Endangered Species

The place to discuss issues being debated in the 2009-2010 school year -- briefs, legislation and debate.

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bromano

Endangered Species

Post by bromano »

Here is the Brief for the December 2nd work session on Endangered Species. We are giving you more than enough time to get started, so we hope to see plenty of research, brought forth, not only in the meeting, but also on the forums. I have given you several links. Because of the cancelation of the Media Oversight, you now have several weeks to start you research. But please don't leave it until the last moment, as the debate is always better when you start earlier on with the forums. Just check out some of the past years. The debate often started the minute the brief was up, and didn't die down until after the meeting. We hope that we can continue this, but you guys need to pull your share. It isn't too hard. Just read the links I posted, and all you really need to do it Google "Endangered Species", and at the moment, you will come up with exactly 11 million hits. So it really doesn't take a lot of effort. So good luck guys, and I look forward to a great debate!


In 2001, the Millennium Development Goals were organized to help combat the world’s problems. Goal 7 was to ensure environmental sustainability. This Goal contained many targets, including Reducing Biodiversity loss. This sub-goal talks about the loss of marine area and land conversation, deforestation, and endangered species. It is estimated that almost 40% of animals are endangered, as of 2006. There are 8 stages of endangerment, and they are
• Least Concerned
• Near Threatened
• Conservation Dependent
• Vulnerable
• Endangered
• Critically Endangered
• Extinct in the Wild
• Extinct

Laws Already in Effect
In the USA, the Endangered Species Act in already in effect, passed in the 1970’s. It was passed for the protection of endangered species, and allows the USA government to rank species in their varied endangerment. It also prohibits the selling, and owning of endangered species, which is an important step in the right direction. It also allows the federal government to give their states money for protection of endangered species. But before this happens, the species must be placed on the Federal list, sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Their actions are bound by a strict legal process, and evaluation.

In Russia, they have the “Red Data Book of the Russian Federation”. This book helps monitor and provides a central source for the Russian ecological system. It is a state document for documenting rare and endangered species in and around Russia. It is another step in the protection of these animals.

In Canada, they have enacted the Species at Risk Act, or SARA. Similar to the Endangered Species Act, it rates the endangerment, and acts from there. It calls for steps to be taken not only to save those animals currently endangered, but to prevent more from joining the list. It identifies ways in which the

World Wide Issue
The World Wildlife Fund is an international organization committed to protecting the remaining species left on the planet. They work in approximately 100 countries, and have almost 5 million supporters worldwide. Their mission, plain and simple, is “the conservation of nature.” By the year 2020, they plan to have 19 of the world’s most important natural places conserved.

CITES, or Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, is an international agreement drafted by over 175 countries being a part. This agreement does not take the place of international law, but it does provide the framework for local laws to help prevent the trading of endangered animals for monetary value.

An older treaty, the Convention of Biological Diversity, in 1992 was adopted in Rio de Janeiro. It had 3 main goals, including conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

2010 is “International Year of Biodiversity.” The goals of this UN sponsored event are:
• Enhance public awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity and of the underlying threats to biodiversity
• Raise awareness of the accomplishments to save biodiversity that have already been realized by communities and governments
• Promote innovative solutions to reduce the threats to biodiversity
• Encourage individuals, organizations and governments to take immediate steps to halt biodiversity loss
• Start dialogue between stakeholders for the steps to be taken in the post-2010 period.


Links for Research
http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/environ.shtml
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.html
VSharma

Re: Endangered Species

Post by VSharma »

An obvious and efficient method of preserving the various species of wildlife is to refrain from exploiting all natural surroundings from a region. In Turkey, Mediterranean and Aegean coasts are hospitalizing monk seals. In the lake and marshes of Köycegiz, several endangered species of turtles are able to survive due to preservation and maintainance of Köycegiz. Also, polution and litter are other factors.

http://www.allaboutturkey.com/turkfauna.htm
BeWang

Re: Endangered Species

Post by BeWang »

Japan thinks that while laws protecting animals and establishing preservation zones are a good thing, the world needs to enforce those laws more effectively. In Africa, poor government enforcement cannot stop poachers from entering wildlife sanctuaries and killing endangered species.
In addition, there is a troubling demand for body parts of endangered species in eastern Asia. The United Nations must do what it can to curb that demand.
VSharma

Re: Endangered Species

Post by VSharma »

Enhance public awareness of the importance of conserving biodiversity and of the underlying threats to biodiversity
• Raise awareness of the accomplishments to save biodiversity that have already been realized by communities and governments
Businesses will mention conservation of biodiversity in their commercials or advertisements.
• Promote innovative solutions to reduce the threats to biodiversity
Animals that are "extinct in the wild" such as Seychelles giant tortoise, Abingdon Island Tortoise, Red-tailed Black Shark, Père David's Deer, etc. should be our first priorities to repopulate. This can be done by exposing them (the ones in human facilities) first to reasonably safe and suitable enviornments to reproduce and regain senses of the wild (this will be done over decades) under the management of International Union for Conservation of Nature: IUCN. Also, hunting will have to be further prohibited in some more specific areas (these areas will be specified later).
• Encourage individuals, organizations and governments to take immediate steps to halt biodiversity loss

• Start dialogue between stakeholders for the steps to be taken in the post-2010 period.
To accomplish this, it will be mandatory for stakeholders to meet one a month to converse about updated or current issues relating to biodiversity
bromano

Re: Endangered Species

Post by bromano »

France admires the valiant efforts already put into place by several countries around the world. But France wishes to stress the fact that one country alone cannot save all of the endangered species. France suggests the cooperation of all countries, and several NGO's to create a rating system, so as to figure out which species most need our help. From there, we can use the NGO's to help us create protection about them. That, or we can supply money from our own pockets. But no matter what, there needs to be cooperation between as many countries as possible.
SRaghavan

Re: Endangered Species

Post by SRaghavan »

"Nature Canada is working to reverse this trend by informing the public about the plight of Canada’s threatened wildlife, pushing for effective laws and supporting programs to protect endangered species and their habitats.

Nature Canada led a multi-year Endangered Species Campaign involving NGO and government stakeholders to establish federal endangered species legislation. As a member of the Species at Risk Working Group we helped secure the passage of the federal Species at Risk Act in 2003.

Under the Act, the federal government is obligated to work to rebuild threatened or endangered species populations and take action to prevent relatively common species from facing further risk."
This article was referenced to from http://www.naturecanada.ca/endangered.asp

So, it is clear that the main reason for endangered species is human crave for simply getting whatever we want; ivory, animal products, oil spills, wool: anything, really, that affects an animal population has been the dirty work of a human group.
vallada

Re: Endangered Species

Post by vallada »

Resolution 3-1
Sponsors- South Africa, Russia, U.K, USA, Finland, Honduras, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Ireland

Acknowledges that there are many endangered species in the world today.

Cognizant that there are many factors contributing to the endangerment of species.

Understanding that developing nations have limited resources to devote to law enforcement needs.

Be it enacted by the United Nations assembled:

1. Urges nations to better protect endangered species through:
a. Education
b. Law enforcement
c. NGOs

2. Requests that nations enforce laws regarding the preservation of an endangered species.

3. Suggests that nations educate their citizens on:
a. The hazards and ineffectiveness of consuming certain animal products.
b. The importance of biodiversity
c. The benefits of energy efficient technology
d. The benefits of having national parks.

4. Encourage nations to enforce laws regarding poaching through:
a. Increased funding for law enforcement
b. Cargo searches
c. More Severe penalties for violations of these laws

5. Calls Upon NGOs to provide funding for:
a. National parks in developing nations
b. Law enforcement in developing nations

Okay so I know this bill is a bit rough around the edges so if any of you have suggestions on how to fortify this bill please tell me. If any of the sponsors want to add a section (I don't know if thats allowed before the debate but I'm assuming it is) go ahead.
Last edited by vallada on Sun Dec 06, 2009 6:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Endangered Species

Post by Bob Fenster »

Amendments are allowed up to a few days before the debate.

For future reference, UN legislation is referred to as a resolution, not a bill.
VSharma

Re: Endangered Species

Post by VSharma »

Resolution 3-2
Sponsors: Turkey, Canada, Austria, Australia, Andorra, Slovakia, France, Italy, Spain

Aware of the fact that certain species of animals that have not been classified by taxonomists may be endangered.

Conscious about the significant but negative impact advancement of technology and science has on the environment.

Mindful that deforestation cannot be completely halted.

Expecting nations to have an idea of where classified animals are located on the endangerment rankings.

Be it enacted by the United Nations assembled:

1. Determines that education will reach the public of a nation through:
a) A refined version of the curriculum biology that diverts from human genetics, genetic engineering, and biotechnology and focuses its attention more on biodiversity.
b) Television commercials and advertisements of Staples, Office Depot, electrical car dealerships, and other companies or organizations that are altering there merchandise or procedures to suit environmentally safe standards will include in which ways the environment is being improved and how.
c) News channels, newspapers, and other news sources that will now emphasize less on murders, robberies, and kidnappings and more on global issues and solutions that commoners can participate in.

2. Instructs voluntary organizations that improve environmental conditions to influence people to become affiliated with them by explaining how human-caused damage to the natural environment and animals within it negatively impacts human lives, surroundings, and economy.

3. Urges on international collection of funds to be used for the preservation of endangered species.

4. Suggests that compensation for deforestation can occur by the implantation of infant trees in place of the stricken trees.

5. Approves that animals should be quarantined in isolated zoos if presenting definite symptoms of an ominous disease.

6. Stresses the use of NGOs in enforcing the procedures listed above as well as other methods presently existing.

7. Emphasizes that deforestation can be limited (which does not contradict the third sentence in the perambulatory clause) by slowly preserving at least ten more vital regions that contain a diversity of animals by 2015 if assented by the host country. Another ten more regions may be preserved by 2020. This will be determined and monitored by the world Wildlife Fund (WWF) NGO.

8. Requests that micromanagement of cargo vessels and equipment be more accurate to avert oil leaks such as the Alaska Oil Spill.

9. Considers the utilization of coast guards to prohibit the disposal of crude oil or hazardous materials into oceans, rivers, and seas.

10. Condemns poaching of endangered animals.

Opinions can be written about this resolution below.
EWang

Re: Endangered Species

Post by EWang »

Speakers:

Resolution 3-1
Pro: Finland
Con: Austria

Resolution 3-2
Pro: Canada
Con: Honduras
VSharma

Re: Endangered Species

Post by VSharma »

some of the other sponsors should speak who have not done so in the past. if no body wants to, i will be a speaker. also, shree, if you want to be pro instead of con, there is another spot open.
VSharma

Re: Endangered Species

Post by VSharma »

i take that last post back. i mistoke the resolution 3-1 pro and con for another 3-2 pro and con. nevermind about that last post.
JCasto

Re: Endangered Species

Post by JCasto »

You can click on the "X" to delete your post(s).
SRaghavan

Re: Endangered Species

Post by SRaghavan »

Vaibhav,

I'll do Pro for your resolution

-Shree
galukal

Re: Endangered Species

Post by galukal »

Shree, didn't you want to do pro? I edited Eric's post.

Anyway, we need a con for 3-1.
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