Tímarit lögfræðinga - 01.12.1989, Page 12

“the uninterrupted functioning of natural systems”. Asphalt and con-
crete do not give us the ultimate answers. Modern man must not be-
come oblivious to his roots in mother nature. This Charter also re-
minds us in the preamble that:
“Every form of life is unique, warranting respect regaidless
of its worth to man, and, to accord other organisms sucli re-
cognition, man must be guided by a moral code of action.”
(Emphasis added).
Paragraph 1 of the World Charter provides that “Nature shall be
respected and its essential processes shall not be impaired.”
Paragraph 2 provides that “The genetic viability on the earth shall
not be compromised ... ”. It also expresses its concern by providing
that:
„the population levels of all life forms, wild and domesticated,
must be at least sufficient for their survival, and to this end
necessary habitats shall be safeguarded.”
4. However, the most burning issues for our world and its environment
have been touched upon in paragi’aph 5 of the World Charter. It
provides: “Nature shall be secured against degradation caused by
warfare or other hostile activities.”
III
1. Admittedly the modem industrial revolution with its incredible
technological advances has exposed our environment to the most severe
ecological threats in the history of mankind. However, it is another
field of human activities, namely military preparations, that exposes
the ecology to the most unpredictable and unforeseeable dangers. The
continuous armaments race worldwide with the increasing potentials
of the armaments industry seems ever more macabre and meaningless.
The discussions have to a considerable extent concentrated on nuclear
weapons. It is my sincere opinion that even the production and
deployment of nuclear weapons and for any State to base its military
strategy on these weapons or to invoke doctrines like first strike
capability, first use of nuclear weapons or diabolic nuclear reprisal
doctrines, such as mutual assured destruction, are frightening con-
traventions of established principles of the modern law of nations.
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