ECOCIDEis the missing 5th Crime Against Peace

Polly HigginsInternational Lawyer

Author: Eradicating Ecocide & Earth is our Business

Crimes Against HumanityWar CrimesGenocideCrimes of Aggression

Well-being of life

Crimes Against Peace

Crimes Against HumanityWar CrimesGenocideCrimes of AggressionEcocide

Well-being of all life

Crimes Against Peace

4427

Right to Life

States have a positive legal duty to protect life 

5

widespread long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly

excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall

MILITARY advantage anticipated

War Crime

6

widespread long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly

excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall

COMMUNITY advantage anticipated

Peace Crime

Strict Liability v intent: comparator

Death by Dangerous Driving 3 - 4 years

(objective test)

Manslaughter 8 - 12 years

(reckless knowledge)

Murder life

(intent)

Strict Liability v intent: comparator

Death by Dangerous Driving 3 - 4 yearsEcocide by damage, destruction to or loss of eco....(objective test)

Manslaughter 8 - 12 yearsEcocide + knowledge(reckless knowledge)

Murder lifeEcocide + intent(intent)

ECOCIDE

The extensive destruction, damage to or loss of ecosystem(s) of a given territory, whether by human agency or by other causes, to such an extent that peaceful enjoyment by the inhabitants of that territory has been severely diminished

human-made other causes

mining tsunamis

fossil fuel extraction melting ice

fracking floods

deforestation earthquake

BP Gulf oil spill ecosystem collapse

International Criminal Court

3000 companiesIndustry said

it is a

necessity public demand

economic

collapseself-regulation limit numbers (cap)

leave it to market forces tradeable permits

improve conditionspay fines

3000 companiesIndustry said

it is a

necessity public demand

economic

collapseself-regulation

limit numbers (cap)leave it to market forces

tradeable permitsimprove conditions

Just because it is the norm to destroy the Earth does not mean that it is right

Moral wrong = criminal wrong

THIS SHOULD BE A CRIME

Inert ThingProperty Law

imposed value $$$ commodity

Living BeingTrusteeship Law

intrinsic value

responsibility

crime against humanity

crime against nature

crime against future generations

crime against peace

ECOCIDE

My wish: to end Ecocide by 2020

issue: our Earth is being destroyed

Wish20: end the era of Ecocide

the quest: to empower others to act

eradicatingecocide.com/wish20