Bringing the Rights of Nature to Rio+20

Linda Sheehan

Linda Sheehan, Director of the Earth Law Center, and Shannon Biggs of Global Exchange will be two  strong voices (among hundreds) advocating Rights of Nature at the 2012 Earth Summit Rio+20.  They are founding members of the Global Alliance on the Rights of Nature (GARN), with which CEJ is a partner.

Linda Sheehan addresses issues and lists events where she will be presenting in the “Announcements” section on the Earth Law Center’s website.

Shannon Biggs’ latest blog for Global Exchange introduces stakeholders’ concerns about the Green Economy approach to be taken at Rio+20 by saying:

The Green Economy put forward by the United Nations Environment Program (nicknamed the “Greed Economy” by many) is about promoting the idea that we can only “save” nature by putting a price tag on what nature “does” for us. Proponents call it “ecosystem services” and from forests generating the air you breathe to the decomposition process resulting in the ground you walk upon, everything has its price, and corporations are wringing their hands with anticipation of what the Greed Economy could do for profit margins.

Shannon Biggs

Shannon goes on to explain that “the human connection to the rest of our living system is not contained in the calculation of the ‘flow of value to human societies.’  Our Earth’s value is not merely that which serves people.”

She then lays out the goals and approaches of Rights of Nature advocates, who are dedicated to creating an initiative “capable of actually changing culture and law to institute new economies based on community values and Earth rights,” and likening it to the civil rights struggle in scope and importance.

Shannon’s blog contains links to many helpful resources for Rio+20 information and planned activities, including ways everyone can participate.  By doing so, you will be joining hundreds of others who cannot physically attend the Rio+20 conference but stand in solidarity with the stakeholders who are advocating for recognition of the inherent rights of nature and working for a sustainable development framework that honors humanity’s balance and harmony with the rest of Nature.