Marianne Brooker at The Ecologist writes—The Hague must recognise ecocide:
The Pacific island state of Vanuatu made a bold statement [Tuesday] at the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s annual Assembly of States Parties in The Hague. It argued that the Assembly should consider seriously expanding the court's remit to include a crime of ecocide.
Ambassador John Licht of Vanuatu, speaking on behalf of his government to the full plenary session of the Assembly, declared: "An amendment of the Rome Statute could criminalise acts that amount to ecocide. We believe this radical idea merits serious discussion."
This came in the context of Vanuatu’s declared commitment to universal justice for the most serious crimes, and also the observation that sea level rise and other impacts of climate change continue to compromise Vanuatu’s ability to achieve sustainable development under the 2030 [Sustainable Development Goals] Agenda. [...]
The statement continued: “Science indicates that global warming is real and will only get worse and catastrophic if we do not achieve the rapid and far-reaching transformations necessary to keep temperature below 1.5 degrees.
"Therefore resolving to strengthen the international rule of law to protect our common heritage and environment could be our joint legacy.”
This is the first time since 1972 that a state representative has formally called for ecocide to be recognised at an international forum of such representatives. [...]
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QUOTATION
“When the white man speaks, the Government and the army see that we obey. When the red man speaks, it goes in one ear and out the other.” ~~Young-Man-Afraid, Statement to Secretary of Interior John Noble (1892)
TWEET OF THE DAY
BLAST FROM THE PAST
At Daily Kos on this date in 2011—The future of democracy is up to you:
The single greatest moment thus far of the Occupy Movement may have followed immediately upon one of its worst. The spontaneous greatness of the spirit of the people revealed itself exactly in the aftermath of a demonstration of the cruel thuggishness that too often defines the movement's opponents and enemies. A UC Davis police officer blithely pepper sprayed a group of unarmed, passively resisting, and even seated on the ground college students. His demeanor personified the inherent violence of the enforcers of the 1 percent.
The response of the occupiers personified what it is to be on the right side of a historic turning point. Because after the officer had sprayed them, as the crowd of students, staff and other participants and observers shook off their immediate disbelief and outrage, a wonderful beauty was born. The crowd coalesced as one not in violent retribution but in noble moral outrage. They began chanting "Shame on you! Shame on you!" Arms were raised not with sticks or clubs or other weapons of violence but with cell phones and cameras. They were bearing witness. They were ensuring that millions of others all around the world could and would bear witness. The small company of police officers was surrounded but the only threat they faced was of widespread public humiliation. They slowly backed away. Whether or not they were fully conscious of it, they were fully shamed.
It's often been said that Gandhi would not have succeeded against the Nazis, and it is true. The British Empire never will be remembered as a bastion of humanity's better angels, but a fundamental part of the British national narrative is a pretension to being civilized. Gandhi revealed to the British people something the British people themselves did not want to acknowledge about themselves. That is why he succeeded. His humanity and the humanity he helped reveal in the Indian people revealed to the British their own lack of same.
On today’s Kagro in the Morning show: Trump laughed out of Europe. Bombshell phone records from Intel, as Judiciary hearings start. Greg Dworkin samples from the fire hose. Harris out; Begala says don't give up. With more evidence to come, does quickie impeachment sound better or worse?
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