Bolivia - 'Law of Mother Earth'

[shiremum]

Bolivia is poised to pass a law that would grant nature equal rights with those afforded humans. The Law of Mother Earth is expected to usher in a radical new conservation policy against pollution and exploitation.

Perhaps most beautifully, the law would 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.” —JCL

read more here at truthdig.com

ps: WOW!!!!!!!!!!

[Lemonade]

Interesting coming from a country whose capital city's river is so polluted it runs orange at some points, and experts say would take 200 years to run clear if they stopped polluting it now.

It's a step in the right direction, and it's about time, but I don't doubt for a second that it will be circumnavigated by corruption.

[shiremum]

Do yo think things have to get that bad for people to make such a radical change?

[Lemonade]

I think maybe they do. Bolivia is a country very close to my heart, I lived there as a teenager. People are very laidback, about everything, and they have far more of a "she'll be right" attitude than I have encountered elsewhere. Like here, it's the indigenous population who have the greatest affiliation with the land, and the least say in what happens to it :(

So I love that this law exists, but I feel like it's a bit of a token gesture.

[shiremum]

i dont know enough about the place, but it would be unfortunate to have a law with such powerful intention only to lose it. im sure the world will be watching, fat lot of good that does.