Ecology and Earth Stewardship

By Justin "Justo" Moscoso

We must understand that humans are but one part of the ecosystem with a unique responsibility. That responsibility is to develop an understanding of environmental sustainability and to live and promote those practices which support our natural resources.

I, along with Green Party policy directions, would propose:

• Banning the development of plant varieties that are tolerant of increased levels of chemical biocides. Ending genetic engineering in agriculture and the release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment. Support the recently signed Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety that requires exported shipments to be labeled as genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

• Immediately halt the mining of Uranium.

• Stop US involvement in international proliferation of nuclear weapons, and sign a meaningful Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

• Create a market for recycled goods through legal and tax incentives.

• Institute convenient curbside recycling (including yard clippings) in all urban areas.

• Eliminate water subsidies for corporate agribusiness. Higher water prices give agribusiness incentives to conserve.

• Assist community organizations to monitor the use of local resources, and to oversee the enforcement of water quality regulations.

• Cooperating with the rest of the world in reducing the use of fossil fuels by large scale conservation, and by converting to safe, renewable energy sources.

• Establishing an environmental trust fund with money raised from pollution fees and other public revenues. The fund should be administered by an appropriate governmental agency and used to assist programs such as reforestation, conversion to non-polluting energy sources, and development of substitutes for ozone-destroying substances.

• Ban the export of raw logs and other minimally processed forest products (pulp, chips, carts, slabs, etc.), which causes American job loss.

• Providing incentives for small-scale family farms, biological diversity in crop cultivation, and regional approaches to food supplies rather than the transportation of food over long distances.