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Protecting the Environment in War: Military Guidelines

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Arthur H. Westing

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs on Pioneers in Science and Practice ((BRIEFSPIONEER,volume 1))

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Abstract

A state’s (nation’s) military manuals and rules of engagement (often publicly available) serve to guide the armed forces of that state during both their peacetime and wartime actions. The constraints contained in those documents derive, of course, to a greater or lesser degree from the existing Law of War (International Humanitarian Law and related International Arms Control and Disarmament Law), as outlined earlier (cf. Chap. 8). Interestingly enough, in various instances a state may lean on the Law of War even if it is not a state party to one or more of the relevant multilateral instruments.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The numbered references are provided in Chap. 3.

  2. 2.

    Reproduced from: Austin, J.E., & Bruch, C.E. (eds). The Environmental Consequences of War: Legal, Economic, and Scientific Perspectives. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 691 pp: pp 171–181 (Chap. 6); 2000 with the original title “In Furtherance of Environmental Guidelines for Armed Forces during Peace and War” by permission of the Environmental Law Institute, the copyright holder, on 22 March 2012. Invited paper, 'First International Conference on Addressing Environmental Consequences of War: Legal, Economic, and Scientific Perspectives', Washington, 10–12 June 1998, of the Environmental Law Institute et al. The author is pleased to acknowledge information from Carl Bruch (Washington), Jean-Marie Henckaerts (Geneva), and Masa Nagai (Nairobi); and suggestions from Richard C. Tarasofsky (Bonn) and Carol E. Westing (Putney).

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  1. Security & Education, Westing Associates in Environment, 134 Fred Houghton Road, Putney, VT, 05346, USA

    Arthur H. Westing

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Westing, A.H. (2013). Protecting the Environment in War: Military Guidelines. In: Arthur H. Westing. SpringerBriefs on Pioneers in Science and Practice, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-31322-6_9

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