Rights of Nature – Rights of Mother Earth
The ‘rights of nature’ concept recognizes that the natural systems have a right to exist, and that these rights may be superior to the commerce and property rights of humans; unfortunately this concept is only now becoming more widely appreciated.
In 2010, a general, global statement of the rights of nature, the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth, was issued at the World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth. Later that year, Bolivia passed the ‘Law of the Rights of Mother Earth’ [Ley de Derechos de la Madre Tierra], which defines Mother Earth as ‘the dynamic living system made up of indivisible community of all living systems and living beings, interrelated, interdependent and complementary, which share a common destiny…’ and recognizes ‘Mother Earth’ as having rights that are parallel to human rights.
New York’s Little Revolution
The following was published by Yes! Magazine, a non-profit magazine that focuses not only on all that’s wrong but on positive approaches, a transition to a better world. New York’s Little Revolution How the state’s fight for clean water is reshaping … more
Occupy Wall Street’s Moral Ground
By Kathleen Moore in Yes! Magazine, November 1, 2011] Much of the Occupy movement’s power comes from a simple moral message: It’s wrong to wreck the world. It’s wrong to wreck the health and hopes of others. The Occupy Wall … more
Statement from the NYC General Assembly
Following is the first collective statement from the New York City General Assembly, issued October 5 2011. As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. … more
Wilkinsburg PA Adopts Community Rights Ordinance That Bans Gas Drilling
Tuesday, July 20, 2011 – By a unanimous vote, the Borough Council of Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, adopted ordinance number 28-70 that enacts an enforceable Local Bill of Rights, along with a prohibition on natural gas extraction to protect those … more
Chambersburg Declaration & Community Rights Networking
Alliance Resolution in Support of the Chambersburg Declaration and the Community Rights Work of CELDF The Steering Committee of the Alliance for Sustainable Communities-Lehigh Valley endorses the Chambersburg Declaration of February 20, 2010 and the community rights work of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund … more
Rights of Nature
As the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) points out in discussing its “Rights of Nature” work, environmental laws “regulating how much pollution or destruction of nature can occur under law”, are actually permitting the environmental harms to occur. CELDF’s approach takes … more
Testing Mother Nature’s Limits at Our Expense
by Martin Boksenbaum — Is it just me or does it seem to you too that those in control—of industry, food production, energy systems, land development, planet and animal genetic patents, and us too—are testing Mother Nature’s limits? What can … more
Global Transition Movement
by Joris Rosse — In the absence of common sense and ability to act appropriately in high places, “Think Globally and Act Locally”. Enter Transition towns, cities, valleys, forest regions, and yes whole countries. The following is a very brief summary of … more
Another World Is Possible
by Faramarz Farbod — Can humans rise to the occasion and overcome the challenges facing their societies and the planet? Call me unimaginative but I believe this can come about if as participants in movements for social change we re-embrace the politics … more