Ocean: War of Independence by Brian Herbert, Jan Herbert Page A
Authors: Brian Herbert, Jan Herbert
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in the ocean. Some electrical-energy generating projects might be permitted as well, involving waves, tides, thermal energy, or currents—but only if they could be demonstrated to have no adverse effect on sea life.
In addition, some aquaculture and mariculture operations could be allowed, including the farming of salmon, oysters, mussels, and squid—but under strict controls to avoid contaminating wild stocks.
These and other restrictions against human abuses would involve a massive worldwide bureaucracy, but this was unavoidable, a necessary price to pay in order to get things straightened out, to restore natural environmental balances. It would all be announced at the United Nations building in New York City. The various national representatives would then be permitted to make suggestions, but only in a very narrow range, and then the decisions of the Ocean Management Authority would take effect. Every nation, company, and individual would need to comply with the edicts or face severe reprisals—including the institution of long-term bans against even using sailing vessels on the ocean.
From the podium, Alicia said, “Now we will break up into individual study groups to focus on improving the various sections of the document. For one thing, I think we might consider a new category, a system of rewards for individuals, companies, and governments that show the most concern for the ocean. We could develop a scoring system, for example, and list a number of rewards that would be granted. In addition to the prohibitions and punishments, it might be a good idea to provide some incentives. We can’t just hope that scolded people will suddenly become environmentally conscious.”
She saw some people in the audience nodding their heads in agreement with her, but she also heard a murmuring of disagreement in the audience. On the way to one of the study groups, a woman with short gray hair—a maritime lawyer—said, “I don’t recommend rewards, at least not yet. We want to shake up the world, and don’t want to appear soft.”
Alicia nodded. “I’d still like to discuss the idea, and see where it goes.”
They met in study groups for a couple of hours, then took a short break and resumed. Alicia and Kimo moved between the separate sessions to answer questions and make their own comments, and before the groups broke up they put their comments in electronic format, for inclusion in the next draft of the declaration.
Just before concluding the first day of discussions, Kimo and Alicia called everyone together in the auditorium, and went to the podium. He put a tattooed arm around her shoulders and said, “The idea for the Declaration of Ocean Independence is Alicia’s, and I can see this whole approach really taking off, catching fire with all of us who care so much about the ocean.”
The participants clapped. When the applause began to subside, Alicia said, “I’m glad everyone likes the idea, but it still needs a great deal of work, a great deal of fleshing out.”
She was right. This was only the first day. They would work for three more weeks before a document was ready to submit to the world.
***
Chapter 10
The Declaration of Ocean Independence was unlike any document about the seas ever produced. Finally, after weeks of comprehensive meetings with experts, Kimo and his advisers had the first edition of the monumental, historic text completed—and he was about to present it to the nations of the world, with a demand for their compliance. The detailed declaration would be distributed in hard-bound copies, and would also be available in electronic versions. Fuji Namoto had personally supervised the delivery of these items to the United Nations building in New York City, accompanied by her own hand-picked guards. She should be waiting for him there now.
Taking around half of the hybrid Sea Warriors with him—as well as many associate members—Kimo led a large fleet of jetfish pods across the Pacific
In addition, some aquaculture and mariculture operations could be allowed, including the farming of salmon, oysters, mussels, and squid—but under strict controls to avoid contaminating wild stocks.
These and other restrictions against human abuses would involve a massive worldwide bureaucracy, but this was unavoidable, a necessary price to pay in order to get things straightened out, to restore natural environmental balances. It would all be announced at the United Nations building in New York City. The various national representatives would then be permitted to make suggestions, but only in a very narrow range, and then the decisions of the Ocean Management Authority would take effect. Every nation, company, and individual would need to comply with the edicts or face severe reprisals—including the institution of long-term bans against even using sailing vessels on the ocean.
From the podium, Alicia said, “Now we will break up into individual study groups to focus on improving the various sections of the document. For one thing, I think we might consider a new category, a system of rewards for individuals, companies, and governments that show the most concern for the ocean. We could develop a scoring system, for example, and list a number of rewards that would be granted. In addition to the prohibitions and punishments, it might be a good idea to provide some incentives. We can’t just hope that scolded people will suddenly become environmentally conscious.”
She saw some people in the audience nodding their heads in agreement with her, but she also heard a murmuring of disagreement in the audience. On the way to one of the study groups, a woman with short gray hair—a maritime lawyer—said, “I don’t recommend rewards, at least not yet. We want to shake up the world, and don’t want to appear soft.”
Alicia nodded. “I’d still like to discuss the idea, and see where it goes.”
They met in study groups for a couple of hours, then took a short break and resumed. Alicia and Kimo moved between the separate sessions to answer questions and make their own comments, and before the groups broke up they put their comments in electronic format, for inclusion in the next draft of the declaration.
Just before concluding the first day of discussions, Kimo and Alicia called everyone together in the auditorium, and went to the podium. He put a tattooed arm around her shoulders and said, “The idea for the Declaration of Ocean Independence is Alicia’s, and I can see this whole approach really taking off, catching fire with all of us who care so much about the ocean.”
The participants clapped. When the applause began to subside, Alicia said, “I’m glad everyone likes the idea, but it still needs a great deal of work, a great deal of fleshing out.”
She was right. This was only the first day. They would work for three more weeks before a document was ready to submit to the world.
***
Chapter 10
The Declaration of Ocean Independence was unlike any document about the seas ever produced. Finally, after weeks of comprehensive meetings with experts, Kimo and his advisers had the first edition of the monumental, historic text completed—and he was about to present it to the nations of the world, with a demand for their compliance. The detailed declaration would be distributed in hard-bound copies, and would also be available in electronic versions. Fuji Namoto had personally supervised the delivery of these items to the United Nations building in New York City, accompanied by her own hand-picked guards. She should be waiting for him there now.
Taking around half of the hybrid Sea Warriors with him—as well as many associate members—Kimo led a large fleet of jetfish pods across the Pacific
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