| Global Water Equilibrium (Toward A World Summit on Societal Sustainability) Global water equilibrium - achieved and sustained over time in bringing active freshwater into proportional balance with inactive freshwater - will contribute significantly to the volume of freshwater dedicated to societal sustainability. At present 70% of Earth's freshwater is inactive as ice on Antarctica and, as such, does not participate in the hydrologic cycle. A world summit focusing on societal sustainability - a topic inseparably linked to freshwater quality/availability and the positive generational constant of human empathy and compassion - will provide an appropriate forum for productive dialogue related to (a) a healthful, sustainable environment for every planetary citizen, (b) universal health care, publicly supported, (c) education for all based upon individual capability, (d) creative/productive employment for every citizen, (e) financial security upon completion of work career. It is important that global leaders be apprised of Project Ice-SHARE, first proposed in 1982 and updated as below, whose effort seeks to address global water equilibrium under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty. Antarctica and Antarctic ice remain at the core of major climate/water-related challenges in the twenty-first century. _______________________________________ From: Concerned Planetary Citizens - Toward A World Summit on Societal Sustainability To: Antarctic Treaty Consultative Members, Twenty-Sixth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCMXXVI), Cambridge, UK, 18-20 September 2003 Subject: Project Ice-SHARE (Update of Proposed 1985 Oregon Senate Joint Memorial 14) Dear Antarctic Treaty Consultative Members: In the interest of currency and specificity, the following additions are submitted for inclusion in the above-referenced document with further amendment as may be relevant to the Twenty-Sixth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting at Cambridge, UK, 18-20 September 2003, as well as to future meetings of Antarctic Treaty Consultative Members under Article IX of the Treaty: AWARE of the primacy of the Positive Generational Constant (Human Empathy and Compassion), AWARE of the commitment necessary to achieve global water equilibrium (50% of Earth's freshwater active in the hydrologic cycle - potentially available for societal sustainability purposes), AWARE of the ratio of freshwater on Earth (active and non-active) to sea water on Earth as an imbalance warranting concerted global focus currently and in the millennia ahead, AWARE of technology available for the conversion of Antarctic freshwater ice into liquid freshwater, AWARE of surplus marine tanker capacity (coincident with predicted energy trends to hydrogen and solar), AWARE of the infrastructure overland of existing and proposed pipelines, AWARE of contributions to ecology and environmentalism made by - and the potential of - interdisciplinary sustainability science and technology, AWARE of the benefit to all life on Earth which will ensue from sustained global water equilibrium on Earth (the Positive Generational Constant), "AND, noting the highly successful experience of the Antarctic Treaty, its apolitical nature and its commitment to scientific investigation and research for peaceful purposes, DO HEREBY call upon Contracting Parties of the Antarctic Treaty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to (l) commence at the earliest possible time under Article IX of the Treaty any and all scientific research and investigation as may be appropriate to effect implementation of the initial stages of Project Ice-SHARE, and (2) to participate in any and all interdisciplinary research and investigation as may be appropriate to effect further implementation of Project Ice-SHARE under United Nations auspices and mandate." "indispensable to the world of science which knows no national or other political boundaries, but it is a document (the Antarctic Treaty) unique in history which may take its place alongside the Magna Carta and other great symbols of man's quest of enlightenment and order." (Dr. Lawrence N. Gould, former chairman of the U.S. National Committee on Polar Research at the National Academy of Sciences) |
| last edited 10/30/02 |