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Current environmental measures do not go far enough to protect the planet, argues Polly Higgins, an international environmental lawyer who argues that destruction of ecosystems should be criminalized
LONDON (AlertNet) - Current environmental measures do not go far enough to protect the planet, argues Polly Higgins, an international environmental lawyer and the author of "Eradicating Ecocide", a book about criminalising the destruction of ecosystems .
In April 2010, Higgins submitted a legal proposal to the United Nations that would make the destruction of ecosystems - so-called ecocide - a fifth crime against peace alongside genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression.
"By creating an international crime of ecocide, what we create is an umbrella piece of legislation that overrides all other existing laws and therefore closes the door to such damaging and destructive activity," Higgins told AlertNet in an interview at an event in London organised by Net Impact.
The proposed law would recognise the sanctity of not only human life, but all life.
"I am looking at big destruction, and this is really about identifying the largest perpetrators of that damage and destruction," she said.
Net Impact is a network of students and professionals who believe business can create a more environmentally sustainable society.
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