Not a good time to be an Inuit

[readingredhead]

Warming Causes Record Arctic Ice Melt, U.S. Report Says

"Inuit hunters threatened by the melting of Arctic ice plan to file a petition in December accusing the United States of violating their human rights by fueling global warming. The Bush administration has opted out of the Kyoto Treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." (full article)

"Inuit hunters who depend on the region's game are expected to file suit against the U.S. government for failing to protect the melting ice, calling it a violation of their human rights." --UN Foundation

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely interested to see where this goes...and if maybe the idea of losing money to the Inuits will make the US government impose regulations on toxic emissions that they should have done years ago.

Comments

[thellamasbanana.livejournal.com]

well THIS oughta be interesting. don't think anyone's ever tried to sue a country before...

[readingredhead.livejournal.com]

Actually, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) exists for the sole purpose of suits against countries, though usually they are brought up by another country. For instance, Saudi Arabia could sue the United States. It serves as a body of the United Nations, this being the only reason I know about it, but it seems like the sort of thing that could be taken into account in a situation like this.