Law of Mother Earth

  • English

  • Listen
    Pause

    Who has a right to life? Only one species? Do humans have the right to exterminate any species they wish? In an effort to combat climate change and the exploitation of the planet’s resources, Bolivia is becoming the first country on Earth to give comprehensive legal rights to Mother Nature. In 2010 the National Congress of Bolivia voted to support an act to protect the well-being of its citizens by protecting the natural world, its resources, sustainability, and value as essential to the common good. In this episode of World Ocean Radio, host Peter Neill explores the language contained in the legislation and asserts that Bolivia may be inventing a social model that will show how we as a global community might transcend conflict and division toward a harmonious and sustainable future.

%s1 / %s2

About World Ocean Radio:
Peter Neill, Director of the World Ocean Observatory and host of World Ocean Radio, provides coverage of a broad spectrum of ocean issues from science and education to advocacy and exemplary projects. World Ocean Radio, a project of the World Ocean Observatory, is a weekly series of five-minute audio essays available for syndicated use at no cost by college and community radio stations worldwide.

World Ocean Radio Has Gone Global:
A selection of episodes is now available in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Swahili. For more information, visit http://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/world-ocean-radio-global.

Episode Notes & Resources:
< The Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth (pdf)
< Law of Mother Earth. The Rights of Our Planet: A Vision From Bolivia
< Bolivia Gives Legal Rights to the Earth | earthwearone.com
< Bolivia Enshrines Natural World's Rights. Equal Status for Mother Earth (video)
< Behind Bolivia's Historic Bill | Yes!Magazine.org
< Rights of Nature | Bolivia's Leadership
< The Law of Mother Earth: Behind Bolivia's Historic Bill | Nick Buxton