Natural Rights: Part 2
A number of places across the world have already begun to change their laws in accordance with this new way of thinking concerning natural rights. For example, in November 2010 Pittsburgh became the first major U.S. city to recognize the legally enforceable rights of nature. Faced with dangerous gas-shale drilling, Pittsburgh’s city council unanimously passed a law that stops such drilling by elevating the rights of communities and nature above the interests of energy corporations.
Nearly two-dozen other U.S. municipalities have passed similar ordinances, finding that existing laws cannot protect their local ecosystems and, by extension, their human health, safety and welfare. Canadian communities are also wondering if legally recognizing rights for nature can stop the privatization of their public water systems and halt dangerous tar-sands drilling in the fragile Alberta region. And these bold municipalities are not alone.
In 2008, Ecuador became the first nation in the world to rewrite its constitution to include rights for nature to exist, flourish and evolve. This year, Bolivia is set to pass 11 separate laws recognizing the rights of Mother Earth.
These laws aim to stop the kind of development that negatively impacts with the existence and vitality of local ecosystems. A worldwide movement, led by indigenous peoples, has emerged to support this cultural and legal shift.
Every now and then in history, the human race takes a collective step forward in its evolution. The earth, and all its inhabitants, urgently needs this to be one of those times.
To be continued.
The Leadership and Learning Pathways website http://www.leadershipandlearningpathways.co.uk will be relaunched mid-September 2011
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