S.19.4-3: The Southern Environmental Act (Statute)

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

The Southern Environmental Act (The SEA Act)
- Whereas human activity has a major impact on climate change.
- Whereas increasing global temperatures will lead to severe environmental deterioration, habitat destruction for animals, and a decrease in the quality of life for humans in coastal areas.
- Whereas non-renewables such as plastics emit harmful gases into the atmosphere upon burning.
- Whereas considerable amounts of recyclables are burned, end up in landfills, or are sent to other countries to the same effect.
- Whereas the large-scale consumption of meat, especially red meats such as beef and lamb, contributes to the methane emission crisis as well as to negative health effects in humans such as an increased amount of carcinogens and worsening heart health.

Be it resolved that:

Article I
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting recycling.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section IV) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article I shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section V) Article I shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article II
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting a lowered consumption of meat, especially beef, lamb, and other red meats.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) Each state’s Department of Health and Human Services or equivalent shall work with that state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent to compile information citing health and environmental benefits as a result of consuming less meat for use in the aforementioned advertisements.
Section IV) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section V) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article II shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section VI) Article II shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article III
Section I) The Southern region shall not dispose of recyclable material by means of burning, disposal in landfills, or shipment to other regions or countries for the purpose of burning or disposal in landfills.
Section II) Article III shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

Article IV
Section I) The government of the Southern region shall end public contracts with corporations that continue to use plastic (including styrofoam) disposables, among them plastic straws, plastic cups, plastic bowls, plastic plates, styrofoam boxes, styrofoam trays, styrofoam containers, and plastic utensils.
Section II) Article IV shall take effect on May 1, 2020.

sponsor: West Midlander

[West_Midlander]

Of course, I favor this bill. I think the proposals here are moderate and I am open to amendment if necessary. I would like to hear what my fellow delegates have to say on this bill and if they support it or not.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

There are many good points in this bill put forward by the Honorable Delegate from North Carolina, West_Midlander. However there are a couple of points in this well intentioned bill to which I think warrant some discussion.

Section I) The government of the Southern region shall end public contracts with corporations that continue to use plastic (including styrofoam) disposables, among them plastic straws, plastic cups, plastic bowls, plastic plates, styrofoam boxes, styrofoam trays, styrofoam containers, and plastic utensils.

Does this mean that flights made by Southern Government Workers won't be able to fly on aircraft that have plastic utensils? In my experience pretty much all airlines use plastic utensils. What are they supposed to use for a knife to cut with? Aren't there rules about metal objects on planes? Does this mean no one on the payroll of the Southern Government will be allowed to fly?

Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting a lowered consumption of meat, especially beef, lamb, and other red meats.

Is this chamber going to turn into the food police? Meat is an essential part of a healthy diet. Vegetarians can quite easily suffer from iron deficiency. A case could just as easily be made for the promotion of eating meat. Some of the great dishes of the South are meat based. "I'm Sorry Timmy but you shouldn't enjoy that rack of ribs it's causing too much farting"

As can be seen below, there are 558m tons of methane produced globally. 188m tons of which come from from agriculture and waste. Almost all of the total methane is offset by natural sinks. As seen below.

Source: Global Carbon Project - via medium.com

[West_Midlander]

Does this mean that flights made by Southern Government Workers won't be able to fly on aircraft that have plastic utensils? In my experience pretty much all airlines use plastic utensils. What are they supposed to use for a knife to cut with? Aren't there rules about metal objects on planes? Does this mean no one on the payroll of the Southern Government will be allowed to fly?

The purpose of Article IV, Section I is to incentivize corporations transitioning from plastic straws, cups, plates, bowls, boxes, and containers to paper ones (including cardboards) and from plastic spoons, forks, and knives to disposable bamboo or wooden ones.

I realize it is hard to break into the habit of bringing one's own utensils, containers, and cups with them so I think incentivizing the production of disposables with renewable resources (wood, by extension paper, and bamboo) would be best. Also, as the Deputy Speaker points out, some businesses cannot use reusable metal utensils instead of paper, wood, and bamboo ones. In these cases, I believe disposable, biodegradable non-metal (so paper and wood or bamboo) is the only way to go. Not only is wood, bamboo, and paper easily renewable but also easily biodegradable compared to plastic which takes much, much longer to break down (10-1000 years).

EDIT: I accidentally posted before responding to the rest of the Deputy Speaker's post.

Is this chamber going to turn into the food police? Meat is an essential part of a healthy diet. Vegetarians can quite easily suffer from iron deficiency. A case could just as easily be made for the promotion of eating meat. Some of the great dishes of the South are meat based. "I'm Sorry Timmy but you shouldn't enjoy that rack of ribs it's causing too much farting"

Article II, Section I is a campaign solely to provide dietary suggestions to the Southern people based on evidence, similar to how the Atlasian Department of Agriculture does (USDA IRL) at the federal level. The suggestion of Section I is a reduction in the consumption of meat. Certainly, a reduced (not eliminated) consumption of meat is possible for most people, including a diet of some meat substitutes. I'm sure Timmy can enjoy his rack of ribs, perhaps just a little less often than before, and only if he so chooses to have it less often. Perhaps Timmy can fix himself a Carolina Dog with a veggie dog as opposed to the real thing, maybe half the time?

Furthermore, sufficient iron and protein can be provided by non-meats, among them spinach, beans, legumes, almonds and other nuts, pumpkin seeds and other seeds, quinoa, broccoli, tofu, dark chocolate, and a lot more. Some list items from the source below were meats but certainly if one eats a sufficient amount of a few types of iron-rich foods one doesn't need to eat all eleven regularly.

11 Healthy Foods That Are Very High in Iron

I thank the Deputy Speaker for his questions and on another note, I would like to thank the Deputy Speaker for his activity in continuing to PM delegates on new legislation arriving on the floor.

EDIT 2:

Does this mean that flights made by Southern Government Workers won't be able to fly on aircraft that have plastic utensils?

Does this mean no one on the payroll of the Southern Government will be allowed to fly?

I didn't directly address the Speaker's two queries shown above (also quoted at the top of this post).

The intent of this bill is to end contracts (to do a specific job) with corporations that refuse to phase out disposable plastics, not to forbid public employees from patronizing businesses in that category.

EDIT 3:

Though the increase in CO2 is minimal compared to the body of CO2 produced and put back in sinks, this is enough to put us on track to hit the 2 degrees celsius in temperature increase. Climatologists warn this is the point of no return and that we may already have hit the point of no return (if it is actually somewhere below 2%). This bill aims at reducing CO2 production as a result of agriculture and waste (mostly plastic production and burning, as well as the burning of garbage at-large).

[fhtagn]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/16/plastic-straw-alternatives-often-bad-planet-people-disabilities/1761397001/

And two of the most common straw alternatives — paper and metal — have drawn criticism for environmental experts such as Walker.

Paper straws use a lot of raw materials, and because of their single-use nature, do not lessen one's carbon footprint, Walker told USA TODAY.

Stainless steel, on the other hand, uses a fair amount of energy as well as mining resources to make.

[West_Midlander]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/16/plastic-straw-alternatives-often-bad-planet-people-disabilities/1761397001/

And two of the most common straw alternatives — paper and metal — have drawn criticism for environmental experts such as Walker.

Paper straws use a lot of raw materials, and because of their single-use nature, do not lessen one's carbon footprint, Walker told USA TODAY.

Stainless steel, on the other hand, uses a fair amount of energy as well as mining resources to make.

It's not just about straws.

Outside of production, though, plasticware contributes a second time to toxic emissions when much of it ends up burned for energy or to prevent the storage of so much plastic in landfills.

On the other hand, metal (cutlery) and glass, clay, etc (for bowls, cups, etc) alternatives are reusable, lasting a long time, and paper alternatives are biodegradable and easily renewable.

[fhtagn]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/16/plastic-straw-alternatives-often-bad-planet-people-disabilities/1761397001/

And two of the most common straw alternatives — paper and metal — have drawn criticism for environmental experts such as Walker.

Paper straws use a lot of raw materials, and because of their single-use nature, do not lessen one's carbon footprint, Walker told USA TODAY.

Stainless steel, on the other hand, uses a fair amount of energy as well as mining resources to make.

It's not just about straws.

Outside of production, though, plasticware contributes a second time to toxic emissions when much of it ends up burned for energy or to prevent the storage of so much plastic in landfills.

On the other hand, metal (cutlery) and glass, clay, etc (for bowls, cups, etc) alternatives are reusable, lasting a long time, and paper alternatives are biodegradable and easily renewable.

You do realize that disposable paper products (cups, plates, straws, etc) used by restaurants are not recyclable, right? And as pointed out, they do not reduce anyone's carbon footprint. A fast food restaurant also doesn't have the ability to use reusable alternatives if someone is taking something to go.

[fhtagn]

Also worth pointing out that for people with disabilities, there isn't anything out there that works as well as plastic straws for those that need them.

[West_Midlander]

You do realize that disposable paper products (cups, plates, straws, etc) used by restaurants are not recyclable, right? And as pointed out, they do not reduce anyone's carbon footprint. A fast food restaurant also doesn't have the ability to use reusable alternatives if someone is taking something to go.

I never implied fast-food restaurants would use reusables for take-out, businesses will use reusable utensils, bowls, etc. only for dining-in (if that).

As I said before: "some businesses cannot use reusable metal utensils."

I also stressed that paper products would be disposable when I used the word biodegradable three times.

I would appreciate the Gentlelady reading my responses before commenting.

[fhtagn]

You do realize that disposable paper products (cups, plates, straws, etc) used by restaurants are not recyclable, right? And as pointed out, they do not reduce anyone's carbon footprint. A fast food restaurant also doesn't have the ability to use reusable alternatives if someone is taking something to go.

I never implied fast-food restaurants would use reusables for take-out, businesses will use reusable utensils, bowls, etc. only for dining-in (if that).

As I said before: "some businesses cannot use reusable metal utensils."

I also stressed that paper products would be disposable when I used the word biodegradable three times.

I would appreciate the Gentlelady reading my responses before commenting.

I did read your responses. However you fail to recognize that paper products need to be coated with plastic in order to actually be effective as an alternative to plastic cups, plates, straws, etc.

You also still haven't addressed the fact that those with disabilities still need to use things like plastic straws.

[West_Midlander]

However you fail to recognize that paper products need to be coated with plastic in order to actually be effective as an alternative to plastic cups, plates, straws, etc.

You also still haven't addressed the fact that those with disabilities still need to use things like plastic straws.

A lot less plastic than completely plastic products, though.

The Congresswoman's second point is legitimate. I don't want to unfairly disadvantage disabled Southerners so I propose an amendment.

The Southern Environmental Act (The SEA Act)
- Whereas human activity has a major impact on climate change.
- Whereas increasing global temperatures will lead to severe environmental deterioration, habitat destruction for animals, and a decrease in the quality of life for humans in coastal areas.
- Whereas non-renewables such as plastics emit harmful gases into the atmosphere upon burning.
- Whereas considerable amounts of recyclables are burned, end up in landfills, or are sent to other countries to the same effect.
- Whereas the large-scale consumption of meat, especially red meats such as beef and lamb, contributes to the methane emission crisis as well as to negative health effects in humans such as an increased amount of carcinogens and worsening heart health.

Be it resolved that:

Article I
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting recycling.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section IV) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article I shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section V) Article I shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article II
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting a lowered consumption of meat, especially beef, lamb, and other red meats.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) Each state’s Department of Health and Human Services or equivalent shall work with that state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent to compile information citing health and environmental benefits as a result of consuming less meat for use in the aforementioned advertisements.
Section IV) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section V) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article II shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section VI) Article II shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article III
Section I) The Southern region shall not dispose of recyclable material by means of burning, disposal in landfills, or shipment to other regions or countries for the purpose of burning or disposal in landfills.
Section II) Article III shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

Article IV
Section I) The government of the Southern region shall end public contracts with corporations that continue to use plastic (including styrofoam) disposables, among them plastic straws, plastic cups, plastic bowls, plastic plates, styrofoam boxes, styrofoam trays, styrofoam containers, and plastic utensils.
Section II) Section I of Article IV shall expressly exclude plastic straws from this legislation.
Section III) Article IV shall take effect on May 1, 2020.

Striking the portions in red
Adding the portions in blue
Replacing the II with a III marked in purple

I don't mean to overstep, but: 24 hours are in order for objections to this amendment, either from the time of this post or preferably 24 hours from a declaration opening the floor to objections by the Speaker.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

- Whereas human activity has a major impact on climate change.
- Whereas increasing global temperatures will lead to severe environmental deterioration, habitat destruction for animals, and a decrease in the quality of life for humans in coastal areas.
- Whereas non-renewables such as plastics emit harmful gases into the atmosphere upon burning.
- Whereas considerable amounts of recyclables are burned, end up in landfills, or are sent to other countries to the same effect.
- Whereas the large-scale consumption of meat, especially red meats such as beef and lamb, contributes to the methane emission crisis as well as to negative health effects in humans such as an increased amount of carcinogens and worsening heart health.

Be it resolved that:

Article I
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting recycling.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section IV) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article I shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section V) Article I shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article II
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting a lowered consumption of meat, especially beef, lamb, and other red meats.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) Each state’s Department of Health and Human Services or equivalent shall work with that state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent to compile information citing health and environmental benefits as a result of consuming less meat for use in the aforementioned advertisements.
Section IV) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section V) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article II shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section VI) Article II shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article III
Section I) The Southern region shall not dispose of recyclable material by means of burning, disposal in landfills, or shipment to other regions or countries for the purpose of burning or disposal in landfills.
Section II) Article III shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

Article IV
Section I) The government of the Southern region shall end public contracts with corporations that continue to use plastic (including styrofoam) disposables, among them plastic straws, plastic cups, plastic bowls, plastic plates, styrofoam boxes, styrofoam trays, styrofoam containers, and plastic utensils.
Section II) Section I of Article IV shall expressly exclude plastic straws from this legislation.
Section III) Article IV shall take effect on May 1, 2020.

Striking the portions in red
Adding the portions in blue
Replacing the II with a III marked in purple

24 hours for objections. If there are no objections this will be the official version of the bill.

I will accept proxies in favor of the amendments, in the event of an objection.

[West_Midlander]

- Whereas human activity has a major impact on climate change.
- Whereas increasing global temperatures will lead to severe environmental deterioration, habitat destruction for animals, and a decrease in the quality of life for humans in coastal areas.
- Whereas non-renewables such as plastics emit harmful gases into the atmosphere upon burning.
- Whereas considerable amounts of recyclables are burned, end up in landfills, or are sent to other countries to the same effect.
- Whereas the large-scale consumption of meat, especially red meats such as beef and lamb, contributes to the methane emission crisis as well as to negative health effects in humans such as an increased amount of carcinogens and worsening heart health.

Be it resolved that:

Article I
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting recycling.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section IV) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article I shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section V) Article I shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article II
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting a lowered consumption of meat, especially beef, lamb, and other red meats.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) Each state’s Department of Health and Human Services or equivalent shall work with that state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent to compile information citing health and environmental benefits as a result of consuming less meat for use in the aforementioned advertisements.
Section IV) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section V) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article II shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section VI) Article II shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article III
Section I) The Southern region shall not dispose of recyclable material by means of burning, disposal in landfills, or shipment to other regions or countries for the purpose of burning or disposal in landfills.
Section II) Article III shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

Article IV
Section I) The government of the Southern region shall end public contracts with corporations that continue to use plastic (including styrofoam) disposables, among them plastic straws, plastic cups, plastic bowls, plastic plates, styrofoam boxes, styrofoam trays, styrofoam containers, and plastic utensils.
Section II) Section I of Article IV shall expressly exclude plastic straws from this legislation.
Section III) Article IV shall take effect on May 1, 2020.

Striking the portions in red
Adding the portions in blue
Replacing the II with a III marked in purple

24 hours for objections. If there are no objections this will be the official version of the bill.

I will accept proxies in favor of the amendments, in the event of an objection.

Mr. Deputy Speaker: I accidentally left in one extra space upon striking those words and the same upon striking a word from the transport bill (in the middle of a sentence in my most recent suggestion to amend it). Do we have to go through the amendment process or is the removal of the space (in each of the two instances) not required to be done by amendment?

[West_Midlander]

I motion for a final vote if there are no objections.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Mr. Deputy Speaker: I accidentally left in one extra space upon striking those words and the same upon striking a word from the transport bill (in the middle of a sentence in my most recent suggestion to amend it). Do we have to go through the amendment process or is the removal of the space (in each of the two instances) not required to be done by amendment?

I am sure that the collective wisdom of the chamber, acting in good faith wont object to editing out a typo, specifically an extra space being deleted. I'll suspend the standing orders in this instance for the accommodation of common sense. Unless someone objects to common sense. In which case they might be in the need of some greater help.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Mr. Deputy Speaker: I accidentally left in one extra space upon striking those words and the same upon striking a word from the transport bill (in the middle of a sentence in my most recent suggestion to amend it). Do we have to go through the amendment process or is the removal of the space (in each of the two instances) not required to be done by amendment?

I am sure that the collective wisdom of the chamber, acting in good faith wont object to editing out a typo, specifically an extra space being deleted. I'll suspend the standing orders in this instance for the accommodation of common sense. Unless someone objects to common sense. In which case they might be in the need of some greater help.

Well the objection period has ended. The revision passes without objection.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Article II, Section I is a campaign solely to provide dietary suggestions to the Southern people based on evidence, similar to how the Atlasian Department of Agriculture does (USDA IRL) at the federal level. The suggestion of Section I is a reduction in the consumption of meat. Certainly, a reduced (not eliminated) consumption of meat is possible for most people, including a diet of some meat substitutes. I'm sure Timmy can enjoy his rack of ribs, perhaps just a little less often than before, and only if he so chooses to have it less often. Perhaps Timmy can fix himself a Carolina Dog with a veggie dog as opposed to the real thing, maybe half the time?

Furthermore, sufficient iron and protein can be provided by non-meats, among them spinach, beans, legumes, almonds and other nuts, pumpkin seeds and other seeds, quinoa, broccoli, tofu, dark chocolate, and a lot more. Some list items from the source below were meats but certainly if one eats a sufficient amount of a few types of iron-rich foods one doesn't need to eat all eleven regularly.

11 Healthy Foods That Are Very High in Iron

Some of the great dishes of the South are meat based.
...
Vegetarians can quite easily suffer from iron deficiency.

I will elaborate on the latter first. I know from first hand experience that most vegetarians don't get enough iron into their system. A fact that my formerly vegetarian sister openly admits. A vegetarian needs to be over zealous on their iron intake to be able to get a supposedly adequate iron intake from non meat sources. So by the same token that you are advocating against the eating of meat one should also promote the eating of meat. Maybe vegetarians need to become part time omnivores to ensure that they don't suffer from iron deficiency. This further empathizes my point in the gubernatorial debate that home economics is a part of the fight against malnutrition. Just because someone is overweight doesn't mean they aren't malnourished.

On my first point in the above. I find it difficult to believe the average Southerner will take kindly to being told by the government to not eat a culturally significant staple of the average Southerners diet. Not only is it unpatriotic but also potentially unhealthy. I support a balance diet. Meat and veg! My main staple is meat and two Veg!

Edit: All things in moderation including moderation

[West_Midlander]

The bill has always been proposing a reduced consumption of meat, not abstention.

Motioning for a vote as it's been ~48 hrs w/o debate.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Objection, as I like this amendment discussed.

- Whereas human activity has a major impact on climate change.
- Whereas increasing global temperatures will lead to severe environmental deterioration, habitat destruction for animals, and a decrease in the quality of life for humans in coastal areas.
- Whereas non-renewables such as plastics emit harmful gases into the atmosphere upon burning.
- Whereas considerable amounts of recyclables are burned, end up in landfills, or are sent to other countries to the same effect.
- Whereas the large-scale consumption of meat, especially red meats such as beef and lamb, contributes to the methane emission crisis as well as to negative health effects in humans such as an increased amount of carcinogens and worsening heart health.

Be it resolved that:

Article I
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting recycling.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section IV) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article I shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section V) Article I shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article II
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting a lowered consumption of meat, especially beef, lamb, and other red meats.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) Each state’s Department of Health and Human Services or equivalent shall work with that state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent to compile information citing health and environmental benefits as a result of consuming less meat for use in the aforementioned advertisements.
Section IV) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section V) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article II shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section VI) Article II shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article III
Section I) The Southern region shall not dispose of recyclable material by means of burning, disposal in landfills, or shipment to other regions or countries for the purpose of burning or disposal in landfills.
Section II) Article III shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

Article IVII
Section I) The government of the Southern region shall end public contracts with corporations that continue to use plastic (including styrofoam) disposables, among them plastic cups, plastic bowls, plastic plates, styrofoam boxes, styrofoam trays, styrofoam containers, and plastic utensils.
Section II) Section I of Article IVII shall expressly exclude plastic straws from this legislation.
Section II) Article III shall take effect on May 1, 2020.

Striking the portions in red
Amending the portions in blue
I would happily Support the bill with the above amendments.


So the amended version would read as:

- Whereas human activity has a major impact on climate change.
- Whereas increasing global temperatures will lead to severe environmental deterioration, habitat destruction for animals, and a decrease in the quality of life for humans in coastal areas.
- Whereas non-renewables such as plastics emit harmful gases into the atmosphere upon burning.
- Whereas considerable amounts of recyclables are burned, end up in landfills, or are sent to other countries to the same effect.

Be it resolved that:

Article I
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting recycling.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section IV) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article I shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section V) Article I shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article II
Section I) The Southern region shall not dispose of recyclable material by means of burning, disposal in landfills, or shipment to other regions or countries for the purpose of burning or disposal in landfills.
Section II) Article II shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

Article III
Section I) The government of the Southern region shall end public contracts with corporations that continue to use plastic (including styrofoam) disposables, among them plastic cups, plastic bowls, plastic plates, styrofoam boxes, styrofoam trays, styrofoam containers, and plastic utensils.
Section II) Section I of Article III shall expressly exclude plastic straws from this legislation.
Section II) Article III shall take effect on May 1, 2020.

[West_Midlander]

I'll second this amendment.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

I'll second this amendment.

If there are no objections after 24 hours the following will become the working version of the bill.

So the amended version would read as:

- Whereas human activity has a major impact on climate change.
- Whereas increasing global temperatures will lead to severe environmental deterioration, habitat destruction for animals, and a decrease in the quality of life for humans in coastal areas.
- Whereas non-renewables such as plastics emit harmful gases into the atmosphere upon burning.
- Whereas considerable amounts of recyclables are burned, end up in landfills, or are sent to other countries to the same effect.

Be it resolved that:

Article I
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting recycling.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section IV) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article I shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section V) Article I shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article II
Section I) The Southern region shall not dispose of recyclable material by means of burning, disposal in landfills, or shipment to other regions or countries for the purpose of burning or disposal in landfills.
Section II) Article II shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

Article III
Section I) The government of the Southern region shall end public contracts with corporations that continue to use plastic (including styrofoam) disposables, among them plastic cups, plastic bowls, plastic plates, styrofoam boxes, styrofoam trays, styrofoam containers, and plastic utensils.
Section II) Section I of Article III shall expressly exclude plastic straws from this legislation.
Section II) Article III shall take effect on May 1, 2020.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

No objection.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

I motion for a final vote

[West_Midlander]

I motion for a final vote

Seconded.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

As there have been no objections, voting in now open on S.19.4-3: The Southern Environmental Act. Voting will last for 48 hours or until all delegates have voted.
Sound the bells (delegates will be DM'd)

Text of the bill reads as follows:

- Whereas human activity has a major impact on climate change.
- Whereas increasing global temperatures will lead to severe environmental deterioration, habitat destruction for animals, and a decrease in the quality of life for humans in coastal areas.
- Whereas non-renewables such as plastics emit harmful gases into the atmosphere upon burning.
- Whereas considerable amounts of recyclables are burned, end up in landfills, or are sent to other countries to the same effect.

Be it resolved that:

Article I
Section I) One million dollars shall be dispensed to the states of the Southern region, according to the population of each, for the creation and broadcast of advertisements promoting recycling.
Section II) The funds for this program shall be allocated to each Southern state’s Department of Environmental Quality or equivalent.
Section III) The method of advertisement shall include but shall not be limited to television advertisements, billboard advertisements, radio advertisements, and so on.
Section IV) Upon the exhaustion of the aforementioned funds, Article I shall be null and void unless a law is passed renewing the fund in the same or a different amount.
Section V) Article I shall take effect, with funds dispensed to the states, on December 1, 2019.

Article II
Section I) The Southern region shall not dispose of recyclable material by means of burning, disposal in landfills, or shipment to other regions or countries for the purpose of burning or disposal in landfills.
Section II) Article II shall take effect on January 1, 2020.

Article III
Section I) The government of the Southern region shall end public contracts with corporations that continue to use plastic (including styrofoam) disposables, among them plastic cups, plastic bowls, plastic plates, styrofoam boxes, styrofoam trays, styrofoam containers, and plastic utensils.
Section II) Section I of Article III shall expressly exclude plastic straws from this legislation.
Section II) Article III shall take effect on May 1, 2020.

Voting Options are:
[   ] Aye
[   ] Nay
[   ] Abstain