Bolivia sets 1st ever “Law of Mother Nature”
I previously blogged about the “Biggest Natural Mirror of the World!”. This lake spanning 10, 582 sq km is the world’s largest salt flat! It’s beautiful, natural and referred to as “heaven on earth” by some people.
There are many, many other beautiful sites in Bolivia that the current President, Evo Morales, feels should all be legally protected. This is on top of any existing national and international law relating to nature.
As Latin America’s first indigenous president, his Andean philosophy believes in an earth deity called the Pachamama. They believe that she is the center of all life and that they should respect her land. On the 18th of April 2011, Bolivia passed the first ever “Law of Mother Earth”. This law will give nature equal rights to humans!
The country will establish 11 new rights for nature, including: the right to exist, the right to continue natural cycles, the right to clean water and air, the right to be free of pollution, and the right not to have cellular structures altered or genetically modified.
Bolivia has suffered a lot of damage over the years from the mining of tin, silver, gold and other raw materials. Their natural resources have brought in billions for the country, but even so… they want to make a change. The indigenous people of Bolivia believe that it is through good values that they can help solve the existing energy, climate, food and financial crisis!
Harmony with nature can only be achieved if we do not exploit or use it indiscriminately. It is only natural that we should appreciate what nature has given us by taking care of it instead of taking it for granted. Bolivia has come up with a law that grants nature the same rights of a human being: the same rights to exist and being entitled to clean air and water, and the right to not be disturbed by humans. It is really nice to see a country taking the initiative to protect nature from being over-exploited.
I would really like to share this amazing article with all my readers. Please read it – what a good move and example that Bolivia is setting for others!
Tsem Rinpoche
Bolivia Set to Pass Historic ‘Law of Mother Earth’ Which Will Grant Nature Equal Rights to Humans
Written by Keph Senett | Monday, 18 April 2011 09:43
With the cooperation of politicians and grassroots organizations, Bolivia is set to pass the Law of Mother Earth which will grant nature the same rights and protections as humans. The piece of legislation, called la Ley de Derechos de la Madre Tierra, is intended to encourage a radical shift in conservation attitudes and actions, to enforce new control measures on industry, and to reduce environmental destruction.
The law redefines natural resources as blessings and confers the same rights to nature as to human beings, including: 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. Perhaps the most controversial point is the right “to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities”.
In late 2005 Bolivia elected its first indigenous president, Evo Morales. Morales is an outspoken champion for environmental protection, petitioning for substantive change within his country and at the United Nations. Bolivia, one of South America’s poorest countries, has long had to contend with the consequences of destructive industrial practices and climate change, but despite the best efforts of Morales and members of his administration, their concerns have largely been ignored at the UN.
Just last year, in 2010, Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca expressed his distress “about the inadequacy of the greenhouse gas reduction commitments made by developed countries in the Copenhagen Accord.” His remarks were punctuated by the claim that some experts forecasted a temperature increase “as high as four degrees above pre-industrial levels.” “The situation is serious,” Choquehuanca asserted. “An increase of temperature of more than one degree above pre-industrial levels would result in the disappearance of our glaciers in the Andes, and the flooding of various islands and coastal zones.”
In 2009, directly following the resolution of the General Assembly to designate April 22 “International Mother Earth Day”, Morales addressed the press, stating “If we want to safeguard mankind, then we need to safeguard the planet. That is the next major task of the United Nations”. A change to Bolivia’s constitution in the same year resulted in an overhaul of the legal system – a shift from which this new law has sprung.
The Law of Mother Earth has as its foundation several of the tenets of indigenous belief, including that human are equal to all other entities. “Our grandparents taught us that we belong to a big family of plants and animals. We believe that everything in the planet forms part of a big family,” Choquehuanca said. “We indigenous people can contribute to solving the energy, climate, food and financial crises with our values.” The legislation will give the government new legal powers to monitor and control industry in the country.
“Existing laws are not strong enough,” said Undarico Pinto, leader of the 3.5m-strong Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia (a group that helped draft the law). “It will make industry more transparent. It will allow people to regulate industry at national, regional and local levels.”
Bolivia will be establishing a Ministry of Mother Earth, but beyond that there are few details about how the legislation will be implemented. What is clear is that Bolivia will have to balance these environmental imperatives against industries – like mining – that contribute to the country’s GDP.
Bolivia’s successes or failures with implementation may well inform the policies of countries around the world. “It’s going to have huge resonance around the world,” said Canadian activist Maude Barlow. “It’s going to start first with these southern countries trying to protect their land and their people from exploitation, but I think it will be grabbed onto by communities in our countries, for example, fighting the tarsands in Alberta.”
Ecuador has enshrined similar aims in its Constitution, and is among the countries that have already shown support for the Bolivian initiative. Other include Nicaragua, Venezuela, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda.
National opposition to the law is not anticipated, as Morales’ party – the Movement Towards Socialism – holds a majority in both houses of parliament. On April 20, two days before this year’s “International Mother Earth Day”, Morales will table a draft treaty with the UN, kicking off the debate with the international community.
Source: http://www.pvpulse.com/en/news/world-news/bolivia-set-to-pass-historic-law-of-mother-earth-which-will-grant-nature-equal-rights-to-humans?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4debeced54cda7e0%2C3
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Bolivia is a resource-rich landlocked country located in western-central South America. Famous for its gigantic salt flats, a mind-blowing range of flora and fauna, and a diverse range of landscapes. There are lots of natural resources such as tin, natural gas, silver, iron, gold, and so forth can be found in Bolivia. Bolivia created the Law of Mother Nature, the first national-level legislation laying out rights of nature. The law will give nature equal rights to humans. Due to the extensively extraction of natural resources over the years , it has caused damages to the environment, water and so forth. The government decided to some changes to the law. It is through good values that they can help to reduce environmental destruction. They have set an example to other countries as well.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
I think this is so wonderful! And if only every country in the world adopted similar laws and values, there would be a remarkable difference in the way we grow up to interact with our world and the beings that live with us.
It seems odd actually that we would even need a law to state and remind us of the equality between nature and humans. We are as much a part of nature as any other living organism on the planet, be it plant or animal, insect or fish – so why shouldn’t there be equality? We’re all inhabiting the same space, using the same resources. That we need to be reminded not to damage the homes of other beings or to kill other beings, viewing them as any lesser than us, is actually quite bizarre if you think about it.
I especially like this line: “We indigenous people can contribute to solving the energy, climate, food and financial crises with our values.” For if we have been the ones to have caused so much damage to our earth, then surely, we should be the ones responsible for cleaning it up and solving the crisis. I rejoice in Bolivia’s efforts towards this and in showing a true example of peaceful cohabitation with all beings on our planet.
I fully support and admire what President Morales has pushed through for the benefit of the land and the people of Bolivia. He understands how the nature works and how we are connected to each other. He has walk his talk and shown us how integrity, consistency, persistency, perseverance, bravery, true beliefs, loving kindness etc can benefit every single being on this planet. Although he goes against the mainstream, he has proven himself right for all the years of hard work and difficulties he and his team of people had gone through. This is the same as working in the dharma environment, there is no elevator to success, we have to take a step at a time. When the result bear fruits, they will stay firm and grounded to benefit all in a long run.
Wow, I’m surprised they have it for mother nature. They about their next generation, their kids so much I think, if they only think of themselves, only this life, then they will not care whether the land is in good condition when they die or the lake is clean for the next generation and the next generation to come.
I hope other country will start to do the same to not only environment but animals as well.
good!pachakutik…
Best news as I have read in a long time. I like how the Law treats Mother Nature as a living being, not just objects to be used and exploited. Mother Nature should not have rights equal to man but far superior. If Nature were to have its way, we will return to equilibrium quickly and the earth may start to repair itself, and even then humans benefit. If people learn to treat nature with respect, then may learn to treat fellow humans better.
Great news! The rest of the world, hasta cuando?
An increase of only a few degree in temperature of a country seemed to have devastating effect on the rest of the world so I second and vote for this Law of Nature to protect the environment starting from our home ground.