Bolivia Set to Grant Earth Rights

by douglas reeser on 4.9.11

Led by president Evo Morales, Bolivia is set to grant equal rights to nature and the Earth. The new legislation is similar to efforts put forth in Ecuador, and many in Bolivia and around the world hope these new efforts lead to more concrete results. This new movement, that is slowly expanding across South America, hopes that by granting rights to the earth, nations will be more able to curtail the damaging environmental effects of development and resource extraction.

According to the Guardian (UK), the Law of Mother Earth "redefines the country's rich mineral deposits as "blessings" and is expected to lead to radical new conservation and social measures to reduce pollution and control industry." Among the rights bestowed are:

"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 structure modified or genetically altered; the right of nature "to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities""

This is clearly a historic measure, one that recognizes the earth as an autonomous being, while also setting a new standard in protecting the planet from the unending damaging activity of humanity. Check out this Guardian video for more information: