Polly Higgins, a Scottish barrister, who has just died suddenly from an aggressive form of cancer, was the champion of a new law she was trying to bring about called Ecocide. A law in defence of nature meant to call on all those that would trash the environment in some form or other.
Relevant today of course as the 'Extinction Rebellion' group gets under way, and there are the mutterings of Climate Change and wholesale extinction of the planet Earth.
Ecocide "describes attempts to criminalize human activities that cause extensive damage to, destruction of or loss of ecosystems of a given territory; and which diminish the health and well-being of species within these ecosystems including humans. "
A recent happening of going against the natural order that has sparked fury in this country, is the netting of trees to stop bird nesting in the springtime, so that it stops the birds interfering with the building of new houses, and I don't know how birds make this happen! But sand-martins have had their sandy cliff edges netted, where once they built their nests. People have protested by pulling the netting off hedges and trees and I doubt very much that the big time builders will take them to court - not having a leg to stand on.
There have been calls for more green resolutions, in America and the rest of the world but to no avail (it's the economy stupid) but there is a growing stronger movement happening and when populations start calling out for change then governments have to take heed. The only problem is that people are not necessarily commited enough to follow through.
Another new green deal put forward by Yanis Varoufakis and David Adler in the Guardian, well as always it is all talk. In many ways Polly Higgins was slightly behind the curve with her new law, what we need now is a world that will survive, and here I am not talking the survival of the fittest, such people as Trump have to be drummed out of office for their dangerous policy, and definitely not given tea with the Queen.... Is not that an absurd thought, is this my England I am talking about?
The following people have written essays in the Resurgence magazine which arrived yesterday. At the moment I am listening to a Youtube speech from Mothuir, a lawyer, he is not good at talk but still young;)
Extinction Rebellion personalities;
Mothuir Rahman a pupil of Schumacher College in Devon.
I have never heard of the netting of trees. That is just horrible, horrible, horrible. Everybody should be outraged by this.
ReplyDeleteI am also annoyed that your Queen is entertaining 45. Are they serving his favorite meal from McDonald’s?
Well I expect it will be a state dinner, not sure how many of the royal family will attend. He breeched etiquette last time, when he went in front of the Queen when they were walking down a parade.
DeleteThe netting of trees has only erupted this year, must have been a stupid new law that was arrived at and will probably be rescinded very soon.
I hate the netting and signed the petitions that came my way. Thankfully the sandmartins are now nesting in that particular site now.
ReplyDeleteArilx
Good for the sandmartins it was an absolutely stupid ruling Aril.
DeleteSome of the builders doing this need their houses netting to stop them getting back in.
ReplyDeleteAs to Trump having tea with HM. - words fail me.
Well we all know builders, the large firms ones are getting some stick over badly built new houses at the moment.
ReplyDeleteSure the Queen will put 45 down over a cup of tea;) Which I had to look up, but it only means the 45th president.
We say 45 rather than speak his name.
DeleteGood idea.
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