[PASSED] Toxic Heavy Metals Act

[Bad Libertopia]

"Christ on a bicycle, does anyone read these things, ever?!? At no point does it say you have to tank your economy to stop using these metals; all you have to do is keep them from getting into your ecosystem and your workers' bodies, and do research so you can phase them out when it's economically feasible to do so.

Yes, we read them--and we imagine how drastically different life would be if we tried to comply. In our nation, workers get paid EVERY DAY in the form of silver and gold, so it would tank our economy to keep these metals out of worker's hands.

Yes, we read them--and there's no list of heavy metals and no exemption for monetary use or an exemption of gold and silver.

What's the next step here, I wonder? To declare our National Treasury an international biohazard site, cordon it off and have the WA come in and "clean up" all our gold and silver reserves?

[United States of 1776]

What is the overall agenda of the W.A.? Is it to grow membership to ensure that voices can be heard and respected or is it to have the majority enter into each nation's sovereign right to administer it's people equally and fairly. This legislation and others like it will not support increased membership to this forum. What are we striving for? Thank you for your time.

[Frustrated Franciscans]

What are we striving for? Thank you for your time.

The sole purpose of the WA GA is to so annoy the delegates and representatives that they will spend more in the Stranger's Bar. In that aspect, it's very effective.

[Imperium Anglorum]

What are we striving for? Thank you for your time.

The sole purpose of the WA GA is to so annoy the delegates and representatives that they will spend more in the Stranger's Bar. In that aspect, it's very effective.

North: (hic!) I know I do it a lot! (hic!)

[Communist Republic of Obama bin Hitler]

I don't anything should be full on banned from everything. I think that certain dangerous things should have their use restricted. What are we going to learn from something if you can't even look at it or touch it or study it.

[Redneck Nation of America]

Hmmm. If you look at the nation that proposed this, Civil rights and political freedom are outlawed. I wonder what this means about the intentions of this act. Kind of looks like a way to put even more restrictions on people.

[Bad Libertopia]

OOC: As I've recently learned, there's often no consistency between what a player's NationStates country is doing, what they self-publish in their Factbook, and what their in-character ambassador says in the forums--and maybe there's even more levels of roleplay beyond that.

[Tinfect]

OOC: As I've recently learned, there's often no consistency between what a player's NationStates country is doing, what they self-publish in their Factbook, and what their in-character ambassador says in the forums--and maybe there's even more levels of roleplay beyond that.

OOC:
Alright, let's get this straight since you've seem to have missed it since you've been here.
Quite a few people disregard NS Stats entirely, as NS Stats are some of the most batshit insane things around, thus, it is generally a good idea not to presume things about how a Nation RPs from their NS Stats. Factbooks can generally be trusted, I'm not sure where you've got the idea that they can't, but you're wrong. If you're referring to the disconnect between the way a country is described OOC, and how it is perceived IC, then you're taking it the wrong way.

[Ghostopolis]

A nameless, unimpressive man dressed in a blazer quickly darts into the voting chamber, before being assured by a helpful gentleman that there is still a decent amount of time left to vote. Sighing in relief, the man continues to the recorders and hands an official a card marked with the official seal of Ghostopolis and signed by Ambassador Geist. The card simply states the following:

"As delegate of The Versutian Federation, I have cast my vote in favor of the resolution in question. I find the premise of the resolution unobjectionable, and I see no glaring holes or openings for unintended consequences, at least of the kind that would be overly concerning to me. Given my region's overwhelming vote in support, I have cast my vote accordingly."

[Bad Libertopia]

OOC: Where did I get that idea...ugh, again...
http://srwallenburg.weebly.com/east-wallenburg.html#people

Racial tensions between the human population and the Indevian population run high,

...versus...
https://forum.nationstates.net/posting.php?mode=quote&f=9&p=28695660

I know that for a long time since that factbook was last edited, Wallenburg has claimed that his population is not human

I find it confusing and frustrating, but I'm new here so I chalk it up to me not getting the multiple levels of RP that go on here--maybe there's a "forum factbook" that's separate from the "NS factbook", or maybe it's too much exposure to heavy metals. /OOC

[Wallenburg]

OOC: Where did I get that idea...ugh, again...
http://srwallenburg.weebly.com/east-wallenburg.html#people

Racial tensions between the human population and the Indevian population run high,

...versus...
https://forum.nationstates.net/posting.php?mode=quote&f=9&p=28695660

I know that for a long time since that factbook was last edited, Wallenburg has claimed that his population is not human

I find it confusing and frustrating, but I'm new here so I chalk it up to me not getting the multiple levels of RP that go on here--maybe there's a "forum factbook" that's separate from the "NS factbook", or maybe it's too much exposure to heavy metals. /OOC

OOC: "Human", as it applies to my factbooks, does not refer to Homo sapiens.

I know, it's complicated.

[The Puddle Jumping Wads of Wrapper]

Wrapper voted against the World Assembly Resolution "Toxic Heavy Metals Act".

ARI: Well now, since someone asked us privately for a comment on this, we may as well make our answer public. This resolution bears little resemblance to the proposal we helped the Kaboomlandian ambassador draft. And, while we believe this is worth legislating on, and some of the arguments against show that a few of our fellow ambassadors are having trouble with reading comprehension-- (Ahume whispers in his ear) --right, through no fault of their own, of course, we'll chalk it up to the universal translators, no doubt something's gotten lost in translation.... Where were we? Oh, yes, why did we vote against. As has been brought to our attention, this legislation in its final form is flawed, and while the Kaboomlandians put a lot of time and effort into this, erm, effort, the military opt-out clause, the lack of exemptions for less-toxic forms of these materials such as alloys and other insoluble forms, and some far-reaching statements in the preamble, to wit, very few toxic heavy metals bioaccumulate, yet the claim that "toxic heavy metals and their compounds steadily build up through food chains" overstates this case and implies that all toxic heavy metals bioaccumulate, not to mention a couple of minor grammatical nitpicks such as the misplaced comma in numbered clause 2, these were some of the reasons why we voted against this resolution. We do congratulate the Kaboomlandian delegation for all the work they put into this, as it is apparent this will pass with a comfortable margin, but we cannot in full conscience vote in favor of this proposal.

[Kaboomlandia]

The Community of ISLE presents an argument by the Department of Material Science and Engineering:

The Department of Material Science and Engineering at The Community of ISLE applauds the, albeit late, recognition of the danger of unintentional exposure to heavy metals.

However, The DMSE encourages the original authors and editors to read their own legislation, as in its current state, this bill punishes poorer nations that cannot afford to dispose of toxic metals and inappropriately addresses nations using these types of metals in warfare.

2. Requires member states to research alternatives to reduce the use of, and where technologically and economically feasible, phase out the use of toxic heavy metals and their compounds;

7. Mandates that landfills used to hold toxic heavy metals be properly lined to prevent against leaching;

The majority of governments that do not already meet these requirements are the governments that cannot afford to invest in these measures. If the international community is to expect significant results with the guidelines it sets, then it is strongly encouraged to fund their legislation.

9. Exempts the use of toxic heavy metals in military applications, so long as due care is taken to ensure safe disposal of said toxic heavy metals and/or their compounds, as covered by existing international law.

While it is well understood that the language in section 9 is deliberately vague to protect warmongering nations, the DMSE politely reminds the WA that there have been no conclusive studies that heavy metals released in warfare can be effectively removed from the environment.
As long as weapons dispersing toxic metals are produced, there are no means as to prevent rouge nations and fringe groups from acquiring them. Any legislation short of an outright ban on the production of toxic metals to be used warfare will fail to address the issue.

As representives of The Community of ISLE, we propose the following amendments:

The world assembly will provide grants for nations that apply who cannot meet the following regulations.

9. Exempts the use of toxic heavy metals in military applications, so long as due care is taken to ensure safe disposal of said toxic heavy metals and/or their compounds, as covered by existing international law 9. The production of weapons using toxic heavy metals is strictly banned. Weapons are to be removed following the guidelines outlined in the previous definitions.

Until the appropriate changes are made, The Community of ISLE rejects the Toxic Heavy Metals Act.

I am not able to use your changed wording for the following reasons:

• Uranium, plutonium, etc. are toxic heavy metals.
• Nukes are already legalized through our old friend NAPA.

[Kaboomlandia]

Toxic Heavy Metals Act was passed 13,805 votes to 4,639.

I've been waiting for this day for over a year now - my first GA resolution passed!

Big shoutout to everyone who commented here - your feedback will be valuable if this gets repealed.

[Europe and Oceania]

Toxic Heavy Metals Act was passed 13,805 votes to 4,639.

I've been waiting for this day for over a year now - my first GA resolution passed!

Big shoutout to everyone who commented here - your feedback will be valuable if this gets repealed.

Congratulations comrade!

[Bad Libertopia]

OOC: "Human", as it applies to my factbooks, does not refer to Homo sapiens.

I know, it's complicated.

OOC: No, I get it, having the flexibility to the physiology and biology of your population at your whim has definite advantages.

[Separatist Peoples]

Toxic Heavy Metals Act was passed 13,805 votes to 4,639.

I've been waiting for this day for over a year now - my first GA resolution passed!

Big shoutout to everyone who commented here - your feedback will be valuable if this gets repealed.

OOC: only to be pulled down again. There are significant flaws, so pointed out by even your biggest contributors. Reign it in.

[Imperium Anglorum]

I've been waiting for this day for over a year now - my first GA resolution passed!

OOC: I don't support this resolution and will gladly vote for a repeal. But I will congratulate you on passing a proposal. Well done! *bats on back*

[Europe and Oceania]

I've been waiting for this day for over a year now - my first GA resolution passed!

*bats on back*

ISeeWhatYouDidThere.

[Imperium Anglorum]

*bats on back*

ISeeWhatYouDidThere.

Quite.

[Araraukar]

OOC: Grats for passing this and sorry I missed the vote.

[CreepyCut]

How nice that it passed.

\m/