NationStates Jolt Archive

This is my first attempt at writing a proposal, so be nice! Please let me know what you think.

The intended parameters of this legislation would call for a mild advance of industry.

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COMMENDING the UN for its commitment to the preservation of the environment

CONSIDERING that most UN memberstates have natural resources that could be better managed and rejuvenated with selective logging

ALSO CONSIDERING that timber is a renewable building material that pollutes less than the production of other construction materials

CONCERNED that clear felling would constitute a much larger to the environments of UN member states

CONCLUDES that selective logging would allow UN member states the freedom to manage and protect their environments in an economically viable way

ACKNOLODGES that this act allows for UN member states to selectively log their least environmentally sensitive regions in their nation

REQUIRES that all UN member states selectively log no more than 49% of their environmental assets over a period of less than two decades

REQUIRES that all UN member states commit to rejuvenating selectively logged areas

I don't have time for many comments now, but I do like this idea. I've wanted a proposal that differentiated between selective logging and clear-felling since I saw the state of the UN's logging resolutions.

Some immediate points:
1. Your proposal should probably define the difference between "clear-felling" and "selective logging".
2. What category? I assume Advancement of Industry, Environmental Deregulation?
3. Misspelling: "ACKNOWLEDGING"
4. Your "CONCERNED" line misses a word - presents "a much greater"...what? Danger? Threat of damage?
5. You will need to take account of Resolution #23, Replanting Trees.

This is my first attempt at writing a proposal, so be nice! Please let me know what you think.

The intended parameters of this legislation would call for a mild advance of industry.

I'm thinking Environmental from the title, but we'll see by the time we're done.

BTW - please use quote tags instead of bold, or put in a horizontal line, or something - just don't use bold....or color for that matter.

COMMENDING the UN for its commitment to the preservation of the environment

Yay! We're being commended for our recent work of repealing just about every environmental resolution ever passed!

CONSIDERING that most UN memberstates have natural resources that could be better managed and rejuvenated with selective logging

Ok

ALSO CONSIDERING that timber is a renewable building material that pollutes less than the production of other construction materials

Ok

CONCERNED that clear felling would constitute a much larger to the environments of UN member states

Much larger....what? Impact? Devestation? Pillsburry Dill-boys?

CONCLUDES that selective logging would allow UN member states the freedom to manage and protect their environments in an economically viable way

Good

ACKNOLODGES that this act allows for UN member states to selectively log their least environmentally sensitive regions in their nation

Ok

REQUIRES that all UN member states selectively log no more than 49% of their environmental assets over a period of less than two decades

Alright.

Loophole 1: I've got an estimated 400 Billion Angels in oil and 200 billion in lumber. So, I'll cut down ALL my trees and then I'll only be dealing with 33% of my environmental assets
Loophole 2: Environmental assets are undefined. I'll cut down all my trees which are my natural resource assets
Loophole 3: Oh, I can't selectively log more than 49%? That's fine. I'll just clear cut what I can't selectively log

Just a few issues off the top of my head that you'll need to address

REQUIRES that all UN member states commit to rejuvenating selectively logged areas[/B]

....I'm cringing, but fine.

EDIT:
1) Category is definitely Environmental, Logging (Since it's NOT Environmental deregulation)
2) I'll disagree with Gruen about his point 5. It only applies to certain situations, deals with clearcutting, not selective cutting, is sitting on the "must be repealed" list, and could only possibly duplicate one line. Not an issue. You may, however, want to refer to it

I'm just cringing.

I'm just cringing.
Why?

Why?

REQUIRES that all UN member states selectively log no more than 49% of their environmental assets over a period of less than two decades

REQUIRES that all UN member states commit to rejuvenating selectively logged areas

The people of Cluichstan loathe being told how they can and cannot use their land and resources.

Logging, however, is fundamentally international in nature, because of the effects of logging on ecosystems, on soil, water and air quality, and on timber's value as a commodity. I agree the 49% figure seems a little arbitrary, but I don't have a particular objection to some cap being set on the amound that can be logged. Furthermore, I like the phrasing of the second clause: although it's a requirement, "commit to" implies that nations can adapt the particulars of aforestation to their situation.

The people of Cluichstan loathe being told how they can and cannot use their land and resources.
A pity, then, that their land and resources are of international concern. Remember, nature pays no heed to human constructs such as national borders.

Mathieu Vergniaud
Deputy Speaker to the UN

Grumph... here I was, already dreaming up new puns and insults using your nation name, and you go and propose something sensible... :(

Oh well, constructive it is then. Good idea, probably needs a repeal of #23, and some drafting effort.

I would add to the previous suggestions by noting that your preamble should go to the ACKNOLEDGES clause, so it should be CONCLUDING and ACKNOWLEDGING.

REQUIRES that all UN member states selectively log no more than 49% of their environmental assets over a period of less than two decades

Definitions needed, and protection of the remaining 51%.

REQUIRES that all UN member states commit to rejuvenating selectively logged areas

Who, how, where, when. In the operative clauses, especially mandatory ones, you should give clear instructions. It would be nice to urge nations to do so in a renewable manner, by replanting trees. Making this compulsory would lose my support.

Excellent first effort. I would warn you against trying to take this to the queue too early, there is still much work to be done here.

Definitions needed, and protection of the remaining 51%.


Don't make me hurt you... :p

er...umm...yeah....I had an edit of my post that I left lieing around for a while......it's up now so ...oops

Someone should submit a Proposal that promotes clear cutting as a way to reduce pollution. I'm actually serious... some trees cause acid rain (http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20030315/fob6.asp) and others release methane (http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20060114/fob1.asp).

DOWN WITH TREES!

OOC: Pine trees have long been known to be 'bad' trees. Doesn't stop governments planting a load to replace other recently felled trees and then claiming they're being sustainable. Grumble.

A pity, then, that their land and resources are of international concern. Remember, nature pays no heed to human constructs such as national borders.

Mathieu Vergniaud
Deputy Speaker to the UN


OOC: Except when nations occupy complete planets, as some NSUN members do...

DOWN WITH TREES!

Not in the UN. (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/World_Heritage_List)

OOC: Pine trees have long been known to be 'bad' trees. Doesn't stop governments planting a load to replace other recently felled trees and then claiming they're being sustainable. Grumble.

Oh don't get me started on this!

Oh manure, I think he just did.

Well a number of years ago I used to hunt bear. (No not hunt bare, that's bear. Bear have good vision you know so you have to dress to the 9's in camoflauge head to toe that has been rubbed in pine leaves to remove any human sent so you can't really hunt bear bare. Don't go there.) Anyway, it was in an area that was used by the timber (aka the woodchipping) industry.

They would clear a large section of their forest. Then by law they had to replant with trees, specifically trees that they could harvest as soon as possible, so that meant pines. Now pines do grow faster in the long run but the average tree with those nice flat leaves tend to grow the fastest as saplings because at that point their leaves make up more than half the tree mass. They grow initially faster and shade the potential pine trees. Now since the timber industry didn't want that, they made a poison that kills any non-pine tree. Mission solved, right? Unfortunately, this still meant that non pine trees and plants tried to grow and died. These plants were eaten by the animals who became downright sick, even mentally retarded, although it's hard to apply that term to an animal. I once saw a moose, it was a young moose, but even for a moose it wasn't in it's right mind. It's head was tilted oddly. It was like completely unaware of anything.

So please! Think of the moose!

OK, thankyou for your feedback. I have gone back to the drawing board and partially re-written this, shortly I am going to show this to my region and ask for opinions there, but thankyou to everyone who has posted in this thread!


DEFINING 'enviromental resources' for the purpose of this document as natural environments that are relatively unaffected by man including, but not limited to forrests, jungles, bush, scrub, tundra that may be logged.

COMMENDING the UN for its commitment to the preservation of the environment.

CONSIDERING that most UN memberstates have natural resources that could be better managed and rejuvenated with selective logging.

ALSO CONSIDERING that timber is a renewable building material that pollutes less than the production of other construction materials.

CONCERNED that clear felling would constitute a much larger threat to the environments of UN member states.

ACKNOWLEDGING that this act allows for UN member states to selectively log their least environmentally sensitive regions in their nation.

CONCLUDES that selective logging would allow UN member states the freedom to manage and protect their environments in an economically viable way.

REQUIRES that all UN member states selectively log no more than 49% of their environmental assets over a period of less than two decades, clearfelling of the remainder of UN member states' environmental assets must be restricted to no more than 10% of the environmental assets. The combined percentage of clearfelling and selective logging of UN memberstates' environmental assets reach no more than 49% of their total environmental assets.

REQUIRES that all UN member states commit to rejuvenating selectively logged areas with species native to the area in a renewable manner that also complies with Resolution 23 ('Replanting Trees').

I still think there is more work to be done on it, for a start I don't like my definition of environmental assets, no do I like the wording of the first requirement of this legislation. I'm also not sure that I should have ACKNOWLEDGING before CONCLUDES.

DEFINING 'enviromental resources' for the purpose of this document as natural environments that are relatively unaffected by man including, but not limited to forrests, jungles, bush, scrub, tundra that may be logged.

I'm rather concerned about the definition of "enviromental sic resources", as it seems to be rather too narrow. Are environmental resources only to be limited to areas unaffected by man? What about areas of great natural beauty that are nevertheless highly populated and where people live alongside nature in relative harmony? Equally, how does one log tundra?

COMMENDING the UN for its commitment to the preservation of the environment.

In my opinion we could do more, but that's another matter.

CONSIDERING that most UN memberstates have natural resources that could be better managed and rejuvenated with selective logging.

Examples? I'm interested by your point concerning rejuvenation and what this would constitute in your opinion.

ALSO CONSIDERING that timber is a renewable building material that pollutes less than the production of other construction materials.

Agreed.

CONCERNED that clear felling would constitute a much larger threat to the environments of UN member states.

Agreed.

ACKNOWLEDGING that this act allows for UN member states to selectively log their least environmentally sensitive regions in their nation.

Possibly.

CONCLUDES that selective logging would allow UN member states the freedom to manage and protect their environments in an economically viable way.

I will remain neutral on this statement till the concept of selective logging, as envisaged by the author of this resolution, is outlined.

REQUIRES that all UN member states selectively log no more than 49% of their environmental assets over a period of less than two decades, clearfelling of the remainder of UN member states' environmental assets must be restricted to no more than 10% of the environmental assets. The combined percentage of clearfelling and selective logging of UN memberstates' environmental assets reach no more than 49% of their total environmental assets.

What is the scientific basis of these percentages.

REQUIRES that all UN member states commit to rejuvenating selectively logged areas with species native to the area in a renewable manner that also complies with Resolution 23 ('Replanting Trees').

I would recommend that the protection of the original biodiversity of the area also be enshrined herein, as otherwise more environmental damage through reckless and poorly-conducted rejuventation projects may be sustained than might be the case had the areas in question been clearfelled.

May the blessings of our otters be upon you.

Leonard Otterby
Ambassador for the Republic of Compadria to the U.N.

how do you get a poll?

how do you get a poll?

When you create a new thread, scroll down and you'll see an "attach a poll" option. Please don't use it.

OOC: Pine trees have long been known to be 'bad' trees."Bad trees". Oh, this is interesting. Something in nature being bad. The list grows!

Bad Things In Nature
Racoons
Cow Farts
Pine Trees


In all seriousness though, the second link is trees (and vegetation) in general, not just pines.

"Bad trees". Oh, this is interesting. Something in nature being bad. The list grows!

Bad Things In Nature
Racoons
Cow Farts
Pine Trees
Non-psychoactive mushrooms. Nasty.

In all seriousness though, the second link is trees (and vegetation) in general, not just pines.
True. 'Tis complex, no?