International North Sea Protection Conference, The Hague 1990 - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1990 - 100 Pfennig

With »Protect the North Sea« Deutsche Post continues the series of topics »Nature conservation and environmental protection«. The stamp is intended to contribute to efforts to protect the North Sea; It should help to communicate the serious problem and to further raise the awareness of environmental protection among the general public. »Protect the North Sea« is an appeal that is addressed to all: industry, agriculture, commerce, communities, shipping, but also to the individual citizen. All are hereby called upon to give full attention to the European sea, which is at the limit of its capacity, and to no longer misuse it as a cheap landfill. The ecosystem North Sea is overloaded and urgently needs protection. Intensive agriculture, industrialization and a high standard of living must not destroy our livelihoods. Our livelihoods are primarily water and our territorial sea. Our high industrial standard allows us to be a pioneer in environmental protection in Europe. Relieving the North Sea from pollutants is a commitment for us all. The North Sea is a prime example of the need for internationally coordinated action. It is surrounded by densely populated industrialized countries. From there, the North Sea pollutants are fed directly via pipelines or indirectly via rivers and the atmosphere. But states that are not directly adjacent to the North Sea also contribute to the North Sea pollution via the large river systems or the atmosphere. In addition, we find on the North Sea in a small space the highest shipping density in the world. These conditions make international cooperation in environmental protection indispensable. Based on this insight, the Federal Government - against the initial resistance of some riparian states - invited to the 1st International North Sea Protection Conference in Bremen in 1984. The foundation was laid for the extraordinarily successful 2nd INK 1987 in London. Here was u. a. internationally set the ambitious political goal of halving pollutant input into the North Sea by 1995, starting in 1985. In 1988, the proliferation of seaweed and the death of seals led us to realize how important and necessary the realization of the London Decisions was. In June 1988, Federal Environment Minister Prof. dr. Töpfer submitted to the German Bundestag a far-reaching 10-point program for the enhanced protection of the North and Baltic Seas. This program accelerates the implementation of the decisions of the 2nd INK. Essential parts, above all in the protection of the waters, have already been implemented. International efforts to protect the North Sea will continue with the 3rd International North Sea Protection Conference, which will be held in The Hague in March 1990. One of the focal points of this conference will be to assess the actions of individual states that have been put into action to achieve the objective of halving pollutants by 1995. In addition, further decisions are essential. This should ensure that all communities above a certain size are in principle connected to wastewater treatment plants. The Klärschlammverklappung must be terminated. Shipping pollution must be further reduced and the safety of oil tankers and the transport of hazardous chemicals in drums and containers internationally improved. If the federal government wants to enforce all these goals internationally, then it needs the support of all environmental groups and citizens. »Protecting the North Sea« should not be just lip service. Everyone is called upon to make their contribution to reducing pollutants. Particularly important are improved treatment plants in communities and industry. All are invited to follow the appeal of this commemorative stamp and actively campaign for the protection of the North Sea. It is an essential concern of the Federal Minister of Post and Telecommunications to contribute with this stamp to an increase of environmental awareness in the Federal Republic of Germany with regard to the protection of our coastal seas. (Text: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Bonn)