THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
An Online Journal of Political Commentary & Analysis
Volume IX, Issue # 62, Apeil 9, 2007
Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
Government Committed to & Acting in Accord with Conservative Principles
Ensures a Nation's Strength, Progress, & Prosperity
NEW WORLD HERITAGE SITES PROPOSED
By Henry Lamb
POLITICAL ENVIRONMENTALISM VERSUS NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY, CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY, & PRIVATE PROPERTY:
POLITICAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS, IN LEAGUE WITH UNITED NATIONS BUREAUCRATS & OTHER
INTERNATIONALISTS, ARE SEEKING TO USE UNESCO & WORLD HERITAGE SITES TO IMPOSE THE ENVIRONMENTALIST
POLICY AGENDA ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AT THE EXPENSE OF AMERICAN NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY, REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT, & CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEES OF PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS -- HIGH TIME FOR THE U.S.A. TO RECLAIM
ITS SOVEREIGNTY THROUGH ABROGATION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE TREATY & ANY OTHER TREATY OR AGREEMENT
THAT ALLOWS U.N. DECISION-MAKING & ACTION TO SUPERCEDE AMERICAN DOMESTIC PUBLIC POLICY & THE BASIC
RIGHTS OF AMERICANS UNDER THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
FULL STORY:
Thirty-four new sites are being proposed for addition to the existing 20 U.N. World Heritage sites in the United States
of America. These proposed sites are from a list of more than 70 sites suggested for listing. The decision for listing is
expected before the end of 2007.
Among the few people who know about this list, some are elated, and some are furious. The vast majority of people --
including elected officials -- have no idea how, or by whom, the list was formulated, why it is being proposed, or what the
significance of listing may be.
The list is required by the 1972 World Heritage Treaty, ratified by the United States government. Each member-nation is
required to update its “inventory” of possible sites for listing every two years. UNESCO then designates the sites it
chooses. The last two sites added to UNESCO’s list were Carlsbad Caverns, and Glacier National Park, in 1995. In both
instances, local elected officials had no idea that the sites were even being considered, until the announcement was made
by UNESCO.
SIGNIFICANCE OF LISTING
The purpose of the World Heritage Treaty is to identify cultural and natural sites worthy of international recognition --
and protection. There are now 830 properties listed in 138 of the 183 nations that are a party to the treaty. All are subject
to extraordinary protection measures. Treaty Article 6 (1) says:
“Whilst fully respecting the sovereignty of the States [countries] on whose
territory the cultural and natural heritage mentioned in Articles 1
and 2 is situated, and without prejudice to property right provided
by national legislation, the States Parties to this Convention
recognize that such heritage constitutes a world heritage for
whose protection it is the duty of the international community as
a whole to co-operate.”
Ratification of the treaty obligates the United States to recognize that, once a site is listed as a World Heritage Site, “...
such heritage constitutes a world heritage for whose protection it is the duty of the international community as a whole to
co-operate.” Essentially, once a site is listed, a state (country) is obligated “to do all it can” to provide “protection,
conservation, presentation, and transmission to future generations.”
If the state (country) is not doing what the World Heritage Committee thinks it should do to protect a listed site, it may
declare the site to be a “World Heritage Site in Danger.” Yellowstone National Park, designated a World Heritage Site in
1978, provides an excellent example of the significance of this designation.
In 1987, the New World Mine, located on privately owned property nearly three miles from Yellowstone, began expanding
development of an old mine that had been in operation since 1875. The operators expected to mine $750 million in gold
from the project. The company spent nearly three years and $37 million in the development of an Environmental Impact
Statement, reviewed by 20 state and federal agencies.
After meeting every objection raised by the agencies, and opposition by environmentalist organizations, and within months
of the deadline for a final decision by the U.S. national government, the World Heritage Committee intervened. At the
request of a coalition of environmentalist organizations, and an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Interior, UNESCO
sent a delegation to evaluate the World Heritage Site.
Bernd von Droste, Director of the World Heritage Centre, concluded that:
"It is important to note that Article 1 of the World Heritage Convention
obliges the State Party to protect, conserve, present and transmit to
future generations World Heritage sites for which they are responsible.
This obligation extends beyond the boundary of the site and Article 5(A)
recommends that State Parties integrate the protection of sites into
comprehensive planning programmes. Thus, if proposed developments
will damage the integrity of Yellowstone National Park, the State Party has
a responsibility to act beyond the National Park boundary."
The mining permit was not granted. New plans were launched to limit visitors’ use of the park, and to reduce the use of
snowmobiles. Nearly 18 million acres surrounding the park were subjected to more stringent regulations.
Despite outcries from the general public, from local and state elected officials and from Congressmen, the treaty-required
protections prevailed. Re-read Article 6 (1) above, in light of this Yellowstone experience. National sovereignty doesn’t
seem to get much respect, nor does private property and the legislatively authorized permitting process, when confronted
by the enforcers of the World Heritage Treaty. Know too, that the Everglades National Park is a “World Heritage Site in
Danger.” Know too, that any World Heritage Site can be listed as a World Heritage Site in Danger, anytime a U.S. federal
agency decides to request that UNESCO do so.
Whenever private citizens or elected officials become obstacles to the agenda advanced by environmentalist organizations
and their political allies among agency officials, the World Heritage Treaty is readily available to remove the obstacles and
crush the hopes, dreams, and American constitutional guarantees that are meaningless to UNESCO and the World Heritage
Committee.
LINKS TO RELATED TOPICS:
Policy Issues Relating to Energy, Environment,
& Natural Resources
Civil Liberties -- Private Property Rights
The United Nations, Its Agencies, U.S. National Interests
Henry Lamb is Founder and Executive Vice President of the Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO), which was
established in 1988 to protect property rights from erosion by excessive environmental regulations. Lamb is also Chairman
of Sovereignty International, an organization opposed to world government and to the statist policy agendas of political
environmentalists, global-warming alarmists, and Leftwing Liberals.
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THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE, USA
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Dr. Almon Leroy Way, Jr., Editor
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