Ecocide law - the conversation goes global

NewsletterApril2Bright (2).png
 
 
WhatsApp Image 2021-03-31 at 20.25.29.jpeg

This month it’s all about the conversation:

ecocide 1.PNG

the power is in the word itself.  It encapsulates the terrible extent of damage happening to the natural living world in so many ways.  And once we understand the word, we know it must stop.  

The more politicians hear that word, the stronger momentum becomes to put ecocide law in place.  What we are seeding is a global conversation. And people are talking.


Media

The last few weeks have seen a rapidly growing focus on ecocide law in high profile publications. And this spurs political discussion.

What’s in a name? Is it time for “ecocide” to become an international crime? A growing movement wants destruction of the environment to be treated like genocide and crimes against humanity.

Lawyers Are Working to Put 'Ecocide' on Par with War Crimes.
Could an International Law Hold Major Polluters to Account?

Philippe Sands on why “ecocide” should be a crime. How a proposed amendment to international human rights law could prohibit the systematic destruction of nature. 

To stop climate disaster, make ecocide an international crime. It's the only way. Outlawing ecocide would hold governments and corporations accountable for environmental negligence. We can’t wait

‘Ecocidio’, un nuevo delito para proteger al planeta de la humanidad. Un panel de 12 expertos prepara un borrador para introducir este crimen en el Estatuto de la Corte Penal Internacional

Ecocidio: un nuevo crimen contra la paz para salvar el planeta.
Juristas de reconocido prestigio tratan de definir el delito para que pueda ser juzgado por la Corte Penal Internacional de La Haya.


National Teams

WhatsApp Image 2021-04-01 at 20.18.11.jpeg

Our reach on the ground continues to expand, with new teams this month in Aotearoa-New Zealand and Australia.

We notice that where we have communications teams, ecocide law starts to gain political traction. You may think that changing international law is something that happens in some remote corridor of power… but it starts with a simple conversation. One that more and more people are joining.

Whatever your network, big or small, you can grow that conversation.


Watch

From the Grassroots to the Courts: How criminalizing ecocide could benefit frontline defenders?

Co-hosted by Stop Ecocide Canada & RAVEN Trust.

Speakers: Sleydo’ (Molly Wickham) (Wet'suwet'en Nation), Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm (Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation), Melissa Mollen Dupuis (Innu community of Ekuanitshit).

Moderator: Suzanne Dhaliwal.


Jojo Mehta, Co-founder of Stop Ecocide International in conversation with Patrick Alley, Co-founder of Global Witness on exposing the links between corrupt practices, economic greed and environmental destruction, and how an international law of ecocide could help untangle that mess...


Look out for

EU Consultation on Environmental Crime Directive- full details in a special mailing coming soon

AUS: Earth Law alliance event on April 14th, 6pm AEST. International campaign update, followed by Q&A with guest Jojo Mehta. 

EN: Outrage & Optimism podcast out on 15th April. Jojo is interviewed by Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac & Paul Dickinson.


Accelerate our work

  1. Set up a regular donation via Paypal or credit/debit card today

  2. Recommend us to organisations or individuals you know who could help fund our work

  3. And keep talking!


PS  - Just in from the US!  Biden lifts sanctions on ICC

We’re delighted to hear that US President Joe Biden has now revoked former President Trump’s executive order and repealed sanctions placed against International Criminal Court officials.  This is a promising development, showing that while the US may not become a member of the ICC just yet, there is no longer state hostility towards the Court as an institution.

Ms. Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, President, Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court announced yesterday: ”I welcome this decision which contributes to strengthening the work of the Court and, more generally, to promoting a rules-based international order.”