UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MOTHER EARTH
[draft February 2010]
Preamble
We, the peoples of Earth:
gratefully acknowledging that Mother Earth gives us life, nourishes and teaches us and provides us with all that we need to live well;
recognizing that Mother Earth is an indivisible community of diverse and interdependent beings with whom we share a common destiny and to whom we must relate in ways that benefit Mother Earth;acknowledging that by attempting to dominate and exploit Mother Earth and other beings, humans have caused severe destruction, degradation and disruption of the life-sustaining communities, processes and balances of Mother Earth which now threatens the wellbeing and existence of many beings;
conscious that this destruction is also harmful to our inner wellbeing and is offensive to the many faiths, wisdom traditions and indigenous cultures for whom Mother Earth is sacred;
acutely conscious of the critical importance and urgency of taking decisive, collective action to prevent humans causing climate change and other impacts on Mother Earth that threaten the wellbeing and survival of humans and other beings;
accepting our responsibility to one another, future generations and Mother Earth to heal the damage caused by humans and to pass on to future generations values, traditions, and institutions that support the flourishing of Mother Earth;
convinced that in order for communities of humans and other beings to flourish we must establish systems for governing human behavior that recognize the inalienable rights of Mother Earth and of all beings that are part of her;
convinced that the fundamental freedoms and rights of Mother Earth and of all beings should be protected by the rule of law, and that the corresponding duties of human beings to respect and defend these rights and freedoms should be enforced by law;
proclaim this Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth to complement the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to serve as a common standard by which the conduct of all human beings, organizations, and cultures can be guided and assessed; and
pledge ourselves to cooperate with other human communities, public and private organizations, governments, and the United Nations, to secure the universal and effective recognition and observance of the fundamental freedoms, rights and duties enshrined in this Declaration, among all the peoples, cultures and states of Earth.
Article 1. Fundamental rights, freedoms and duties
(1) Mother Earth is an indivisible, self-regulating community of interrelated beings each of whom is defined by its relationships within this community and with the Universe as a whole. Fundamental aspects of these relationships are expressed in this Declaration as inalienable rights, freedoms and duties.
(2) These fundamental rights, freedoms and duties arise from the same source as existence and are inherent to all beings, consequently they are inalienable, cannot be abolished by law, and are not affected by the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory within which a being exists.
(3) All beings are entitled to all the fundamental rights and freedoms recognized in this Declaration without distinction of any kind, such as may be made between organic, living beings and inorganic, non-living beings, or on the basis of sentience, kind, species, use to humans, or other status.
(4) Just as human beings have human rights, other beings may also have additional rights, freedoms and duties that are specific to their species or kind and appropriate for their role and function within the communities within which they exist.
(5) The rights of each being are limited by the rights of other beings to the extent necessary to maintain the integrity, balance and health of the communities within which it exists.
Article 2. Fundamental rights of Mother Earth
Mother Earth has the right to exist, to persist and to continue the vital cycles, structures, functions and processes that sustain all beings.
Article 3. Fundamental rights and freedoms of all beings
Every being has:
(a) the right to exist;
(b) the right to habitat or a place to be;
(c) the right to participate in accordance with its nature in the ever-renewing processes of Mother Earth;
(d) the right to maintain its identity and integrity as a distinct, self-regulating being;
(e) the right to be free from pollution, genetic contamination and human modifications of its structure or functioning that threaten its integrity or healthy functioning; and
(f) the freedom to relate to other beings and to participate in communities of beings in accordance with its nature.
Article 4. Freedom of animals from torture and cruelty
Every animal has the right to live free from torture, cruel treatment or punishment by human beings.
Article 5. Freedom of animals from confinement and removal from habitat
(1) No human being has the right to confine another animal or to remove it from its habitat unless doing so is justifiable with reference to the respective rights, duties and freedoms of both the human and other animal concerned.
(2) Any human being that confines or keeps another animal must ensure that it is free to express normal patterns of behavior, has adequate nourishment and is protected from injury, disease, suffering and unreasonable fear, pain, distress or discomfort.
Article 6. Fundamental duties of human beings
Human beings have a special responsibility to avoid acting in violation of this Declaration and must urgently establish values, cultures, and legal, political, economic and social systems consistent with this Declaration that:
(a) promote the full recognition, application and enforcement of the freedoms, rights and duties set out in this Declaration;
(b) ensure that the pursuit of human wellbeing contributes to the wellbeing of Mother Earth, now and in the future;
(c) prevent humans from causing harmful disruptions of vital ecological cycles, processes and balances, and from compromising the genetic viability and continued survival of other species;
(d) ensure that the damage caused by human violations of the freedoms, rights and duties in this Declaration is rectified where possible and that those responsible are held accountable for restoring the integrity and healthy functioning of affected communities; and
(e) enable people to defend the rights of Mother Earth and of all beings.
Article 7. Protection of the law
Every being has –
(a) the right to be recognised everywhere as a subject before the law;
(b) the right to the protection of the law and to an effective remedy in respect of human violations or attacks on the rights and freedoms recognized in this Declaration;
(c) the right to equal protection of the law; and
(d) the right to equal protection against any discrimination by humans in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 8. Human education
(1) Every human being has the right to be educated about Mother Earth and how to live in accordance with this Declaration.
(2) Human education must develop the full potential of human beings in a way that promotes a love of Mother Earth, compassion, understanding, tolerance and affection among all humans and between humans and other beings, and the observance of the fundamental freedoms, rights and duties in this Declaration.
Article 9. Interpretation
(1) The term “being” refers to natural beings which exist as part of Mother Earth and includes a community of other beings and all human beings regardless of whether or not they act as a corporate body, state or other legal person.
(2) Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms in it.
(3) Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as restricting the recognition of other fundamental rights, freedoms or duties of all or specified beings.
12 comments
Comments feed for this article
April 6, 2010 at 5:12 am
The Rights of Mother Earth: Bolivia Births a New Revolution « Bolivia Report
[…] World’s People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth: Draft Declaration on the Rights of Mother Earth https://pwccc.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/draft-universal-declaration-of-the-rights-of-mother-earth-2/#m… […]
April 13, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Michael Desautels
In 1972 law professor Christopher Stone published “Should Trees Have Standing.”
This is now being re-printed for its 35th anniversry, along with new commentary on rights for the environment and for the climate.
James Lovelock coined the idea of Gaia, and it has led to Earth System’s Science.
Yet the indigenous peoples of the world, from whom every single member of the so called first world is descended, have in a sense always known that the Earth and its human beings need balance.
But we in the first world are divorced from the natural world, and have forgotten this save in well-meaning words which are not heeded.
Many of us are hoping against hope that Bolivia and Evo Morales and the organizers and participants of this upcoming World’s Peoples Conference can do what the politicians and peoples of the first world have so far been unable to do:
Rise to the occasion and initiate comprehensive and effective change.
All the best, Mucho Suerte, and if I knew Quecha or Aymara, I would say good luck and God speed in those two languages:
From Calgary, Alberta, Canada
From myself, my wife Julia, from our son Michael Nathaniel (5 and a half)
April 13, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Peoples’ World Conference on Climate Change and Mother Earth’s Rights – Bolivia April 20-22 « Follow The Money
[…] https://pwccc.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/draft-universal-declaration-of-the-rights-of-mother-earth-2/ […]
April 23, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Steve McKechnie
How are we going to train a world of people to invest in the quality of life?
Go fishing without a motor boat, live without an electric shaver or hair dryer?
25% of us have been brought up consuming 75% of the resources, as our way of life, because we are entitled to it. Now the world expects us to see the light. End starvation rather then investing in bio fuel, what about my retirement cruising around the world?
I hope my generation is adaptable.
United Nations. Dignity and justice for all of us.
Article 17
(1) Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
(2) No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience
and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship
and observance.
Article 22
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international
cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Article 25
(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
Article 30
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
April 27, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Patricia G. Randolph
With tears of joy for the beleaguered bears, the “fur-bearers” bludgeoned in traps, the factory farmed animals, the sea creatures harpooned and caught in long lines and de-finned, and for all of us who celebrate the wondrous diversity of LIFE, not just land and air and water – but an ethic of gratitude for all creatures great and small who grace this planet – I read this Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth and her Miracle of Life with relief! Finally! It is so simple and so profound to promote a reverence for all life in the tradition of Gandhi and Schweitzer.
To frame this is legal language gives it more standing in our world of human powers.
This new paradigm should begin to unshackle those humans caught in the anachronistic paradigm of animal agriculture, the now recreational killing and trapping of wild species for sport and trophy, and those who work in labs experimenting endlessly on helpless species for money and no good to anybody. Unshackle the minds of people still caught in a colonialism model of domination and cruelty and take of more and more and more.
It is not just land and air and water that need our attention, our grace and mercy. So many times the animals are left out of consideration because we are all complicit in their abuse. The most innocent wayfarers of our planet who seek to live amongst us and offer us their beauty – but their lives are taken by us in dead possession to be taxidermied into decorative objects for lodges and restaurants and rustic cabins. Human gluttony has known no limit destroying innocent lives for a mouthful of heart disease, obesity and the excesses of animal protein and animal fats. A plant based diet would ease even the harm to plants as we humans would need so little without filtering them through other animals with inefficient food systems. A non-animal, do no harm diet, would free 17 times the land out of animal production for habitat for wild creatures and the over-population of humans.
Life is fragile and short. We do not need to move in small increments toward a better way. We have designed a world that does not work for anybody. So as we revise our energy and transportation systems, food production, and save our oceans and climate, here is to the non-human life of our planet and saving them all! It will take everything we have and are evolving to meet the moment. This is the revolution I am working for!
May 17, 2010 at 7:04 am
Rita Roy Chowdhury
Ancient Indian literature like the Vedas, puranas and Indian epics like Ramayana has always looked upon the earth as mother referring to her as ‘dharitri mata’ Sita the wife of Rama is symbolic of the earth mother through her patience forebearence forgiveness and all inclusive love for the natural world. She aroe from the earth and went back to her.
August 6, 2010 at 6:03 pm
JADER FRANCA
Dear all:
Please, watch, medidate and share this video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA4jlHl8alg
in support to UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MOTHER EARTH.
LOVE VIBRATIONS !
Jáder França
August 20, 2010 at 3:42 am
Helen M. Downs
I am so pleased to see that this document has been drafted, but i think we are missing the point to a certain extent, if we wait for official bodies like the UN or our governments to accept it. I would like to see a place where individuals can register their assent to this document NOW, as an indication that the PEOPLE of the Earth do agree to it – (no matter what people’s views are on carbon emissions, global warming and other questionable issues) – we need to ALL just act to know that we are on the same page by expressing agreement with this essential expression of our regard for our Earth – do you think?
August 20, 2010 at 6:49 am
Peter Garbutt
I agree with Helen. This needs to be on the website, signable, and it also needs volunteers all over the world with paper copies, collecting signatures.
The bigger the number of signatures, the greater weight it will carry.
There is, of course, the danger that it wouldn’t gather many signatures, and this would have a negative impact on its chances of international ratification.
August 23, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Patricia G. Randolph
It could be published as a petition to the governments of the world at all levels. But it should be sponsored by a group like the Humane Society of the United States or a COALITION of peace and justice groups, animal protection groups, and environmental protection groups who care about our planet. I have been presenting it to county boards and our U.S. state agencies who are just killing brokerages of our wildlife for the head hunters and ego thrill killers. The more we manifest it and get it out there, the better. It should go to people who understand the networking power of twitter, facebook and the other sites where efforts can go viral.
June 13, 2011 at 9:21 am
Annemarie Askwith
The greatest need on earth today is the withering earth. Earth, our mother, from who we all (humans very recently) emerged is under full assault by the very beings she gifted with consciousness. For all out brilliance, humans have not looked to Earth for wisdom on how to live but have reduced her and all within her to be toys of human whim.
This document restores a proper honoring to our source of life and to the diverse beings we are connected to and utterly depend on. If humans become wise it will be because we will have learned it from Mother Earth, our distinct planet of life 4.5 billion years in the making. If we can begin to include her in our consciousness, we may attain the role we are to plan in this sacred evolving universe: the role of being an authentic earthling.
June 13, 2011 at 9:27 am
Annemarie Askwith
The greatest need on earth today is to restore as best we can, the withering earth. Earth, our mother, from who we all (humans very recently) emerged is under full assault by the very beings she gifted with consciousness. For all our brilliance, humans have not looked to Earth for wisdom on how to live but have reduced her and all within her to be toys of human whim. Whatever we do, our permanent duty is to do it in a way that accepts, protects and fosters the health of Earth.
This document restores a proper honoring to our source of life and to the diverse beings we are connected to and utterly depend on. If humans become wise it will be because we will have learned it from Mother Earth, our distinct planet of life 4.5 billion years in the making. If we can begin to include her in our consciousness, we may attain the role we are to play in this sacred evolving universe: the role of being an authentic earthling.