Saturday 9 May 2009

a healthy environment should be a constitutional right for UK citizens

France made this happen in 2004:
"A charter for the environment which makes a healthy environment a
constitutional right for French citizens has passed a key hurdle with
approval by the parliament on Tuesday by 328 votes to 10."

http://www.endseurope.com/9473
- http://www.env-health.org/a/1629

I am not about to suggest that France's behaviour towards the
environment has been perfect ever since or that we should simply
translate the French Charter. What I am saying is that all
legislation and Government activity that has a damaging effect on the
environment should be subject to challenge and that the environment
should enjoy strong constitutional protections.

Once this was passed legislation would be drafted so as to be
compatible with these principles.

Although there is no one document in a glass case that anyone can
point to and say this is the UK Constitution - we do have a
constitution and it does have written sources e.g. Parliament Act
1911, European Communities Act 1972, Act of Settlement 1701

I think this change would be hard to achieve...

What do you think?

[based on a post I made to a Serious Change Google Group]

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