Ecocide: A New International Crime?
“The most striking thing about modern industry is that it requires so much and accomplishes so little.”
E. F. Schumacher.
Here’s an amazing woman – Polly Higgins – barrister with an Earth-centred conscience. I was lucky enough to hear her speak at the Schumacher Centenary Festival in Bristol last weekend, where she played us a video of the mock trial she’d organised at the Supreme Court in London. The trial was held as though the international crime of ecocide, the destruction of ecosystems, were already in place. It is this piece of legislation that Polly is currently campaigning for.
According to a post on the Guardian Sustainable Business blog:
“the cost of pollution and other damage to the natural environment caused by the world’s biggest companies would wipe out more than one-third of their profits if they were held financially responsible.
Implementing an international crime of ecocide has a number of benefits. It would stop damaging activity where other measures have failed. It would be a crime of consequence (actual damage caused), rather than intent. It would be focused on preventing harm rather than appointing blame. And it would enshrine into law the protection of the natural world upon which we all depend for our prosperity and quality of life.”
You can read the rest of their account here
A comment from Polly Higgins last Saturday that I found particularly memorable was that “There would be no need for legislation if we all took full personal and collective responsibility for our actions.” An interesting thought to lead us into the weekend, is it not?
October 15, 2011
Posted in: Ethical Shopping
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