MACONDO --HEALTH AND GULF DISASTER

[maria angelica sassone]

16/08/1910 - WORLD

' Macondo '

Letter A- A +

Sergio Barrios Escalante *

Adital -

True to its name (according to the metaphor fatal and Gabriel García Márquez surreal gives the famous people of his memorable novel) ( 1), caused the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico oil well called " Macondo " (operated by BP from the platform " Deepwater Horizon " ) is the biggest ecological disaster occurred in marine waters from the fatal "accident "of the" Exxon Valdez " ( oil tanker that ran aground in Prince William Sound , Alaska, on March 24, 1989 ).

This time the disaster seems even greater , and it will take time to know exactly the full extent of damage to the marine ecosystem of the Gulf and economic damage , social , cultural and environmental issues caused the entire coastal region impacted.

So far , no one knows the real extent of such damages. It is estimated around five million barrels of oil spilled ( 2), and thousands of fishermen off the coast of Florida and surrounding areas have been seriously affected their fishing and trade .

As if that were not enough, no one knows for sure where they will move up the remains of crude oil spilled , and the millions of liters of chemicals used to try to dissolve it.

We also know that the area where the disaster ( and it was not discussed anything in the media) , is within the circuit of the powerful currents that run through much of the costs of the entire planet. Such currents are known under the name "Gulf Stream ", born on the African coast and crossed several continents.

So serious assault on the planet can not go unpunished. Moreover, we also can not remain with folded arms , limiting ourselves to complain and watch on television as transnational destroy the planet and the future of our sons and daughters.

Therefore it is important to remember that for seven years (2003), an interdisciplinary group of leading scientists from around the world, decided to create the International Academy of Environmental Sciences ( IAES for its acronym in English), which has its based in Venice, Italy, and is chaired by Nobel Peace Prize , Adolfo Pérez Esquivel. In recent years several of their initiatives and campaigns for the benefit of the environment has been endorsed by numerous world-renowned personalities (3).

Two of these initiatives driven by the IAES refer to Reform the International Criminal Court (International Criminal Court- ICC- ), which , as we know , was created by the so-called Rome Statute . "

The first of these initiatives is related to the reform of the International Criminal Court , proposing its functions are extended to prosecute crimes against the environment , important initiative since August 2007 has been issued through two appeals and proclamations Carried out by both the president of the IAES as the Dalai Lama , Tenzin Gyatso ( 4).

The second of these initiatives to reform the International Criminal Court (ICC in Spanish), is linked to the proposal to establish a similar court with exclusive jurisdiction to the European level itself.

These proposals are entirely relevant , concrete , achievable and above all , every day take on a greater urgency. It is important to note also that in 2003 and 2006 , the IAES signed the so-called " Venice Charter ", which promulgated the fundamental principles that drive through its global advocacy for the environment ( 5).

One of the seminal principles promoted and established in that document states that " the polluter should pay. "

Therefore, in search of the partial repair of damage caused by the transnational oil company BP, and above all , before it happens next ecological disaster caused by negligence of a new transnational corporation , it is crucial that we raise our voices to denounce and in this particular case on the reform initiatives promoted by the IAES , we can move quickly from the simple , sterile concrete action complaint , joining and actively supporting the global campaign (6).

Notes:

(1 ) This is "One Hundred Years of Solitude " , award-winning novel of the same author .
(2 ) "Gulf of Mexico , a sea of pollution " : Laura Plitt ; BBC NEWS : http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/ciencia_tecnologia/2010/08/100803_derram...
(3) " Since its inception , the IAES is dedicated to promoting various projects to protect the environment, has conducted studies and field research to identify the causes and remedies to overcome environmental degradation, taking into account the close links between the environment and health of mankind "( Venice- IAES -World Forum 2009 , Conference Internazionale , October 2nd - 3rd 2009 ).
(4) initiative which, among other considerations , recognition of environmental disasters as a crime against humanity ( Call Adolfo Pérez Esquivel and the Dalai Lama: -
http://www.adolfoperezesquivel.com.ar/Adolfo 20adolfo % % % 20IAES/....)
(5) " Venice Charter ": See full text at the official site of the IAES.
(6 ) details of how to actively support this initiative is in ; iaes.info / or ; http://www.justiceforplanetearth.org/index.php?lang=3