Does human rights protect against adverse consequences from global climate change?exaplain?

Question

Does human rights protect against adverse consequences from global climate change?exaplain?

Answer 1

<The original poster stated>"Does human rights protect against adverse consequences from global climate change?exaplain?"

Mary, I'm working real hard to figure out your question... You might want to re-read your stuff before you post.

I'll take a stab at it, though.

No government or organization on the planet guarantees good weather as a civil or human "right."  

There are those governments and organizations who have sought to blackmail the US and other industrialized nations by claiming damages caused by changes in the weather. These are often the same groups or types of groups that have sought to stifle American economic growth for decades. They have succeeded in choking Europe's economy for years. They were slowed somewhat with the collapse of the Soviet Union but they are back and still shouting about American war-mongering, socialized medicine and the destructive power of big business ... oh, wait ... that's the Democrats. Hmph.

Maybe if the concept of "human rights" involved less "government responsibility" then the "human rights" issues would resolve themselves better.

The US Constitution was designed to give the people the rights and tightly rein in government (especially federal) powers.

There is no binding, global "human right" to anything. Many nations do not allow personal property. Most have a variety of limitations on free speech. Many do not have free elections. Many discriminate on the basis of s*x or religious affiliation.

So ... I guess the answer is "No." Just stop and think for a minute, What global agency on the planet has the power to even consider guaranteeing good weather?

Answer 2

No, in fact the threats posed by global warming will be used to elimate what few rights you have left.

Look at how the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights, has been gutted in recent years:

- unauthorized, unsupervised and unconstitutional surveillance of citizens

- denial of due process - indefinite holding of suspects who have not been tried or even formally accused of any criminal charge

- torture of suspects, in violation of international law

- covert military action in countries where no war has been declared (Pakistan)

- assignment of political appointees to government offices to ensure complete unilateral control of all branches and functions of government

- evading congressional and judiciary probes into administration behavior, including destruction of evidence

Unfortunately the original concept of "human rights" seems to get applied selectively to benefit certain people threatened by certain things, but it does not seem to encompass everyone's right to live in a world not threatened by resource shortages and the results of global overpopulation (including global warming).  Given our growing understanding of the emerging threats to the human species as a result of global warming, our concept of human rights needs to evolve.  Quickly.