The environment

We have already mentioned that the deterioration of the environment is one of the new problems of the international agenda.

Though the environmental issue involves every sector of society - and Non-Government Organizations provide

valuable contributions in this regard - the government is the only political entity in the world community that can effectively

Part III - Defense Policies

guarantee efficient actions, as expressed by the UN Peace Program in its Letter to the Planet.

Argentina designed its environmental policy at a national level and developed strategies aimed at achieving sustainable development. This implies that special attention is paid to the preservation of the environment.

In this regard, the reform of our National Constitution in 1994 included the right of its people to enjoy a healthy and balanced environment, suitable for human development, and also provides for the obligation to preserve it.

Moreover, the obligation to remedy

environmental damages was also included.

These constitutional provisions are complemented by a set of laws and codes as well as by international treaties on environmental matters that our country has endorsed to.

The question of the environment concerns the jurisdiction of the Defense Ministry, as shown by the inclusion of a chapter on "Armed Forces support to environmental protection" in the agenda of the II Defense Ministerial of the Americas held in Bariloche.

In the specific area of Defense, this policy has been considered in the redesign of military missions.

However, this new mission does not mean that the military instrument should immediately be involved in matters of environmental damage to our territory resulting from actions performed in another country as this will be addressed by the political, institutional and

diplomatic channels, as necessary.

Clear examples of the interface between the Military and the Environment include: bio-diversity preservation in relation to defense and military training activities, control of the marine environment due to potential pollution caused by warships, protection of the atmosphere from noise emissions and military aircraft gas releases, and preservation of the soil as a result of ground operations.

Argentina observes the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques, adopted in

1977 within the UN framework.

In sum, the environmental policy carried out by the Environmental

Committee under the Ministry of Defense with the involvement of the Armed Forces and the pertinent organizations is

implemented on two levels: inside military institutions and outside their sphere.

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Chapter 7 - Main Fields of Action

Environment-sensitive military activities.

This criterion reflects the first level of focus mentioned above and involves the following four steps which, in a way, summarize an international doctrine on environment and were adopted by our country for its Armed Forces:

Strict compliance with regulations, whether derived from national or international instruments entered into by our country, especially considering transnational consequences brought about by certain environmental damages.

Cautious Approach, which involves a prior consideration of the possible environmental impact caused by military activities.

Pollution Prevention in the execution of military operations, which, in addition to a certain "behavior"

required, concerns environmental considerations in the acquisition and operation of equipment and weapons.

Restoration to the condition prior to the military activity performed.

Air Force helicopters used in environmental protection tasks as part of the National Fire-Fighting Plan.

and training play an essential role. For that reason, the Armed Forces, as well as other sectors of our society, are

incorporating into their training and education curricula the necessary

academic and non-academic elements to transmit adequate values, awareness, attitudes, techniques and behavior towards the environment.

These aspects must be taken into account both inside military garrisons and quarters as well as in the case of forces operating outside their bases.

In order to meet these goals successfully, long-term efforts are

required. And, in this regard, education

National and international cooperation

This is the focus of the second level of Defense environmental policy.

Equipment and logistics capabilities of the Armed Forces to comply with their

Part /// - Defense Policies

main mission coupled with their

permanent readiness, make them capable of cooperating with the pertinent civilian authorities not only in case of natural disasters but also to protect and restore the environment.

On this basis, the Armed Forces have entered into several cooperation

agreements with the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Development of the Nation, with provincial and municipal authorities, and with NGO's. These agreements include various environmental matters, such as water sanitation,

National Parks protection, the promotion

of environmental awareness, landfills movement, support to fire-fighting activities, forestry, water and coast contamination prevention, as well as educational activities, among others.

Also, there is a permanent interrelation between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior as regards support required from the Armed Forces in case of natural disasters.

This cooperation extends into the international arena on issues such as ozone layer depletion, greenhouse gases and environment-sensitive marine areas, among others.

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Part HI - Defense Policies

CHAPTER 8

—in he reorganization of the f \^/y Armed Forces in the

^—•^ framework of the National Defense policy requires suitable tools to become effective. In order to elaborate the appropriate projects required by Act No.

24948, several sectors of our National Defense system were involved.

To such effect, Defense Ministry Resolution No. 440/98 created the Military Reorganization System, as shown in Figure 8-1.

Work Teams have been set up to perform their activities pursuant to the terms of the above mentioned Act.