A mixed blessing

The recent historic declaration by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights at the conclusion of its 57th session in Geneva has addressed the link between environment and human rights. The Commission concluded that everyone has the right to live in a world free from toxic pollution and environmental degradation.

As a follow up the Nairobi office of the United Nations Environment Programme( unep ) has hailed this decision and pressed for the organising of a seminar on strengthening environmental and human rights principles. The results of this seminar will be fed into the review for the world summit on sustainable development to be convened in Johannesburg in September 2002 -- the Rio +10 summit.

It cannot be denied that many of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have significant environmental dimensions. A clean environment will definitely ensure a better enjoyment of the basic right to life, health, adequate food and housing and traditional livelihood.

A degraded environment will mean severe curtailment of these rights. Therefore those who pollute or destroy the natural environment are committing a crime against human beings in the ultimate analysis.

But whatever an international body does has to be closely observed by the South. It can be a mixed blessing. The criteria for sustainable development has been discussed at various forums and attempts have been made by the North to impose trade sanctions against the South by using environmental clauses.

While it is laudable that this right is being given to everyone in the world. It is also important that an equal right to the Earth's resources be given to everyone before they are given a right to a clean environment. Certain countries that are at a higher stage of development than others can afford to talk about these issues, which are not really pressing issues and currently not a priority. It would be very easy to turn around and use this right to a clean environment during discussions on international negotiations against the South. Tomorrow the North could arm twist the South in environmental negotiations and force them to sign upon the dotted line as and when it suits the interests of the North.

Therefore the South has to ensure that the right to a clean environment is based on another fundamental right -- equal right to the environment.

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