[News] Huzzah for animism.

[moonvoice]

Mother Earth to be granted human rights under new Bolivian law in a world first.

"Perhaps most beautifully, the law will enshrine nature’s right “to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities”.

The proposed law underlines 11 new rights for nature. These include: the right to life and to exist; the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration; the right to pure water and clean air; the right to balance; the right not to be polluted; and the right to not have cellular structures modified or genetically altered."

Comments

[gone_fishing]

*likes*

[paleo]

How refreshingly rational.

[ariestess]

Oh, that's fantastic!

[elialshadowpine]

Wow. That's amazing.

[flamewarrior]

Most of me really, really loves this, and I know where the drafters are coming from, but part of me cringes at the "the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration". We're part of Mother Earth, too :-(

[moonvoice]

Ah it's a start. I don't think human beings can get anything perfect on account of being human animals. :)

[flamewarrior]

Oh, I know: 99% of me is jumping up and down and cheering :-) I do, though, think the idea that we're separate from Mother Earth is Part of the Problem. We have enormous power, and we like to think we're separate from her (or at least large chunks of the most powerful and wealthy and thoughtless of us do), but we ain't.

[moonvoice]

I do, though, think the idea that we're separate from Mother Earth is Part of the Problem.

It is a huge part of the problem. That said, I think that the idea that one is conferring 'human rights to mother earth' is a sign of some identification even if it's not the most obvious 'we're nature, not abnormal or an aberration of nature' way of going about it.

It's a roundabout way of doing things, but it does seem that some identification is happening; more than can be said for most Western nations, or any nation really where a 'separateness' from nature is encouraged in extreme ways (where we're either superior or inferior).

But I totally agree that thinking we're separate from Mother Earth / the planet / natural cycles in general is a massive part of the problem.

[filhotedelua]

I think the meaning on the phrase is not that we arepart of it, because Pacha Mamma emcompasses everything. She is the "Mother All" and if you start to see how things work, She is more than only Earth, she is more like Mother Universe.

I believe the idea of don't be altered by humans is the idea of responsibility over or acts. Something like "don't mess with your mother purse, kid"

[gemfyre]

It will certainly be interesting to see what results from this.

[silverjackal]

Trust the Bolivians to be creative! :)

[redsixwing]

How very cool!

[tangledaxon]

Oh... wow! I'm speechless and thrilled!!

[finch]

That's awesome, thanks for sharing. It'll be interesting to see what comes of it.

[kehleyr]

About fucking time!

[eldriwolf]

Well,This IS hopeful--
A good step in the right direction.
Thank you for pointing it out

[spider_fox]

"the right to not have cellular structures modified or genetically altered"

Lol, evolution is unlawful.

I get what they really mean here, but it sounds funny with how they worded it. The rest of it is a great start though, and I'm interested in how they actually manage to uphold the laws. I'm sure pitfalls will occur, but I support it nonetheless.

[goddess_incarnate]

Wee! :D

That's awesome. It would be great if other countries started following suit as well.

[white_rabbit]

Wow! This is amazing! Yay animism indeed. :) I hope this starts a trend.

[filhotedelua]

The equatoreans already started this, I cry every time I read their constitution opening. ANd they have achapter in the constitution about the rights of the nature.

I'm so proud of my "hermanos". We are building a new South America,less colonized by the eurocentric point of view.I hope Brazil start to see things in a better way, but we are far behind our cousins/neighbours. Becoming less America and more Abya Yala.

And about the phrasing, remember the english version of it is a translation from spanish.


The opening of the equatorian constitution (it's a rough translation). I believe this turn a little bit more clear what they say about "people". Since Pacha Mama is claimed to open it, everything is people. Including other life forms (and not so live forms).


"We, the sovereign people of Equator, recognizing our millennial roots,forged by women and men of distinct people; celebrating the nature, the Pacha Mama,of which we are part and is vital to our existence; evoking the gods name e recognizing our diverse forms of religiosity and spirituality; appealing to the wisdon of all cultures that enriches us as society; as heirs of social fight for liberation behind all forms of domination and colonialism, and with the profound compromise with the present and the future; decided build a new form of citizen convivial, in diversity and harmony with the nature, to achieve the well living, the sumak kawsay, a society that respect in all their dimensions the dignity of people and collectives, a democratic country compromised with the integration of latin america - dream of Bolivar and Alfaro- the peace and solidarity with all the peoples on earth, and approve the Politic Constitution of Equator"


The sumak kawsay is a strong thing, how mister Pablo Davalos said "Sumak kawsay (good living) proposes the incorporation of nature within history, not as a productive factor nor as a productive force, but as an inherent part of social being."

[moonvoice]

Ah of course you're right, the English translation is probably making things a bit less clear, especially as the English language isn't particularly well-equipped for a lot of animistic concepts. I should've thought of that earlier, thank you.

[filhotedelua]

I have a lot of trouble to explain some toughs in english because portuguese and spanish, specially here in south america, with so much native influence in the language, looks more fitted to explain certain things. =)

[jensurvivor]

That is pretty cool

[lupagreenwolf]

Overall, I think it's an excellent idea. My only disagreement is with the no genetic/cellular modification. Some of the most important recent advances in medical technology involve genetic engineering, and having just watched someone I care about die from side effects of chemotherapy, I'm all for finding better alternatives, to include genetic engineering. However, I've also seen our technology as a whole developed without environmental impact in mind, and I hope that the methodology for continued technological advances changes that.

[jensurvivor]

South America is so on the right track with so many things it seems.