[KWPeace-groups] Collapsing Biodiversity & Militarism: Understanding the COP 15 Biodiversity Conference in the broader context of Canada-China relations

[Tamara Lorincz]

Hello KW peace,

As you may know, Canada and China are co-hosting the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) this week in Montreal: https://www.cbd.int/ (December 7-19). The conference was supposed to be held in China, but because of the COVID restrictions it is being held in Montreal where the UN Biodiversity Secretariat is headquartered.

I believe that there will be very limited cooperation between the two countries on environmental matters and other international issues and very limited progress made on saving our "life support system", because of the increasing hostility from Canada toward China.

Last week, the Government of Canada released its new dangerously antagonistic "Indo-Pacific Strategy" directed against China. In the strategy, Canada calls China a "disruptive power". Canada's new "Indo-Pacific Strategy" is highly militarized and is aligned with US's "Indo-Pacific Strategy". The environmentally-destructive militarism of this new strategy like more warships and naval exercises on the oceans will undermine any gains Canada claims on the CBD.

The strategy and the timing of the release of the strategy so close to COP 15 are not conducive to productive leadership of COP 15 and the biodiversity negotiations.

You can read "Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy" here: https://www.international.gc.ca/transparency-transparence/assets/pdfs/indo-pacific-indo-pacifique/indo-pacific-indo-pacifique-en.pdf  The US "Indo-Pacific Strategy" is here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/U.S.-Indo-Pacific-Strategy.pdf

Note, the framing of "Indo-Pacific" as opposed to "Asia-Pacific" aligns with the US Indo-Pacific Military Command Structure: https://www.pacom.mil/About-USINDOPACOM/USPACOM-Area-of-Responsibility/

Please read this critical analysis by Dr. John Price, a Canadian scholar and expert on Asia, and Noam Chomsky: "'Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy': From UN Peacekeeper to U.S. Sentinel State" https://rabble.ca/politics/world-politics/canadas-indo-pacific-strategy-from-un-peacekeeper-to-u-s-sentinel-state/
Finally, please see below some resources and upcoming webinars. I'm giving a talk at the Balsillie School on Tuesday at noon - there's free lunch! You are welcome to come.

In solidarity for peace, earth and justice,
Tamara


RESOURCES

Please see the United Nations Environment Programme overview of the conference here: https://www.unep.org/un-biodiversity-conference-cop-15

Read UNEP's "What to expect at this year's UN biodiversity conference: COP15"
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/what-expect-years-un-biodiversity-conference-cop15

First Draft of the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework: https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/abb5/591f/2e46096d3f0330b08ce87a45/wg2020-03-03-en.pdf

Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) has just released an important report "The Nature of Business: Corporate influence over the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Biodiversity Framework<https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Nature-of-business-report-FOEI.pdf>" that exposes the strategies and tactics used by corporate actors in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The many business coalitions and their members, and the greenwashing proposals they come up with, are also explained in detail. In Spanish: https://www.foei.org/es/publicaciones/cooptacion-empresarial-naturaleza-negocios-informe/

There is very little activism, research or scholarship on the links militarism, war and biodiversity under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Pat Elder is doing excellent work on PFAS and WILPF has the "Military Poisons" page but we need much more: https://www.militarypoisons.org/

WEBINARS



(1)

IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL PRESENTATION: "Climate, Conflict & the Search for Peace: A Report Back from COP 27 in Egypt and Tour of Russia, Finland, Latvia, Poland and Romania"

One-hour hybrid event (in-person and online)

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

9h PST/ 12h ET / 18h CET / 20h MSK

Balsillie School of International Affairs, 67 Erb Street West, Waterloo, ON

Lunch will be provided, please register in advance.

Featuring Tamara Lorincz, PhD Candidate, Wilfrid Laurier University.

Hosted by the Balsillie School of International Affairs, Environment and Resources Cluster.

Register: https://www.balsillieschool.ca/event/climate-conflict-the-search-for-peace-a-report-back-from-cop-27-in-egypt-and-tour-of-russia-finland-latvia-poland-and-romania/



(2)

WEBINAR: Reaching a Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine: A Conversation with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs

Dec 8, 2022 11:00 AM CET Berlin / 1:00 PM MSK

Organized by the International Peace Bureau (IPB)

Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUscuyuqjsoHNwQtYG2xET_MrnM0l8MLVuu


(3)
WEBINAR: What Russia and Russians think about NATO and War (Online Event)
Monday 12 December 2022 at 2pm EST | 8pm CET | 10 pm MSK
Register: https://bit.ly/NoToNATO-zoom20221212
Impressions after the visits of Reiner Braun (former executive director IPB) and Tamara Lorincz (WILPF Canada) in Moscow and other cities in Russia and East Europe. A conversation about war and peace between Reiner Braun, Tamara Lorincz and Kristine Karch (No to NATO network) followed by Q&A.


(4)

Webinar: Reaching a Just and Lasting Peace in Ukraine: A Conversation with Jeffrey Sachs

Dec 8, 2022 11:00 AM CET Berlin

Organized by the International Peace Bureau (IPB)

Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUscuyuqjsoHNwQtYG2xET_MrnM0l8MLVuu



RESOURCE: WATCH CODEPINK's excellent 18-minute "War in Ukraine presentation": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRxcGD41Ol8



TAKE ACTION: CHRISTMAS APPEAL FOR CEASEFIRE & PEACE IN UKRAINE:



The International Peace Bureau's Christmas Peace Appeal, an international appeal for a ceasefire and peace in Ukraine. IPB is calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine for Christmas 2022/2023, from the 25 December to the 7 January, as a sign of our shared humanity, reconciliation and peace. Sign the petition here: https://www.christmasappeal.ipb.org/sign-the-petition/



UNAC's "Stop the Wars" Week of Action for MLK Day, January 15-22: https://unac.notowar.net/stop-u-s-wars-mlk-week-of-actions-jan-13-22/

Healthy biodiversity is vital to a stable climate. War and militarism are wrecking our biosphere and climate. Stop the Wars, Stop the Warming.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://kwpeace.ca/pipermail/groups_kwpeace.ca/attachments/20221205/15e07ff7/attachment.htm>