NationStates Jolt Archive

Zoological-Botanical Society

A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.

Category: Environmental
Industry Affected: Woodchipping
Proposed by: Listeneisse

Description:

The United Nations hereby creates an international Zoological-Botanical Society (ZBS) to help encourage and support the pursuit of natural sciences related to animal and plant species.

Each member nation is encouraged to create a national chapter of the ZBS to promote and coordinate the study and care of their own nation's animal and plant species.

The national ZBS programmes shall help encourage the participation of youth in zoological and botanical studies of their own nation, through educational activities and media programs highlighting local, national, regional and global interests and issues related to these natural sciences.

Each ZBS national chapter shall work with other national ZBS organizations to normalize zoological and botanical information (especially as habitats many span across borders), and constantly improve, update and where possible expand their national records and programs.

Through ongoing information and monetary contributions by member nations, the ZBS will provide an Internet-accessible, freely searchable biological database of animal and plant species found within member nations to be hosted by the United Nations, including but not limited to, estimated populations and status (endangered, protected, etc.), pictures, video, and audio recordings, information and statistics on each species, known behavior, care, health, reproduction and death, biochemistry data and genetic makeup, population control or support programs (marking, tracking, hunting, stocking, and harvesting), plus known habitats and habitat conditions.

Where possible, the ZBS database will not duplicate but will refer to or include existing information in other public and private sources. However, all information contributed to or linked into the global ZBS database must be provided without commercial charge.

The ZBS shall also coordinate international animal and plant exchange programmes between zoological societies, nature parks and preserves, to promote and safeguard the reputable transfer and care of animals worldwide.

The ZBS will also take an interest in minimizing the unlawful poaching of wildlife and sea creatures, and the unlawful harvesting of plant species, and work to create humane, ecologically sound, and economically sustainable animal and plant trafficking programs observing the rule of law.

The ZBS will take special concern to act on behalf of endangered species which may be saved from the prospect of extinction through international cooperation, mitigatation of environmental damage to habitats, fostering of breeding or stocking programs, transferral to new habitats, or other acts in goodwill, concern, and coordination as United Nations.

If this programme is enacted, the symbol should be a zebra, and those who support it, "Zebras," as an obvious interpretation of "Zee" "Bee" "Ess." Though it is exotic to many nations of the world, the zebra is a well-recognized symbol of international wildlife programs, and a favorite attraction of many zoological parks.

Please support this initiative, and ask others to as well.

industries are a lifeline, while sidtherealistan supports enviornmentally helpful features and proposals, we would like to deal with the issue on a domestic level for now.

Initial concerns, before the big words part:

1. Optionality violation?
2. Any chance of having it in proposal language, rather than prose form?

You might want to check that it doesn't clash with UNCoESB (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9692854&postcount=120) .

While I can see its mostly a new idea, it does look like some bits and pieces of it are already law under that resolution. The last paragraph especially.

UNCoESB only deals with endangered species, and only animal species at that.

This does not violate optionality clause, as every nation's species would be in the database.

It's encouraged to make a ZBS chapter in your nation. Otherwise, other existing nature organizations within your country might serve a similar purpose (Audobon Societies, Nature Conservatories, gov't. agencies, etc.).

As far as the formal structure of legal-speak, there's also a character count limit. I threw out the 'whereas'es' to get it down to fit. It also sounds... more natural!!!

It just doesn't sound like it makes any nation do anything...just encourages. But I suppose that's an issue of scale of effect, not optionality.

As for sounding natural, that's nice, but it's not always the clearest. We feel that in general the clearest proposals are those using ICs (BELIEVING, CONCERNED, FULLY AWARE) and OCs (REQUIRES, URGES, DEMANDS).

Nonetheless, it's your proposal, so phrase it how you wish.

Oh. You submitted it. Sorry, I thought this was still the draft run. Ignore my comments.

We submitted this as a proposal to see if there would be general support for it.

If it gathers momentum, then that's great. If not, then we can see if there's a chance at revision.

However, we thought it was a good enough idea to toss it into the proposal queue.

Of course, we'll see if it catches on.

if all this does is urge the creation of a ZBS chapter then a future resolution would be pretty toothless and probally more acceptable to nations who feel that all the UN does its stick its nose into their business.

I would say its an option for UN members if they want to do this rather than telling them to create a chapter.

I want to thank the nations that have already voted for this proposal, even if it was a 'trial balloon' type submission.

Please let others know if you like it, as it's more of a word-of-mouth grass-roots proposal than anything else.

There probably would be a few things I'd change here and there if it was to be submitted again, but it still makes for a good stand-alone proposal.

As for overlap, it does not contradict directly with any other UN proposal. It's complementary: 'belts and suspenders."

The Alphini do not believe there is a need for a resolution such as the Zoological-Botanical Society proposal. It merely recommends data collection and loose collaboration to standardize data and achieve national and international aims; aims already achieved by organizations both public and private across the United Nations. As it calls for voluntary involvement, we suspect that the nations that do not contribute will be those that are most unconcerned about the environment and thus those least involved with environmental monitoring and protection already. The United Nations does not need another resolution that does nothing substantially. We have voted against approval 3-0.

Eko Oeşe
Second Alphin of the Socialist Republic of Xanthal

Industry Affected: Woodchipping


Oooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay...

Oooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay...

He's trying to limit. I agree, though, that others would be affected. I doubt it's enough to make it illegal, though.

Well, obviously such an intellectually oriented society would publish a good deal of technical journals, which would require a great deal of paper, which would require a great deal of mulched woodchips. Or something like that.

ooc: I was presented with four choices: All, or Woodchipping, Uranium Mining or Automobile Manufacturing.

Considering that only Woodchipping affects biological organisms directly -- cars are not made from rare goats or flowers, and uranium is dug out of rocks, not produced from wild deer or deciduous trees -- I figured Woodchipping was the most related industry.

Cars also run over a lot of rare species too, and automobile pollution or mining tailings do degrade habitat... but... I figured this was for biological diversity -- interest in the species directly -- and not the indirect air, water or ground soil pollution, thus left the other industries alone.

ZBS in the Proposal Queue (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/page=UN_proposal/start=30)

As of this morning, we're #30 in the queue of proposals, and we have 15 of 127 supporters. Hopefully we'll see if more people get interested as it comes to the front.

Cheers!

(Edit: If in a day you check and it's no longer at the link, search forward. It will change position as other proposed UN Resolutions get purged.)

Moving up in the queue (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/page=UN_proposal/start=10)

Please vote if you would like to see more research and effort into preservation and appreciation of our beloved national animal species and precious national forests.

As of today, we're at 29 approvals, and need 99 more to go (we have til tomorrow, Friday).

We're still 10th in the queue as of this writing, but even without a TG campaign, the proposal has 39 approvals.

88 more to go!

Today's highlighted plant is the flowering Fritillaria meleagris (http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/3729/), also known as the Checkered Lily, Guinea Hen Lily, or Guinea Hen Flower. They grow in remarkable shades of purple, maroon, pink and white. It is a wildflower, but often grown in our gardens, which are tailored to often look more natural, rather than meticulously manicured. The Queen Mother quite favors them. They remind her of the game of chess, which she taught the King when he was a boy. Often these flowers are present or awarded to good chess players in our realm.

Today's highlighted animal is the Eptesicus serotinus (http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Eptesicus_serotinus/), or Serotine Bat, one of 30 insectoriverous bat species native to its region (and a native of Listeneisse). It is known for its long fur, long wings, and good flying characteristics -- capable of gliding for a time. Because they eat more pestilent insects, they are generally ecologically benign and welcome. It is fully protected by our national law, but not all nations recognize them as protected locally. They also occasionally suffer from outbreaks of lyssaviruses (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol8no4/01-0263.htm) which cause rabies, so occasional brooms are waved at them by alarmed householders. Caves and other known habitats are made cautionary for, or barred from visitors, and a programme of better ways to "bat-proof (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/Bats_&_Rabies/bats&.htm)" a home are recommended.

If you support this resolution, perhaps your nation might also share some of its favorite botanical and zoological inhabitants.

Enjoy!

The favorite inhabitant of Cluichstan:

The Human (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human)

http://www.innerwork.com/images/DaVinci-Man.gif

Human beings define themselves in biological, social, and spiritual terms. Biologically, humans are classified as the species Homo sapiens (Latin for "wise man" or "clever human"): a bipedal primate belonging to the superfamily of Hominoidea, with all of the other apes: chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons.

Humans have an erect body carriage that frees the upper limbs for manipulating objects, a highly developed brain and consequent capacity for abstract reasoning, speech, language, and introspection. Current evidence indicates that bipedal locomotion appeared during human evolution before the large human brain. The origins of bipedal locomotion during human evolution and its role in human brain evolution are topics of on-going research.

The human mind has several distinct attributes. It is responsible for the complexity of human behaviour, especially language. Curiosity and observation have led to a variety of explanations for consciousness and the relation between mind and body. Psychology, especially neuropsychology, attempts to study them from the scientific point of view. Religious perspectives generally emphasise a soul, qi or atman as the essence of being, and are often characterised by the belief in and worship of God, gods or spirits. Philosophy, especially philosophy of mind, attempts to fathom the depths of each of these perspectives. Art, music and literature are often used in expressing these concepts and feelings.

Humans are inherently social. Humans create complex social structures composed of many co-operating and competing groups. These range from nations and states down to families, and also from the community to the self. Seeking to understand and manipulate the world around them has led to the development of technology and science as a social, rather than an individual, enterprise. These institutions have given rise to shared artefacts, beliefs, myths, rituals, values, and social norms which form the group's culture.

Touché!

No objections to the proposal itself, though I'll note that most Ecopoeians pronounce 'z' as 'zed' and 'zebra' as 'zebb-ra'. I hope that makes sense.

Mathieu Vergniaud
Deputy Speaker to the UN

I have considered this and the subsequent replies. I do not see this as a conflicting resolution to UNCoESB however i do have a problem with the fact that All industry is the one affected in my opinion plus as stated it does not force UN Nations to Join. All New resolutions are no longer Optional. There was a time that you could slip in the word Optional in the proposal however my reading of the rewrite of the enodian laws are that having an option is no longer an option. :D

Cheers,
VL.