Greetings Alliance Members and Friends,

In December 2015, the International Rights of Nature Tribunal will convene for its third global hearing.  As with Lima in December 2014, the Tribunal will coincide with the UN climate negotiations which this year is in Paris, France. This will likely be the most significant international climate convention for years to come and it is essential that alternative frameworks—like Rights of Nature—are well represented at this important world gathering. 

Why Rights of Nature now
Humanity is facing the greatest crisis of its existence. The future of life as we know it is at risk. Over-exploitation, excessive mineral resource extraction, over-consumption and unbridled waste are altering the vital cycles of nature. If ever there was a moment to demonstrate a new paradigm for how we are living with each other and Earth, it is now.

With Rights of Nature we recognize that humans are not the only beings that have a right to exist, but that we share this right with plants, animals, rivers, glaciers, forests, the atmosphere, and all members of the Earth system.
 
Recognizing Rights of Nature is a ground breaking new legal structure that fundamentally changes the legal standing of ecosystems.  Rather than treating nature as property under the law, rights of nature acknowledges that nature in all its life forms has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles. The ecosystem itself can be named as a rights bearing subject with standing in a court of law.

Precedence has already been established. Across the United States dozens of communities have included Rights of Nature laws in Community Rights ordinances including the City of Pittsburgh, PA. In 2008 Ecuador became the first country to include Rights of Nature in its Constitution and Bolivia has passed the Law of Mother Earth which recognizes nature's rights at the national level. 

International Rights of Nature Tribunal
This “People’s Tribunal” provides a vehicle for reframing and adjudicating prominent environmental and social justice cases within the context of a Rights of Nature based earth jurisprudence.  With each case, the Tribunal will recommend actions for reparation, mitigation, restoration and prevention of further damages and harm.  The Tribunal provides a framework for educating civil society and governments on the fundamental tenets of Rights of Nature and an instrument for legal experts to examine constructs needed to more fully integrate Rights of Nature.

Plans are well underway for our Paris Tribunal.  Cases to be heard include False Solutions to Climate Change, Hydrofracking, Agro-food and GMOS, REDD and Financialization of Nature, and Defenders of Mother Earth.  Selected cases will address Ecocide as a crime through Oil Exploitation.  Presenters, witnesses and judges will come from countries worldwide to participate in this historic tribunal.

Many are asking "How can we participate and support the Tribunal and the Rights of Nature movement?"

How you can participate and support
We need additional funding to ensure all key Tribunal members can participate in this momentous hearing in Paris, that the proceedings can be simultaneously translated in to French, English and Spanish, and state of the art audio-visual support is in place. 

We invite you to support us financially by making a donation to the Global Alliance!  Your financial contributions are tax deductible.
 
Thank you for your partnership and for your work towards advancing Rights of Nature ~ Rights of Mother Earth and a world living in Harmony with Nature.
 

The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature