members oftheGoverning Council expressed theircontinuing dedication tothe achievement oftheobjectives oftheCharter, andsawtheirefforts toprotect and 12/UNEP/GC.13/3/Add.2, annex11. -31-I, I t - enhance theenvironment forthebenefit ofthisandfuturegenerations asan important contributio'1 tothepeace,security andwell-being ofhumanity. The decision bytheUnitedNations toconvene theConference ontheHumanEnvironment in1972,andthesubsequent adoption oftheStockholm Declaration andActionPlan, andinstitutional arrangements forinternational environmental co-operation, werea majorachievement oftheUnitedNations inthepursuit oftheobjectives oftbe Charter. Justaswarhasbeenthescourge ofsuccessive generations, sothe despoliation oftheresources ofourbiosphere willbeascourge unlesstheconcern fortheenvironment voicedatStockholm prompts atrulysuccessful response, and unlessallpeopleuniteinprotecting their"OnlyoneEarth". Abetterenvironment isapre-condition forsustained development andabetterworld. Afailing environment endangers well-being anddevelopment, andultimately fosters conflicts andthreats topeace. Andashumanity responds tothischallenge, itwillforge linksofsolidarity whichwillhelpitalsotobanishthescourge ofwar.Thusthe spiritofharmony andtheconce.rn fortheenvironment shared byallpeoples have foundareflection intheGoverning Co~ncil ofUNEP,andintheSUC(~Ss withwhich ithassoughtagreement andfostered actiononissuesconcerning humanity's patrimony asdiverse astheadvance ofdeserts, themanagement offorests, soils, waterandair,thepollution oftheoceans andtheprotection oftheozonelayer. Thus,asthecommitment tothee~vironrnental causeglobally andnationally continues tobroaden anddeepen,itcontributes totheoverall commitment to peace. Thiscommitment willbemanifested onthefortieth anniversary bythe proclamation bytheGeneral Assembly oftheInternational YearofPeace. Accordingly, theGoverning Council hasadopted thisspecial message tothe commemorative session oftheGeneral Assembl~' tobehel·-ontheoccasion ofthe fortieth anniversary oftheUnitedNations, andhas requ~sted theExecutive Director totransmit itt~theGeneral Assembly onitsbehalf. 13/6.African environmental conference TheGoverning Council, Recalling itsdecision 11/7of24May1983,parteight,section A,inwhichit suggested theconvening ofanAfrican Environmental conference todiscuss national environmental priorities andidentify commonproblems inAfrica, Considering thatthemassive ~imensions ofthepresent drought andcrisisin Africa andtheresulting humanstarvation andSUffering makeiturg€nttodealwith theirrootcauses, whichrelatetotheerosi~n ofthenatural resource baseand degradation oftheenvironment, 1.Expresses itssatisfaction atthesubstantial preparatory workforthe conference carried outbytheExecutive Director, together withtheEconomic Commission forAfrica ~ndtheOrgani2atior. ofAfrican Unity; 2.Approves theExecutive Director's proposal that: (a)IfnoGovernment isabletodoso,heshouldconvene theconference and theexpertgoupmeeting preceding itinthesuggested periodofDecember 1985,and meettheexpenses arising theretrom; -32-1!liiiiL-~!l!!'i_.,"",,~._!i!'-lii! • (b)IfaGovernment provesabletoholdtheconference, heshouldmeetthe costsoftheexp~rtmeeting preceding theconference andthecostsofpreparing for andservicing theconference itself. 1, ~a ~rn mt :8 :he :h it L ~h13thmeeting 23May1985 13/7. Impactofapartheid ontheenvironment TheGoverning Council, Recalling itsdecisions 9/9of26May1981,10/7ot28May1982,11/5of 23May1983and12/6of28May1984, Awareotthefactthatapartheid isacrimeagainst mankind andthatit represents agreatthreattopeaceandinternational understanding between peoples andcountries oftheworld, ReCognizing theneedforgreater understanding andappreciation ofthereal andpotential impacts ofthe.par>:heid andbantustan policies onthepeopleof SouthAfrica andtheneighboring Stateswithrespect totheirhumanenvironment ­ morespecifically, land,natural resourc::es andhumansettlements -andthe
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council, discussing various environmental issues and international cooperation. It highlights the importance of environmental protection for sustainable development, peace, and human well-being. The text also touches on specific issues such as the African environmental conference, the impact of apartheid on the environment, and the proclamation of the International Year of Peace.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, International relations