Eco News By Heather McGee-Parkin
RECOGNISING THE JOY OF EMPOWERMENT. Heather McGee-Parkin
This month at Choice Point Magazine we are recognising the Joy of Empowerment. Below are a celebrated few (of but the many) remarkable people and events that recently have facilitated small leaps to create a dynamic change, demonstrating how the power of thought, passion and intent in one, can lead to the voice and action of many.
BOLIVIA READY TO PASS PRECEDENT MAKING ‘LAW OF MOTHER EARTH’, GRANTING
NATURE EQUAL RIGHTS. “Our planet has a high temperature, it is wounded, and we are witnessing the convulsions of planet Earth. We have an enormous responsibility toward life and humanity. … I call on leaders to take responsibility, and make history by responding to the demands of the people.”*(1) President Evo Morales at the UNFCC Conference in Cancun, 9 December 2009
Bolivia is about to push forth a landmark law in a unified collaboration between conservation organizations and politicians. By passing the new law known as La Ley de Derechos de la Madre Tierra (The Law of Mother Earth), Bolivia will grant nature the same rights and protection as humans.
The new piece of legislation hopes to facilitate a revolutionary shift in attitudes towards conservation.
The law redefines the definition of natural resources as ‘blessings’ giving the same rights to nature as to human beings, including: “the right to life and to exist; the right not to be polluted; the right not to be genetically altered and the right to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities”. (*2)
Bolivia’s first elected native president, Evo Morales, a passionate advocate of environmental protection, has petitioned for a substantial change within his country and at the United Nations. Among countries showing their support for Evo Morales and the Bolivian initiave are Antigua, Barbuda, Ecuador, the Grenadines, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and Venezuela.*(3)
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