Once again the small and extremely poor South American country, Bolivia, is leading the way in world reform, this time to help reduce environmental destruction. In 2005 Bolivia elected it's first indigenous president, Evo Morales who is an outspoken champion for environmental protection. He has petitioned for substantive change for his country and at the United Nations.
Believing that the existing laws were not strong enough, President Morale led his country to develop the Law of Mother Earth which will grant nature the same rights and protections as humans. This new law has as it's foundation several of the tenets of indigenous belief, including that humans are equal to all other entities. Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca has been quoted as saying "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. We indigenous people can contribute to solving the energy, climate, food and financial crises with our values."
The new legislation will give the government new legal powers to monitor and control industry in the country. It will allow the government to regulate industry at national, regional and local levels. The law also redefines natural resources as blessings and allows 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. There is also the right "to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities".
Along with this new legislation, Bolivia will be establishing a Ministry of Mother Earth. Few details are available yet as to how the legislation will be implemented. Bolivia will have to balance these environmental changes against industries, like mining, which is a major contributor to the country's GDP.
Although the road ahead will not be an easy one, the eyes of the world will be on Bolivia. Bolivia's successes or failures with the implementation of the Law of Mother Earth may well lead the way for development of policies from other countries around the world.
Believing that the existing laws were not strong enough, President Morale led his country to develop the Law of Mother Earth which will grant nature the same rights and protections as humans. This new law has as it's foundation several of the tenets of indigenous belief, including that humans are equal to all other entities. Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca has been quoted as saying "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. We indigenous people can contribute to solving the energy, climate, food and financial crises with our values."
The new legislation will give the government new legal powers to monitor and control industry in the country. It will allow the government to regulate industry at national, regional and local levels. The law also redefines natural resources as blessings and allows 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. There is also the right "to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities".
Along with this new legislation, Bolivia will be establishing a Ministry of Mother Earth. Few details are available yet as to how the legislation will be implemented. Bolivia will have to balance these environmental changes against industries, like mining, which is a major contributor to the country's GDP.
Although the road ahead will not be an easy one, the eyes of the world will be on Bolivia. Bolivia's successes or failures with the implementation of the Law of Mother Earth may well lead the way for development of policies from other countries around the world.
I adore you,One Love.
Finally someone is taking a stance, a long time coming. I hope the rest of the world will get on the band wagon. We will see.
I adore you, with love.