Gallifrey Foundation

#INC5, Day 2️⃣: Kicking the hornet's nest It was panel day that day and so a very important one for Gallifrey Foundation & Ocean Vision Legal. Indeed, we organised an exciting panel about the ocean-(micro)plastic pollution-climate change nexus, but more importantly, about the legal obligations that States ALREADY have, as per International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea/Tribunal international du droit de la mer's recent Advisory Opinion, to prevent, control and reduce pollution, and that includes PLASTIC pollution and PRODUCTION. States can be sued before international courts if they don't comply. Yes, you read correctly. Want to know more? Below is the presentation of our Ocean champion Dr. Anna von Rebay, and one of the crucial questions that were raised during the discussion. I will share more Q&As and videos in my next posts. So let's remind this to ALL Members States currently negotiating the #PlasticsTreaty... Make sure to download the whole presentation - including the scientific segment - via the QR code at the end of this video, and PLEASE share widely with your delegates, this is of VITAL importance this week!! ----------------------- Q: Some countries do not recognise ITLOS' authority. Can any country in the world be sued for non compliance? A: Yes, but this question actually refers to two elements. The first one is the applicable law. It is the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment. Obligation is codified in the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea that has 170 state parties, so not universal. However, the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment is not only an UNCLOS regulation, at the same time it is also a universally acknowledged customary international law. This means that there is no one who objected to this obligation and this obligation actually binds the entire international community. So the law applies to them all. The ITLOS, which was established through UNCLOS, only has jurisdiction for those countries who have signed onto that. BUT there is a remedy because there is the International Court of Justice (ICJ). And the law of the sea also applies in ICJ proceedings. The first part of the answer is that the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment applies to the entire international community and that ALL states can be held liable.  -------------------------- https://lnkd.in/eqSkT4Bd #ITLOS #PlasticPollution #PlasticProduction #OceanLitigation #ProductionReduction #ClimateChange

#INC5, Day 1️⃣: A bargain discount you'd wish wasn't on offer Finally the D-Day! Months of preparation for this first one out of Gallifrey Foundation's two actions at the #PlasticsTreaty - and here am I with a wonderful crew of volunteers distributing traditional Korean rice cakes (tteok) to delegates on opening day. Hey, but what is this intriguing 50% ⬇️ pattern? It's not about #ProductionReduction (I wish!) but about... fertility collapse. 🧪 Indeed, in the last 40 years, male sperm counts have dropped by over 50% and miscarriages and #infertility for women have increased at the same rate. This is no coincidence - Dr. Shanna Swan, PhD's groundbreaking research points to chemicals found in #plastics, like #phthalates, as the major culprit. These endocrine disrupting toxics mimic our finely calibrated hormone system and wreak havoc on our reproductive #health: her studies show that global sperm decline is on track to statistical zero by 2045! Scarry, isn't it? ☠️ “But wait, isn’t the global population increasing?” It is, but if the fertility rate had remained constant from 1970 to now the population would be at 14 billion – vs 8.2 billion currently. A few fun facts on this guerrilla action I have to share: originally we wanted to distribute cakes in the shape of 🍆 and 🍑 (you get the message why!) but we were advised not to since it would be a huge blunder - and seen as an insult to Koreans. As much as we are rebellious, we are very aware of respecting the locals as well. Second, when I teased (male) delegates about this #InfertilityCake, a couple asked me almost frightened if they were sperm sponge cakes! I so didn't expect that one that I had a good laugh. 🤣 But in terms of communications reach: touché. You will understand that it is imperative that the Plastics Treaty addresses health issues and chemicals of concern. This action was in partnership with Fondation de la Mer and Notpla (100% compostable packaging). Many thanks for your support! 👏 Kudos to my volunteering crew: Madison Dennis, Dianna Cohen, Muriel Papin, Pui Yi, WONG, Arvin Alvarez, daru setyorini, Hannah Testa, Arm Punyathorn! Antoinette Vermilye (she/her) - Break Free From Plastic - Plastic Pollution Coalition - No plastic in my sea

⏳ INC-5, 23 November 2024, D-2: Korea, Karaoke, and (hopefully) K-O? 🌡️ It may be only a few degrees outside, but the temperature is rising. As we’re getting closer to the kick-off of #INC5, Civil Society Organisations are putting increasing pressure on the host country, the Republic of Korea, and Member States delegates. Who, believe me, are well aware of the noise we’re making even though they were not physically with us that day. Pressure#1️⃣: advertising billboards at the #Busan airport, in public transport, in the whole BEXCO neighbourhood – and even Seoul downtown. Where fossil fuels lobbyists had shamelessly dominated the Ottawa public space by far by inundating it with misleading ads – even on taxis, advertising vehicles circling the block and sandwich men in front of the congress centre –, CSOs fought back to win that space. Not a single ad from fossil fuel industry to be seen. Although the Business Coalition did secure quite some boards. CSOs: 1 – Fossil fuel: 0. A bit of fresh air, finally. Pressure #2️⃣: that day was march day. Organised by Break Free From Plastic and grassroots organisations from the Uproot Plastics Coalition, it gathered an impressive crowd of at least 1’500 participants. What a vibe! What an incredible diversity of people: in age, origin, social category (even nuns attended!) – all colourful and hopeful! Who rallied to the same cry: “No More Plastic! Cut Production Now!”. It was festive indeed yet not childish. A very clear message. Ironically, the procession passed in front of... two Trump World buildings. I wouldn’t say it’s a middle finger, but the symbolic did mean something amongst some in the crowd. The UNEP focal point for the Observers watched the long line of demonstrators with interest. I wonder what was on his mind. The march came back to the Olympic Park where it started, and participants all signed the “STRONG PLASTICS TREATY NOW” banner. I added the Gallifrey Foundation’s, of course 😉 Fun fact: the march started with... a karaoke! What else in Korea?   These are just for starters. We expect long, long days. But we won’t give up the fight until we get what we came for. #PlasticsTreaty #CutTheCrapCloseTheTap #ProductionReduction #PlasticPollutes #BreakFreeFromPlastic Antoinette Vermilye (she/her) - Greenpeace Switzerland - Objectif Zéro Plastique - Orléans Zéro Plastique - La Fresque du Plastique - Trash Hero World - GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) - Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) - Health Care Without Harm 📷 Laurianne Trimoulla

Vous l'avez ratée ? Ci-dessous le replay de mon interview pour la Gallifrey Foundation sur Prise de terre ce jour au sujet du #TraitéPlastiques et de la possibilité de poursuivre les Etats en #justice. Bonne écoute ! Et n'hésitez pas à me laisser un commentaire si vous souhaitez en savoir plus. On ne lâchera rien. https://lnkd.in/euQfzQ6Z Antoinette Vermilye (she/her) - John Vermilye - #INC5 #Interview

🤩 We are EXTREMELY proud and excited to share with you this event we are organising at #INC5 in Busan! Months of work that finally materialise, wow! 🌊 Simply put: How the ocean, (micro)plastic (pollution) and climate change are intertwined, and how International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea/Tribunal international du droit de la mer's recent advisory opinion impacts the Global Plastics Treaty. Indeed, States have the obligation to prevent, reduce, control plastic pollution in the ocean. And this could be a game changer. ✅ All this in a very accessible yet not oversimplified format - because not everyone is a scientist or a lawyer - to make the penny drop. So, mark your calendars and see you in Busan! 🗓️ 26 November 🕰️ 08:45 and 18:45 KST 📍 BEXCO Center 2, room 123 Come and meet our wonderful speakers: Dr. Anna von Rebay, Clara Manno, Rebecca Helm, Dr Melanie Bergmann, Bethanie Carney Almroth, Irene Hofmeijer, and Martina Gallato! Yes it's a 100% female panel, but we swear we did invite men as well! And to fight your FOMO, we'll be sharing the slides and a debrief of the discussions here afterwards, since this event does not fall under Chatham House rules - lucky you 😉 #ITLOS #ProductionReduction #GlobalPlasticsTreaty #PlasticsTreaty #RoadToBusan #Ocean #ClimateChange #OceanAcidification #Microplastic #PlasticPollution SHE Changes Climate

On November 7th, a sign-on letter hosted by Last Whaling Station organization was sent to the President of Iceland, calling for immediate action to protect whales. Since then, the letter has gained additional support, with more organizations adding their signatures to the appeal; as a result of the letters the president have met the Icelandic organizations to discuss the cause. Thank you for all the organizations who added their name. Last Whaling Station / WDC / Gallifrey Foundation / SeaLegacy / Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK / Seaspiracy / Hard To Port / Hvalavinir / WWF / ifaw / chilli / Extinction Rebellion / SVIVS / ORCA ESPA /Environmental Investigation Agency / One Blue Marble / / Deep Rising Movie and Impact / SPECIESISM/ Chris Burkard Studio / Sharks Educational Institute / Divers for Sharks / SHARKPROJECT / Sea Shepherd France / Snæfellsjökul fyrir forseta / KYMA / Ocean Born Foundation / FutureSwell / Panama Ghost Net / Blue Green Future / Racing Extinction / Incredible Oceans / Dolphin Project / Kogia / Keystone Species Alliance / Blue Life Wild / cetaceans.org / Animal welfare Iceland / The Ocean Rights Coalition (UK) / Origami Whales Project / Animal Justice movement / Panama Ghost Net / Ecotricity / Kristy In Motion / World Cetacean Alliance / Environmental Media Association / The Ocean Foundation / Searious Business / Global Choices / The Great Whale Conservancy / The Marine Diaries / The Ocean Rights Coalition (UK) / The Ocean Project / Whale Wise Tipping Point North South / WILD EARTH OCEANIA AK Wildlife Cruises Falmouth / Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR) / ARTICLE 13 LIMITED / The Ocean Azores Foundation / Waterman Project Inland Ocean Coalition / Smile Wave Fund / Shark Foundation / Swiss Cetacean Society - SCS / Ocean Asia Geneva Ocean Academy / The Octopus Foundation / Dolphin Watch Alliance / Animal Save Movement / Pacific Whale Fund /Bloom / Viva Charity / UrgentSeas / The Hunt Saboteurs Association / Blue Planet Society / Ocean Rebellion Ocean Now! / SOA / Ocean Pledged / Motherocean Blue / The Plant Based Treaty / OceanCare / Plastic Planet Centro de Conservacion Cetacea / Surf Pop Foundation / Fundación Cethus / Centro Ecoceans Fundación Conservar Colombia / Cetacean Society International / Cetacean Society /Sussex Dolphin Project Brazilian Institute for Nature Conservation / The Whaleman Foundation / Brazilian Humpback Whale Institute / Oceanic Global / Wild Foundation / Whales Alive / Conservacion de Ballenas - Argentina / Animal Welfare Institute Fundación Promar - Costa Rica / Conservacion de Mamiferos Marinos de Mexico A.C., COMARINO / CET LAW / Coalición Costarricense por las Ballenas / Ocean Global / Wild Foundation / Sussex Dolphin Project / SEASHELL Ocean Missions /Until Lolita is Home / Surfers for Cetaceans / Ocean Vision Legal