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President Evo Morales Ayma of Bolivia is calling for a Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth.
A draft declaration will be discussed at the Peoples’World Conference on Climate Change and Mother Earth Rights, taking place April 20th-22nd, which President Morales is convening in Cochabamba, Bolivia’s third largest city.
Other objectives for the event include: working towards a people’s referendum on climate change; looking at strategies for action in defence of Earth’s rights; planning the establishment of a Climate Justice Tribunal and agreeing proposals for new targets and commitments in the United Nations negotiating process with regards to climate change.
Following the inadequate outcome of the UN conference in Copenhagen last December, the Peoples’ World Conference will aim to reach a consensus for a new approach, ahead of the next UN climate summit in Mexico at the end of the year.
Only a few days after Copenhagen, a resolution was passed, placing the issue of Mother Earth Rights as an item on the UN agenda. Put forward by Bolivia, the resolution invites countries to share their experiences and views on promoting ‘life in harmony with nature’.
In line with this, the Peoples’ World Conference will explore the ‘structural and systemic causes’ of climate change. Participants will look at the fundamental, underlying issues and propose measures to ‘ensure the well-being of all humankind in harmony with nature’.
“The United Nations climate change framework does not deal with the root causes of climate change and the wider problem of environmental exploitation,” says Pablo Solón, Bolivian ambassador to the United Nations. “Climate change is like a fever that is symptomatic of an underlying disease, which must be cured before the fever dissipates. The underlying cause,” he continues, “is the belief that humans are separate from, and superior to nature and that more is better. These beliefs have fuelled the misconceived and doomed attempts of industrialised, consumer orientated societies to achieve lasting human well-being by exploiting and damaging Earth.”
Bolivia is proposing a legal framework be created, to maintain vital ecological balances in the interest of all life. With a rights-based approach, protection could be given to other ‘members of the Earth Community’, preventing further unsustainable exploitation of the natural world.
“Stabilising the climate at levels that allow human life to flourish will require societies to meet our needs in a way that contributes to, rather than degrades, the health of the ecological communities that sustain us,” explains Pablo Solón. “This requires balancing human rights against the rights of all other life on our planet.”
Recognising the relationship between ourselves and nature, courts would deal with environmental destruction, and any consequent human harm, at a fundamental level, ensuring perpetrators are brought to account. President Morales affirmed that: “In order to ensure the fulfilment of human rights in the 21st century, it is necessary to recognise and respect Mother Earth’s rights.”
Pablo Solón points out that for centuries, indigenous communities have warned that humans must behave respectfully towards the planet if we are to survive: “We call our planet Pachamama, Mother Earth, because we know we cannot live without her. This understanding is supported, not only by ancient spiritual traditions but also by contemporary science, which continues to reveal the complex interdependence of life on earth.”
“In 1948, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed, it was a declaration of hope into a post-war world,” says Pablo Solón. “Facing a crisis far worse than any world war, might it not be time for humanity to launch a new declaration, one that defends our planet and its biodiversity from ever-continuing extinction?” the ambassador asks.
Evo Morales has extended an invitation to all, “the peoples of the world, social movements, Mother Earth’s defenders, scientists, academics, lawyers and governments that want to work with their citizens,” to attend the Peoples’ Conference, which closes with celebrating Mother Earth Day, on April 22nd.
“This conference will be a transparent and inclusive event, in which no one will be marginalised,” says Bolivian foreign minister, David Choquehuanca. Meanwhile, UK environmental lawyer Polly Higgins, an advocate of planetary rights, has just launched the Planet Earth Trust. “The planet is our capital asset and we, the people, have a responsibility to ensure that this asset is protected, not exploited.” she explains. “We can do that by being trustees for the planet.” All the trustees sign a declaration of intent to protect Planet Earth in Trust, for the benefit of the wider Planet Earth community. The declaration recognises that all life is sacred.
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The blueberry is quite possibly the healthiest fruit there is–it ranked number one in antioxidant capacity by researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables.
As if their sweet taste wasn’t enough of a reason to eat them, cherries are rich in queritrin (a flavonoid that’s a potent anti-cancer agent), anthocyanins and bioflavonoids (compounds that fight the pain from arthritis, gout and migraines), ellagic acid (another potent anti-cancer agent) and melatonin (which may help you sleep). They also contain the soluble fiber pectin, vitamin C, beta-carotene and potassium.
Like other berries, strawberries contain phytonutrients called phenols that make it a heart-protective, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory fruit. Strawberries also help protect the brain from oxidative stress and age-related decline and fight macular degeneration of the eyes. They’re an excellent source of vitamins C and K, manganese, fiber and iodine, and they contain potassium, folate, riboflavin, vitamin B5, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, magnesium and copper.
Similar to the blueberry, bilberries are often referred to as European blueberries. They’re rich in antioxidants and are widely known as a potent protector of the eyes and have been linked to improvements in night vision, cataracts, macular degeneration and vision overall.
Blackberries contain antioxidants, vitamins C and E, and ellagic acid, all of which may protect against cancer and fight chronic disease. They’re also rich in the soluble fiber pectin, which may help lower cholesterol, and potassium.
In 400 B.C., Hippocrates referred to the elder tree as his “medicine chest,” and it’s been used since ancient times to treat colds, flus, arthritis, constipation and more. Today, the elderberry is still in popular demand when it comes to health, especially in Austria, Germany and England.
It’s said that a handful of goji berries in the morning will make you happy for the rest of the day. Traditionally, they’re regarded as a potent food for longevity, strength and sexual virility and are grown in Tibet in protected valleys that contain million-year-old soil that’s reportedly untouched by pollutants or pesticides.
These small, red, oval fruits (they’re about the size of a large pea) are a popular treat in Finland and other Nordic countries where their tart flavor is enjoyed in sauces and jellies.
One of the most popular uses of cranberries, to treat urinary tract infections, has been used for centuries by indigenous cultures. Today researchers have found that cranberries contain proanthocyanidins (PACs), which inhibit bacteria, including E. coli, from adhering to the urinary tract, thereby protecting it from infection.
Raspberries are rich in phytonutrients for antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic protection. Chief among these is 
Dewberries are closely related to raspberries and blackberries, with the same sweet taste, but are slightly smaller and typically purple in color. It is likely that they present similar health benefits to raspberries and blackberries.
Traditionally, mulberry fruit has been used medicinally to treat the kidneys, fatigue, anemia and weakness. Although not widely studied, it’s thought that mulberries contain high levels of antioxidants and similar health benefits as other dark-colored berries like blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.
These fruits grow wild throughout the United States, but they’re typically cultivated in more tropical locations like Hawaii and South Africa. They can range in color from white to green to pink or purple, and they’re typically about 1/2 to 1 inch wide (though some varieties can grow as big as plums!).
Huckleberries look just like blueberries (and are often confused with them) and taste like them too (but a bit more tart), but contain seeds that give them a unique crunchy texture. The seeds are edible, so they can be used interchangeably with blueberries, but, since they’re not grown commercially, you’ll have to find them in the wild.
Purple berries like chokeberries may possess as much as 50 percent more antioxidants than more common berries, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.