Topic: UN doc would give "Mother Earth" human rights

[Pandora]

UNITED NATIONS — Bolivia will this month table a draft United Nations treaty giving "Mother Earth" the same rights as humans — having just passed a domestic law that does the same for bugs, trees and all other natural things in the South American country.

The bid aims to have the UN recognize the Earth as a living entity that humans have sought to "dominate and exploit" — to the point that the "well-being and existence of many beings" is now threatened.

The wording may yet evolve, but the general structure is meant to mirror Bolivia's Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, which Bolivian President Evo Morales enacted in January.

That document speaks of the country's natural resources as "blessings," and grants the Earth a series of specific rights that include rights to life, water and clean air; the right to repair livelihoods affected by human activities; and the right to be free from pollution.

It also establishes a Ministry of Mother Earth, and provides the planet with an ombudsman whose job is to hear nature's complaints as voiced by activist and other groups, including the state.

"If you want to have balance, and you think that the only (entities) who have rights are humans or companies, then how can you reach balance?" Pablo Salon, Bolivia's ambassador to the UN, told Postmedia News. "But if you recognize that nature too has rights, and (if you provide) legal forms to protect and preserve those rights, then you can achieve balance."

H/T rayra

I say we bomb Bolivia next, right after we relocate the UN there.

[Libertas]

"I say we bomb Bolivia next, right after we relocate the UN there."

 

[Sectionhand]

Well , to start with , it looks like she has a cancerous tumor located in Bolivia which needs to be removed !

[Libertas]

Heh. 

"(Ahem) Mother?  You may experience some discomfort."

 

[Pandora]

Rusty Bill posted this:

"There are hidden contradictions in the minds of people who 'love Nature' while deploring the 'artificialities' with which 'Man has spoiled '"Nature."' The obvious contradiction lies in their choice of words, which imply that Man and his artifacts are not part of 'Nature' — but beavers and their dams are. But the contradictions go deeper than this prima-facie absurdity. In declaring his love for a beaver dam (erected by beavers for beavers' purposes) and his hatred for dams erected by men (for the purposes of men) the Naturist reveals his hatred for his own race — i.e., his own self-hatred.
In the case of 'Naturists' such self-hatred is understandable; they are such a sorry lot. But hatred is too strong an emotion to feel toward them; pity and contempt are the most they rate.

As for me, willy-nilly I am a man, not a beaver, and H. sapiens is the only race I have or can have. Fortunately for me, I like being part of a race made up of men and women — it strikes me as a fine arrangement — and perfectly 'natural' Believe it or not, there were 'Naturists' who opposed the first flight to old Earth's Moon as being 'unnatural' and a 'despoiling of Nature.'" - Robert Heinlein

Pretty much applies here AND in the "Duh Wun snarks at guy about gas prices" thread.

[LadyVirginia]

"If you want to have balance, and you think that the only (entities) who have rights are humans or companies, then how can you reach balance?" Pablo Salon, Bolivia's ambassador to the UN, told Postmedia News. "But if you recognize that nature too has rights, and (if you provide) legal forms to protect and preserve those rights, then you can achieve balance."

Nope, not interested in balance.

I'm at the top of the food chain--plan to stay there.

[John Florida]

So the sheep are safe now,right?

[Pandora]

So the sheep are safe now,right?

Oh hell no; lamb chops are always on the dinner menu.

[John Florida]

So the sheep are safe now,right?

Oh hell no; lamb chops are always on the dinner menu.

 Not what I was thinking but OK. But isn't that raping mother earth to eat her creatures?

[Pandora]

So the sheep are safe now,right?

Oh hell no; lamb chops are always on the dinner menu.

 Not what I was thinking but OK. But isn't that raping mother earth to eat her creatures?

Yah, I know what you were thinking because you have a dirtah mind.  And, no; lamp chops does not equate to rape in any rational universe.

[Libertas]

"If you want to have balance, and you think that the only (entities) who have rights are humans or companies, then how can you reach balance?" Pablo Salon, Bolivia's ambassador to the UN, told Postmedia News. "But if you recognize that nature too has rights, and (if you provide) legal forms to protect and preserve those rights, then you can achieve balance."

Nope, not interested in balance.

I'm at the top of the food chain--plan to stay there.

"I'm at the top of the food chain--plan to stay there."

Amen!  Let the (un)naturalist place theirself below lesser creatures!