New World Heritage Sites Proposed
By Henry Lamb
April 10, 2007
Page 2 of 2
After meeting every objection raised by the agencies, and opposition by environmental organizations, and within months of the deadline for a final decision by the federal government, the World Heritage Committee intervened. At the request of a coalition of environmental 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 public, local and state elected officials, and even 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, nor 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 federal agency decides to request that UNESCO do so.
Whenever private citizens or elected officials become obstacles to the agenda advanced by environmental organizations and agency officials, the World Heritage Treaty is readily available to remove the obstacles and crush the hopes, dreams, and Constitutional guarantees that are meaningless to UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee.
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Henry Lamb is the executive vice president of the Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO), and chairman of Sovereignty International .
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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA. >> Back -- Page 1 2
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