Law of the Sea Treaty
1982 General Resolution
WHEREAS, the oceans of the world cover 70% of its surface; andWHEREAS, there is no international, oceanic policy; the United States has no such policy and recent incidents have shown the extreme dangers of competing national oceanic interests; and
WHEREAS, the Law of the Sea Treaty is an international United Nations treaty, drafted by 151 nations, affirming that the resources of the sea belong to all people and embodying negotiated arrangements for sharing and controlling these resources; and
WHEREAS, after United States bipartisan support and leadership under four successive Presidential administrations, the United States cast one of only four negative votes on April 30, 1982 against the Law of the Sea Treaty; and
WHEREAS, continued United States political and financial support and technological participation are vital to the Treaty's stature, to effective implementation of its provisions, and to its success; and
WHEREAS, the present negative position of the United States can and should be reversed before final treaty signing in December, 1982;
BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1982 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association:
- Affirms that the Law of the Sea Treaty is unparalleled as a practical opportunity for the world to move toward becoming truly a world community;
- Urges the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office to continue to encourage creation of a comprehensive oceanic policy for the United States and Canada based on the Law of the Sea, and to work for signature of the Treaty by the United States;
- Urges the Association's Office of Social Responsibility and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to develop education and action programs and materials for understanding every aspect of the global sea's influence on humankind's physical and social environment and for understanding the Law of the Sea Treaty;
- Urges Association societies, fellowships, and individuals to formulate immediate action plans and to work closely with other groups for support of the Law of the Sea Treaty;
- Urges the Board of Trustees, officers, and staff of the Association to provide leadership and assistance to the denomination in these efforts.
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Last updated on Wednesday, August 24, 2011.
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