Urge your senators to ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty

Urge your senators to ratify the Law of the Sea Treaty

The Senate could soon consider whether the United States should
sign on to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,
also known simply as the Law of the Sea Treaty. The Law of the
Sea will help expand protections for our planet's oceans, and
becoming a party to the treaty would permit the United States to
more effectively influence major upcoming international debates
concerning ocean activities.

The treaty's environmental provisions cover all aspects of the
marine environment, including fishing, pollution, offshore
mining and oil and gas exploration; such activities are having
major impacts that require urgent action. For example, with
rapidly accelerating summer melting of Arctic sea ice, new
proposals for shipping, oil and gas exploration and other
harmful activities are multiplying. Ratifying the Law of the Sea
treaty would give the United States a seat at the table in
discussions surrounding the future of the Arctic and protection
of its marine and coastal wildlife.

One hundred fifty-five nations have already ratified the Law of
the Sea, including every major industrialized nation other than
the United States. These countries are making decisions that
affect ocean health and key economic and national security
interests, but the United States will not gain access to these
discussions unless it signs on to the treaty as well.

A few vocal groups who are fundamentally opposed to U.S.
involvement in international collaborations have used false
arguments to pressure senators to reject the Law of the Sea, and
have turned what should be an easy decision into a contentious
one. Senate Majority Leader Reid will not bring the treaty to a
vote until he is certain it has the two-thirds support (67
votes) needed to pass, and right now that margin is very close.
To counter the opposition, senators need to hear that this
treaty is crucial to maintaining healthy oceans and protecting
economic and security interests.

== What to do ==
Send a message urging your senators to ratify the Law of the Sea
Treaty.

== Contact information ==
You can send a message to your senators directly from NRDC's
Action Center at
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_013008

If you prefer to call your senators, the Capitol switchboard
number is 202-224-3121.