USA#1
02-10-2007, 10:06 PM
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EU may make harming environment a crime
By AOIFE WHITE, AP Business Writer2 hours, 28 minutes ago
Companies and individuals found responsible for environmental disasters should face criminal charges, the European Union's executive said Friday in proposing a measure that would punish serious offenses across the 27-nation bloc with up to five years in prison or a $975,000 fine.
Under the proposal, European courts would be allowed to put a company out of business and order those convicted to clean up the environment.
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said those found responsible for such disasters as last year's dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast, in which 10 people died, should be punished.
"The recent hazardous waste disaster in the Ivory Coast shows how environmental crimes can have devastating effects on people and the environment," he said.
The proposal faces a tough review by member governments and the European Parliament, which will have the final say on whether to adopt the measure.
Several nations, including Britain and Denmark, are reluctant to give the EU a say over such a sensitive national issue as criminal sanctions — laws traditionally drafted by national parliaments and not the EU institutions in Brussels.
EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said the measure was "crucial to avoid criminals profiting" from different judicial systems among member countries. "We cannot allow safe havens of environmental crime inside the EU."
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Here's my take ...
There needs to be a world concensus on the matter of environmental crime. Unfortunatley environmental crime is "better than drug dealing" for criminals because of the high and quick profits to be made with little enforcement. Often countries do not have the resources or the infrastructure to deal with the crimes. According to an article by Charles Schmidt, illegal dumping generates 12 billion in revenues annually. Countries look away and fail to adopt measures, such as the US declining to ratify the Basel Convention because it wants to protect its recycling industry (recycling of electronics with lead). Different countries will continue to want to protect certain industry, which inevitably works against the environment in the long run.
Schmidt, Charles, "Crimes at the Earth's Expense", Environmental Health Perspectives, vol.112 ---February 2004. Retreived From:[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) on Feb.10, 2007
This is an Interpol Article ... COOL Graphics Link Above !!!
:dancing:
EU may make harming environment a crime
By AOIFE WHITE, AP Business Writer2 hours, 28 minutes ago
Companies and individuals found responsible for environmental disasters should face criminal charges, the European Union's executive said Friday in proposing a measure that would punish serious offenses across the 27-nation bloc with up to five years in prison or a $975,000 fine.
Under the proposal, European courts would be allowed to put a company out of business and order those convicted to clean up the environment.
EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said those found responsible for such disasters as last year's dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast, in which 10 people died, should be punished.
"The recent hazardous waste disaster in the Ivory Coast shows how environmental crimes can have devastating effects on people and the environment," he said.
The proposal faces a tough review by member governments and the European Parliament, which will have the final say on whether to adopt the measure.
Several nations, including Britain and Denmark, are reluctant to give the EU a say over such a sensitive national issue as criminal sanctions — laws traditionally drafted by national parliaments and not the EU institutions in Brussels.
EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said the measure was "crucial to avoid criminals profiting" from different judicial systems among member countries. "We cannot allow safe havens of environmental crime inside the EU."
---------------
Here's my take ...
There needs to be a world concensus on the matter of environmental crime. Unfortunatley environmental crime is "better than drug dealing" for criminals because of the high and quick profits to be made with little enforcement. Often countries do not have the resources or the infrastructure to deal with the crimes. According to an article by Charles Schmidt, illegal dumping generates 12 billion in revenues annually. Countries look away and fail to adopt measures, such as the US declining to ratify the Basel Convention because it wants to protect its recycling industry (recycling of electronics with lead). Different countries will continue to want to protect certain industry, which inevitably works against the environment in the long run.
Schmidt, Charles, "Crimes at the Earth's Expense", Environmental Health Perspectives, vol.112 ---February 2004. Retreived From:[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) on Feb.10, 2007
This is an Interpol Article ... COOL Graphics Link Above !!!
:dancing: