Children's Appeal to World judiciary to protect their Right to a Safe Ecology and Safe Future

To,

The Hon'ble Members of World Judiciary

Sub: A SAFE FUTURE FOR CHILDREN OF THE WORLD AND PROTECTION OF THEIR RIGHTS

Your Lordship,

We, the over 56,000 students of City Montessori School, Lucknow, India on behalf of World's over 2 billion children and generations yet unborn, beg to submit this appeal and hereby submit as follows:

1. That, the present world situation is grim owing to the stockpile of more than 36,000 nuclear weapons and also chemical and biological weapons capable of destroying the world several times over in case of another world war which can be triggered accidently or deliberately;
   
   
2. That international terrorism has shaken the world, especially us children, and the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, the financial hub of India, on 26-28 November 2008 reflects the dimension of its ghastly menace which has shaken us to no end as we feel that we are not safe anywhere;
   
   
3. That we have learnt from 'Media' and internet about environmental degradation and greenhouse gases resulting in global warming and climate change and about consequences thereof, which are horrifying and which creates in our minds a feeling that our very existence is in danger;
   
   
4. That we, the children of the world, feel that in such a situation, our future is not safe and that our elders are not doing enough to save us from such agony and we are continuously living under the danger of total destruction by nuclear holocaust or by global warming and environmental destruction or by a terrorist's bullet;
   
   
5. That, plight of children is evident from U.N. figures, according to which 40,000 children under the age of five die each day from malnutrition and preventable diseases; in the last decade of the last century, 2 million children were killed in war, 4 to 5 million are handicapped, 12 million became homeless and one million lost their parents or were separated from them and over 300 thousand have been exploited as soldiers, bearers and mine-workers. Besides, over 100 million children throughout the world are forced to work under hazardous and often fatal conditions; more than 10 million are child refugees and 113 million children never ever begin school;
   
   
6. That, on one hand, huge resources are being squandered on production of weapons of mass destruction and on war preparedness; on the other hand, owing to paucity of resources a very large number of children all over the world are divested of their rights to education, food, shelter and clothing and to live in peace and security;
   
   
7. That, according to U.N. figures, in the year 1995, more than 1.5 million dollars were spent on defence every single minute by various countries which comes to about 800 billion dollars in one year. War in Afghanistan and Iraq has further escalated this expenditure. According to U.N. estimates, an additional amount of only 28 billion US dollars, over and above the amount being spent presently, would be required per year to achieve universal basic education, ensure basic health and nutrition for all and provide clean water and sanitation world wide;
   
   
8. That, the above situation demands complete transformation of the present world order because protecting the rights of the children all over the world is the moral responsibility of the international community which can be met only by enactment of enforceable world law for addressing the above mentioned global problems and by creating agency for peaceful settlement of international disputes. Only then will it be possible to regulate international conduct so as to ensure unity and peace in the world and safety from danger of eco disaster and terrorism etc. so that the problems of children of the world be suitably addressed and their various rights safeguarded;
   
   
9. That, in spite of the efforts of the League of Nations and the United Nations Organization, there has been large scale violence and wars and also world wars. Millions of people have been killed and maimed and millions of children have either died or maimed or have been orphaned due to wars, disease, hunger or malnutrition. Decision makers do not appear to be concerned with our plight and it has compelled us to approach Your Lordships;
   
   
10. That the United Nations adopted on 20th November, 1989 'Convention on the Rights of the Child' which provides for
    (a) equal rights for children without discrimination,
    (b) right to life and right to develop
    (c) right to protection from all forms of violence, neglect, abuse and mistreatment,
    (d) right to play, rest and live in a healthy environment,
    (e) right against forced employment in hazardous work as child soldier in armed conflicts,
    (f) right to education and proper care and such other rights.
    
    But the situation of children has not improved and a vast majority of world's children are living under apprehension of terrorist attacks or nuclear holocaust or environmental catastrophe, in want and misery and devoid of our various rights as children, whom our elders profess to love and care.
    
    
11. That, solutions of the present day problems are urgently required and we crave for a peaceful atmosphere, full of love, unity, brotherhood and understanding and a safe future for our own sake and for future generations; and we have faith that all our elders love their children and shall, therefore, seriously consider and dedicate their time and energy for the cause of their beloved children; and
    
    
12. That, The World Judiciary is held in highest regard as the Judges are dedicated to justice, impartiality and regard to universal values and law and are highly esteemed and trusted by all sections of society and, as such, we, the children of the world, have full faith that your views and directions shall carry more weight and shall stir the conscience of decision makers and compel them to act in a positive way for fulfilling our demands. We also believe that World Judiciary will, through its pronouncements, direct world leaders to abide by the provisions of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.
    

THEREFORE, we, the children of the City Montessori School (CMS), Lucknow, India on behalf of over 2 billion children of the world and generations yet to be born, do hereby appeal to the Hon'ble members of the World Judiciary to support our call for ensuring a safe ecology and a safe future for us and also to protect our various rights as children, such as right to proper food, nutrition, shelter, clothing, safe drinking water, health services, education and above all, an atmosphere of love, unity, goodwill and peace to enable us to grow into fine adulthood and contribute our mite in making the planet Earth a perfectly peaceful and prosperous global village.

—PETITIONERS The over 56,000 Students of City Montessori School (CMS), Lucknow - India,
On behalf of world's over 2 billion children.