by Hugh Mann

Created on: March 25, 2008   Last Updated: April 05, 2011

I love the environment.  I love the clean air, water, and food I extract from it in order that I may live.  I don't  think I would be going out on a limb to declare that no human or other kind of being on Earth feels differently and doesn't know at least instinctively that sustaining its physical life is only possible by consuming physical resources.  That means consuming plant and animal matter to prevent death by starvation, and wood, coal, oil, gas, wind, wave, infra-red, nuclear, or other sources of energy to provide warmth during the winter to prevent death by freezing.  But I have a question.  How could one nation's standards, or for that matter, rules, laws, politics, or military might possibly apply within the boundaries of another?  If U.S. standards can apply in Peru, then Peru's standards, by corollary, can apply in the U.S.

So, is this title hoping a "fragile ecosystems" appeal to the heart will suspend our minds from recognizing Peru's sovereignty?  Would it have us subordinate Peru's sovereignty to America exercising its standard to protect Peru's "fragile ecosystem"?  Does anybody recall Star Trek's Prime Directive, the gist of which is respecting non-interference in foreign affairs?  That piece of science fiction is rooted in the American Constitution, the basis for the declaration of its sovereignty from its tax oppressor, England, in 1776.  Really, how would Americans feel if the title were, "Should Peru's environmental standards apply when multinational companies develop the petroleum resources of fragile ecosystems such as America's Rockies?"  Would U.S. government, business, or consumers acquiesce and obey Peruvian standards if America wanted to develop its own resources in order to survive?  Would Peruvian standards "apply", subordinate, and override America's sovereignty if some ecosystem in America were fragile?  If so, just exactly how would Peru apply their standards in America?  Would the Peruvian government or police enter the U.S. and issue fines or imprison Americans who did not adhere to the "applied" Peruvian standards?

The debate is stillborn.  Peru is a recognized sovereign nation and has been since achieving independence from the Spanish Empire in 1821.  Consequently, Peruvian standards are the only standards that can possibly, conscionably apply, and any speciously presumptuous supranational notions are disrespectful of Peru's independent,

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