Page 7 - aruba-today-20220628

A7
WORLD NEWS Tuesday 28 June 2022
U.N. chief: national selfishness delaying global oceans deal

By BARRY HATTON three months ago, a deal
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — is still not within sight. A fifth
Some countries has been round is scheduled for Au-
holding up a global agree- gust in New York.
ment on protecting the "The world's largest ecosys-
world's oceans because tem ... is still unprotected
of their "egoism," U.N. Sec- and is dying as we watch,"
retary-General Antonio the activist group Ocean
Guterres said Monday. Rebellion said.
Some countries — which Guterres said "significant
he did not identify — won't progress" has been made
accept that the world's toward a deal on a high
oceans belong to every- seas treaty and that the
one, he said. world stands at "a crucial
"International waters are moment" for the future of
ours," Guterres insisted, re- the oceans.
ferring to all the planet's in- "We need to make people
habitants. put pressure on those who
The U.N. chief was with se- decide," Guterres said, ap-
nior officials and scientists pealing for people to make
from more than 120 coun- themselves heard.
tries attending a five-day Threats to the oceans in-
U.N. Ocean Conference in clude global warming, pol-
Lisbon, Portugal. Also pres- Actor Jason Momoa holds the "Nature Batton" after arriving to meet participants at the United Na- lution, acidification and
ent were activists frustrated tions' Youth and Innovation Forum at Carcavelos beach, outside Lisbon, Sunday, June 26, 2022. other problems, the U.N.
by the failure to come up Associated Press says. Potentially harmful
with international rules that deep-sea mining also lacks
might ensure ocean sus- 70% of the earth's surface protection and conserva- That treaty is being negoti- rules.
tainability. and provide food and liveli- tion of oceans and their re- ated within the framework The conference is set to
The U.N. is hoping the con- hoods for billions of people. sources, according to the of the United Convention adopt a declaration that,
ference that got underway Some activists refer to them U.N.. The declaration is due on the Law of the Sea, though not binding on its
Monday will bring fresh mo- as the largest unregulated to be endorsed on Friday. which is the main interna- signatories, could help im-
mentum to the protracted area on the planet. But still beyond reach is tional agreement govern- plement and facilitate the
efforts for a global ocean The conference is set to a vital new international ing human maritime activi- protection and conserva-
agreement. adopt a declaration that, agreement on Biodiversity ties. tion of oceans and their re-
No comprehensive legal though not binding on its Beyond National Jurisdic- After 10 years of talks, how- sources, according to the
framework covers the high signatories, could help im- tion, also known as the ever, including a fourth U.N.. The declaration is due
seas. Oceans cover some plement and facilitate the Treaty of the High Seas. round of negotiations to be endorsed on Friday.q

Ecuador president cuts gasoline price

amid Indigenous strike

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ec-
uadorian President Guiller-
mo Lasso announced a cut
in gasoline prices Sunday
that fell short of the reduc-
tion demanded by Indige-
nous leaders to end a strike
that has paralyzed parts of
the country for two weeks.
The reduction cuts the price
of gasoline by 10 cents per
gallon, and early Monday
the main Indigenous orga-
nization rejected it, calling
the measure "insufficient." A demonstrator dressed as a llama takes part in a protest and
national strike against the government of President Guillermo
The Confederation of In- Lasso, near the National Assembly, in Quito, Ecuador, on Satur-
digenous Nationalities of day, June 25, 2022.
Ecuador has demanded Associated Press
compliance with a 10-point
agenda, including the re- that maintains the conflict." turn to normality.
duction of the price of ex- "Ecuadorians who seek The Indigenous confed-
tra gasoline from 2.55 to dialogue will find a govern- eration criticized the an-
2.10 dollars a gallon and ment with an outstretched nouncement, and said in a
diesel from 1.90 to 1.50. hand, those who seek cha- press release that it shows
Speaking on national tele- os, violence and terrorism that the government is not
vision late Sunday, Lasso will face the full force of the sympathetic to the millions
said the price of fuel "has law," he said, emphasizing of people in poverty in
become the cornerstone that the country must re- Ecuador.q