as per Clause 1.d.,

"I believe you ought to read both my delegation's repeal of GA 495 for some introduction into some relevant issues related to financial control mechanisms, especially with strategic indirect diversion of funds. Largely, my delegation agrees with that of the Bananamen that the General Fund is not a bottomless pit, though we disagree with the warrants. The more core issue is the purposeful neglect that socialist – and other – nations have for their domestic economies. Setting up extractive institutions which disincentivise economic growth has the collateral impact of creating the conditions under which they can clamour for more international aid and to do so for prolonged periods of time. The extent and duration of those aid demands hugely exceeds any idiosyncratic fiscal shortfalls from business cycle fluctuations. Those huge aid demands then give rise for claims against the income streams of prosperous nations which made the correct institutional choices. We are uninterested in bailing out people who purposefully or neglectfully hole their own ships."

"These issues are yet more severe in nations with high levels of corruption and weak institutions that allow aid flows, which are usually interminable – and that interminability is an endogenous choice! – to be indirectly diverted to private benefit. Not only is it a waste of money, those aid flows are themselves counterproductive and worse than nothing: they undermine local institutions and reorient them around extraction of aid rather than domestic value-production. This furthers deepens the poverty trap and makes it even more difficult to sustain economic growth."