The Rights of Nature (updated 6mar14)

George Rebane

Yes, today there is a small but vociferous cadre of well-meaning people who believe that trees, bushes, swamps, creeks, hills, and even rocks have rights that have been overlooked and must now be recognized.  They call themselves The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) and about sixty of them gathered last month in Quito, Ecuador to hold the First International Tribunal on Rights of Nature (you read that correctly, “Tribunal”).  From their press release –

Dr. Vandana Shiva, internationally renowned author, physicist and environmental activist presided over the historic Tribunal together with nine other distinguished judges from seven countries and five continents. The Tribunal heard compelling presentations on nine cases of alleged violations of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth, adopted in Cochabamba on April 20, 2010 by 35,000 people during a global summit on the subject. For cases in Ecuador, presenters also noted violations of the Ecuadorian Constitution.

I first heard of GARN and its activities when it was presented at the Nevada City Rotary Club of which I am a member.  Ms Robin Milam, of the club’s leadership, gave the presentation which was well received overall, but, frankly, left a few of us a bit taken aback.  She is also in the leadership of GARN, and last week gave an update of the goings on at the Quito conference which she attended and helped organize.  Her contact information is available on the GARN website here and here.

GARN subscribes to the Rio+20, short for the United Nations Conference for Sustainable Development (2012), that is the successor to the previous Rio conference that adopted and has promoted the Agenda21 objectives since the early 1990s (see more in RR’s Agenda21 section).  They have compiled a new ‘how to’ manual – the future we want – which is a “guide (that) was written for children and youth but is a clear guide for people of all ages.  It offers specific information for youth, identifies ways to make a real difference and shares a lot of best practices, tips and tricks and existing examples on youth activism.”

I bring this movement to the attention of readers as another example of not only of A21 in action (note the US communities already using it to further limit property rights), but also as an illustration of the utterly different mentalities that coexist in our nation and in our communities. (more here)  To people like me, GARN is another feel-good movement from the Left that was launched on the power of emotional arguments leaving reason, let alone science, far behind.  Nevertheless, we would be foolish to ignore the potential damage that its blooming can do to everything that the broad aggregate of Americans hold dear.

In attempting to fathom a reasonable basis for GARN, I have asked for any kind of an explanation of what is a ‘right of nature’, what is an operational or objective definition of such rights as they obviously are compared (elevated?) to an understanding of human rights (more here).  Such questions go unanswered, and seem to be received as prima facie evidence of hostility toward GARN and its objectives.  And if there is no reasonable basis for the ‘rights of nature’, then that assessment of opposition may be accurate.

The best that I can tell is that GARN wants to promote a future that responds to what it today sees as a “crisis in governance”, which crisis must be addressed through the most dire and draconian means of collectivism yet contemplated for this planet.  A deeper understanding of the mindset that motivates Agenda21 and GARN is obtained from this 2011 address – ‘Governing People for Earth – the Challenge of the 21st Century’ - by Cormac Cullinan to the United Nations General Assembly Interactive Dialogue on living in harmony with Nature.

I have asked Ms Robin Milam to expand here on what does a ‘right of nature’ mean, and how should a community like Nevada County respond to the missives and motives of GARN.

[6mar14 update]  Ms Milam has written a comprehensive essay in response to my request.  It is posted here.]

Comments

[Account Deleted]

I saw that article and read up on the latest with this great scam. Required reading is the list of 'rights' that 'nature' has. It's right up there with 'social justice'.
There will be no definitive explanation forthcoming.
That crowd figures it out as they go. First they identify what person or group they don't like and then they figure out what 'crime' is being committed. Then they come up with a punishment. They are the anointed - you are to stay silent and obey.

[Russ Steele]

California Wildlife Conservation Board's New Strategic Plan

Future Climate Impacts to Wildlife and Their Habitats

Californians today are faced with many challenges and phenomena associated with the changing climate. Increasingly, conservation entities are working to address the biodiversity and habitat impacts of climate change. Climate change analysis and research have focused on many of the bioregions across the State, resulting in the development of potential conservation methods and strategies to allow species to adapt and survive. Within the Governor’s draft plan “Safeguarding California Plan to Ready the State for Impacts of Changing Climate”, safeguards for wildlife include conserving habitat connectivity and improving forest and other habitat resilience. There is a recognized need to protect coastal ecosystems and their watersheds to allow species to move, migrate, and adapt to sea level rise and precipitation and temperature changes in these areas. In addition, protection of habitat corridors and linkages will allow species to migrate and move between lower and higher elevations to adapt to temperature changes. As an example, protection of the California Cascade region landscape is highly important because this bioregion will provide resilience and critical wildlife refugee from the impacts of climate change.

Pure unadulterated Agenda 21

[Walt]

OH Goody... The same worn out gang on the overpass, just under a new banner.
I can see it now.. The group shows up, and one or two say,, "Uh,, what's the protest of the day?"

[Ben Emery]

Give it a listen

TED Radio Hour: Everything is Connected

http://www.npr.org/2013/09/27/216098121/everything-is-connected

mitakuye oyasin

[Bill Tozer]

I like Ecuador bunches and bunches. Get out of Quito and its a great place. Cheap food, cheap gas, nice spot to hold up for awhile.

Ecuador is the only country in the world where trees have rights in their constitution. It all sounds good, but China has made a deal for most all their oil reserves/production in the scared forests. Money talks, bull pucky walks, even in Ecuador. China is building a giant port in Uruguay on the northern prestine coast as well. China is all over that region dumping billions upon billions, even in Bolivia. And Bolivia said they were kicking out Coco-Cola 13 months ago, lol. China is getting its way all over the forests and animal sanctuaries down there. Again, billions talk and trees be damned. And of course we borrow billions upon billions from China.

The Shining Path came out of their time out in Peru last Spring. My daughter just happened to be horseback riding in that area that day. They grabbed a radio station and attacked a private landing strip used by evil Canadian and Yankee oil executives. They blew up about 6 corporate helicopters, made some noise and nobody got hurt. Meanwhile, China is grabbing more oil from Peru right under the Shinning Path's noses. Yep, China knows how to grease the wheels quite nicely, thank you.

I figure a head of lettuce and some bean sprouts have rights and it is a crying shame that all these gentle peace lubbing vegetarians are murdering plants as we speak. Darn banana heads are running amok.

[Walt]

Bill. The fruits and veggies over at the local market have formed a protest march
around the packing crates. Little signs on toothpicks, and "imported veggie rights" banners made from register paper. The coffee beans are the ones that are really pissed. They claim mass murder every morning, and have proof. They took the grinder hostage.

[Ben Emery]

Bill and Walt,
The point as usual goes right over your comments. Have you guys seen the story about Rex Tillerson?

Exxon CEO Profits Huge As America's Largest Natural Gas Producer-But Frack In His Own Backyard And He Sues!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2014/02/22/exxon-ceo-profits-huge-as-americas-largest-natural-gas-producer-but-frack-it-in-his-own-backyard-and-he-sues/

excerpt

"You see, while Tillerson believes that the inevitable noise pollution that accompanies the fracking process—not to mention the potential for water contamination and other dangerous side-effects even when it is done safely (and some would strenuously argue that it is not possible to frack safely)— is of no real significance when it affects someone else’s neighborhood, he surely thinks it to be a pretty big deal when someone dares to get involved in fracking in Rex Tillerson’s neighborhood.

So much is this the case that Tillerson—ExxonMobil CEO and proud proponent of fracking as a key to both America’s and his company’s great energy future—has joined a lawsuit seeking to shut down a fracking project near Mr. and Mrs. Tillerson’s Texas ranch."

[fish]

Bill and Walt,

The point as usual goes right over your comments.

Be gentle with him boys....he has a genetic defect that renders him blind to satire and mockery concerning topics of little merit!

[Walt]

Ben. That what the "competition" does. IF it was his own Co. doing the drilling, I doubt you would hear a peep. NIMBYism is on both sides.
So what's your point here? " Oil has a "right" to stay in the ground? It filed suit saying it's against being refined and burned?

[fish]

Ben. That what the "competition" does. IF it was his own Co. doing the drilling, I doubt you would hear a peep. NIMBYism is on both sides.
So what's your point here? " Oil has a "right" to stay in the ground? It filed suit saying it's against being refined and burned?

Now come on Walt....what did I just say? You might as well show a dog a card trick...neither understands what he is seeing.

[Walt]

Sorry Mr. F,, Your post wasn't up when I started pecking away @ the keys.

[fish]

Ah...understood!

You going to the "Democracy for Dirt" rally/protest this weekend?

All the cool, hip, thoughtful enlightened types will be there.

[Ben Emery]

No Fish,
You guys take legitimate issues and make them a mockery due to the fact your positions have no leg to stand on.

[Walt]

I plan to make it there. That's if the hard headed rocks who feel disenfranchised, don't role down and block the road in protest.
I already have the T-shirt that states " One with dirt" ( no fibbing!)
Dirt loves me. I take it to new places, no more waiting for erosion to take it's sweet time, or a good stiff wind to help move it along. Dirt seems to like where I have relocated it in the past. It and it's friends are still where I left them . I never get a gripe from dirt. I wish I could say the same for the rocks who infiltrated my friends layers. They scream and yell like fingernails on a blackboard when getting wrenched from their long term squatting.

[Walt]

That's not the way I see it Ben. The Right "crew" here deal pretty much in FACTS.
Funny thing about facts,, Lefty's here, no matter how much teeth pulling, refuse to the bitter end, to produce any of consequence.

BTW.. Happy Birthday to the Tea Party. 5 years of dolling out heartburn to Progressives and RINO GOP alike.
Four years ago ( or close to it,, REAL CLOSE) Nancy Pelosi lost her job as speaker, thanks to the Tea Party,, ( UUmmm,,, how many seats did the Tea Party take, or help keep? VS. what Lefty's got?) Ben may want to fact check that.
LIBS held the OWS in "high regard" no matter what disgusting acts the pulled.
Yet the TP gets vilified.
Ben.. I don't recall hearing about the IRS looking into OWS " donations".

Election season is HERE. Your "side" had a little help leading up to the last election. I do believe you know who that was. Sorry,, no IRS to save the Progressive bacon this time around.
So which regulatory agency will be the attack dogs this time? FCC? ( yank any broadcaster's license that runs anti LIB adds?)
Good try Ben, non the less.

[fish]

No Fish,

You guys take legitimate issues and make them a mockery due to the fact your positions have no leg to stand on.

Take your religion to somewhere else......

[Ben Emery]

Walt,
The fact you guys are going ballistic over the IRS thing shows how little you have followed history and movements. It is bs if the IRS is targeting the TP for political reasons. It has been proven over and over again populist movements have been infiltrated, sabotaged, suppressed, and oppressed throughout American history.

100 years ago
Ludlow Massacre
http://zinnedproject.org/materials/ludlow-massacre/

2 years ago

Revealed: how the FBI coordinated the crackdown on Occupy
New documents prove what was once dismissed as paranoid fantasy: totally integrated corporate-state repression of dissent
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/dec/29/fbi-coordinated-crackdown-occupy

FBI classified information about OWS assassination plot
http://rt.com/usa/fbi-assassination-ows-sniper-227/

[fish]

....how little you have followed history and movements.

All about history....and movements man.....groovy!

[fish]

Hey Ben...I got something for you!

The Portlandia Activity Book—a compendium of guaranteed enrichment for the Pacific Northwestern part of your psyche. Like a cool high school that prefers a sweat lodge to the traditional classroom, this book will expand your mind through participation, dehydrate you to a state of emotional rawness, then linger in the corners your bare soul.

Just what a denizen of Lily Whiteistan needs to help "keep it real".

https://store.mcsweeneys.net/products/the-portlandia-activity-book

[Ben Emery]

Fish,
Don't you find it odd that I can say I think the IRS targeting the TP for political reasons is bs and wrong but I give examples of people being slaughtered fighting for better work conditions and the fbi suppressing peaceful rallies and you have nothing to say? What gives?

[Walt]

Sorry to butt in, but Ben... OWS was anything BUT "peaceful".
What was the arrest count up to? (VS TP arrests... oh.. sorry,, trick question)
I don't recall any Tea Party event where sex in public was going on. Or rapes, or drug use.
Case in point... At one Tea Party event, I accidentally left my camera at a booth, and walked away. I was over 200 feet from that spot when it was passed hand over hand till someone tapped me on the shoulder to give it back.
If it was a LIB rally, it would have been sold on Krieg's List before I finished my soda.

[Ben Emery]

Walt,
The Occupy movement was and still is peaceful. If you would take the time to read some of the links provided you will see how the movement was infiltrated and sabotaged pretty much from the early days. Your guys vision of LIB rallies is so far off base it is laughable.

Her are some other examples of the Republican National Convention in 2008 and peace activist being infiltrated and sabotaged. I can keep the examples coming if you would like and maybe you will start realizing what you are being told and what is actually going on don't match up.

FBI Infiltrates Twin Cities Anti-War Group
http://www.progressive.org/mc011411.html

Peace Activists Challenge Legality Of FBI Infiltration, Spying On Anti-War Groups
http://www.mintpressnews.com/advancing-civil-rights-for-protesters-peace-activists-challenge-fbi-spying-infiltration-repression/43582/

[Walt]

Most of you have heard about the mass of gold coins found somewhere in these here hills. A word of warning. IF you happen to find anything like it, (or not even close) don't say a word to NO ONE!!! Here is why..
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/27/california-couple-in-10m-gold-find-to-owe-govt-about-half-report-says/

Don't you just love greedy government?

[fish]

Don't you find it odd that I can say I think the IRS targeting the TP for political reasons is bs and wrong but I give examples of people being slaughtered fighting for better work conditions and the fbi suppressing peaceful rallies and you have nothing to say? What gives?

Way to keep it topical with Ludlow.......Who again is being slaughtered in the other two links...?

Anyway Ben...I'm the libertarian in this crowd....and under a fish regime antiwar protestors would travel unmolested. their groups uninfiltrated. The problem as I see it is that you are just fine with government...everybody in and nobody out, your exact words if I recall correctly.....as long as you, one of the anointed, is firmly in control.

No room for non-compliance under a progressive regime.

[Walt]

Seems the FBI had good reason Ben,,

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2011/11/14/police-successfully-evict-occupy-portland-protesters/

Even in Portland, making IED-s is a no no.
Kids just wanting to have fun... Right?

LIBS have rarely protested "peacefully",, hence the heavy law enforcement at just about every event. ( and plenty of arrests to show for it)
Heck...Just google it any way you care to and hit "photos" or video.
All the evidence you could want.

Attend a Tea Party rally some time. The cops will be in a corner of the lot playing cards on the hood of a squad car.
The only known arrests were of feral LIBS looking to make a seen.
We always leave the place cleaner than when we got there. ( screwed the union grounds keepers out of their double time weekend pay)

[fish]

OH MY GOD.......you are in full SWPL mode Benster...over at Pellines.....

As a coach and representative of Nevada Union Athletics I personally apologize to the Sheldon cheerleaders and the entire school for having to put up with such inexcusable behavior.
Reply

The status signalling.....oh the indignance........the self righteousness....absolutely textbook! Well done right-thinker! No crime think at Sierra Foothills Report...put yourselves down, all of you for, "Heroes of the Motherland" ribbons!!

[Ben Emery]

You guys are pathetic and sad. Have a good life and hopefully you don't find yourselves in position of power over others.

[fish]

Have a good life and hopefully you don't find yourselves in position of power over others.

Yep... libertarians....we'll seize power and....leave you alone!

Buh bye you sad little man.

[Walt]

Back on the ECO front,, The ECO Left has come up with a new one.
" the U.S. needs to “de-grow” its economy." ?? Are you shi&!* me??
It means forcing people to work less to make them more equal, consume fewer goods and use less electricity. Think of it like camping, but for the rest of your life.

http://dailycaller.com/2014/02/27/environmentalists-champion-economic-de-growth/

[Bill Tozer]

Don't we have to have some growth before we de-grow the economy? That is why the banana heads loved Jimmy Carter and the current "de-grow dude." BarackObamacare is the de-grow crowd's manna from heaven.

[Walt]

Dizzy Izzy has managed to fleece taxpayers once again. Five Million+
for "water projects". You can bet your bottom dollar most of it will be spent on attacking mining and dredgers. ( and pay raises at Sierra Fund)

[Paul Emery]

From the Old Testament

"One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever."

The power of Nature is way beyond the whims of humans. The earth Love it or leave it.

[Walt]

Yet some LIBS believe we humans can control "nature". ( That would be the ECO variety) Then there is the atheists who my burn you at the stake for referencing The Bible.
Yes,, and when we croke we return to where we came. I don't recall anyone ever really "leaving Earth". Anyone lost in space? (ET abductions
maybe?)
One way or another, it back to dirt for all of us.

[Paul Emery]

Walt

We agree that may not be able to control nature but we sure can destroy it with unpredictable effects.

[Walt]

Only a few scenarios could possibly allow that from "us".
But Mamma Nature and the vacuum of space this marble exists in,
is another story. Those two have us beat hands down.
Hear what happened on the moon this last week? It has a new crater
the size of a stadium. ( that could have been US.)
Seems big space rocks are more common these days.
Mamma doesn't seem pleased with the CO2 cuts by man. Volcanic activity
erased all the "do gooding" of the ECO buggy's. First it was Iceland who whipped out all that work in one day. Not long after, Chile wanted in on the fun. A whole mountain range of volcanos got into show.
Yet the GW gang only NOW give some credit to volcanism.
So just how is "man" going to counter nature? Japan believed they built their sea walls more than high enough. Nature sent a wave a foot taller.

[Paul Emery]

Walt

Earth will survive no matter what we do to it but it may not be to our liking. Even Conservative Charles Krauthammer a critic of global warming alarmists is unsure of the long term effects of massive carbon dioxide levels . He writes:

"I repeat: I’m not a global warming believer. I’m not a global warming denier. I’ve long believed that it cannot be good for humanity to be spewing tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. I also believe that those scientists who pretend to know exactly what this will cause in 20, 30 or 50 years are white-coated propagandists."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-krauthammer-the-myth-of-settled-science/2014/02/20/c1f8d994-9a75-11e3-b931-0204122c514b_story.html

[Gregory]

Paul, making energy so expensive the poor shiver and food so expensive the poor go hungry should only be done when the debate really is over, not declared to be over before it ever gets started.

Krauthammer is a smart guy but his study was medicine, not physical science, and that he thinks CO2 couldn't be good relates to nothing. "Even Conservative Charles Krauthammer ... is unsure of the long term effects of massive carbon dioxide levels". So what?

What massive? 400 parts per million? You exhale 40,000ppm CO2 with every breath and I doubt we'll ever burn enough carbon fuels to double the preindustrial 300ppm to 600ppm (that's two 20th centuries worth of fuel) which current research indicates will cause a total of little more than 1C (something more than 2 degrees F). This is small compared to natural variations. Not catastrophic. And mammals evolved in a 2000ppm CO2 atmosphere.

The models that created the scare of the IPCC unleashed have failed miserably to track the world's temperature over the past 17 years. It's time to stop the bandwagon as the wheels have fallen off. The warmist Greenshirts need to go home.

[fish]

Earth will survive no matter what we do to it but it may not be to our liking. Even Conservative Charles Krauthammer a critic of global warming alarmists is unsure of the long term effects of massive carbon dioxide levels . He writes:

"I repeat: I’m not a global warming believer. I’m not a global warming denier. I’ve long believed that it cannot be good for humanity to be spewing tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. I also believe that those scientists who pretend to know exactly what this will cause in 20, 30 or 50 years are white-coated propagandists."

There's a point to this post?

[Paul Emery]

Gosh guys, you're pretty hardcore. You don't even agree with someone who's agreeing with you-a noted conservative spout at that. You supported us going to war in Iraq with the scantiest or reason but ignore even the potential danger of global warming.

[Todd Juvinall]

I watched Founder of Greenpeace totally debunk Global Warming this week. I think I will go with that guy.

[fish]

You supported us going to war in Iraq with the scantiest or reason but ignore even the potential danger of global warming.

So in your estimation it was perfectly acceptable to go to war in Iraq for the "scantiest of reasons"?

[Gregory]

Paul, I'm not conservative, I didn't support our going to war in Iraq, and for the record, that started in 1990.

The "potential danger of global warming" scare has been going on since the 1970's. How much better has the evidence gotten after 100 billion dollars has been spent on it worldwide?

The key issue is how much will it warm for a doubling of CO2; in the last century CO2 went from 300 to 400ppm (some of that might be a natural warming driving CO2 out of the ocean like the bubbles from a warm beer), so the first doubling may be a couple centuries in the future. How have the IPCC blessed estimations of climate sensitivity done in determining this critically important detail? Here you go:
http://sciencebits.com/files/pictures/climate/SensitivityVsTime.jpg

In short, there's been no march towards truth in the climate biz at all. They tried in the AR4 (the scare document that drove the so-called "Global Warming Solutions Act" to passage in Sacramento) to bring the lower bound up from a near harmless 1.5C to 2C but had to drop it back to 1.5C in the latest IPCC report when inconvenient peer reviewed papers they couldn't bury continued to pop up.

There are a number of papers pointing to something closer to 1C than 2C, but there is no scare unless it's 2C or above, indicating positive feedbacks dominate.

The scare is petering out. Scientists are inching to the exits, papers written by people the asinine left call "deniers" are getting published in reputable journals, and the sun is giving a gift to those who believe indirect solar effects on cloud formation by giving us the next 10 years, believed to include a near collapse of the sun's magnetic field not seen since the Maunder minimum of the Little Ice Age.

Place your bets. I went with the solar indirect effects seven years ago when I became aware of a series of key papers that I read for myself.

No, when a religious nutcase walks by carrying a sign saying "Repent, the end is near", I don't give away all my earthly possessions to browbeat non-believers with a bible, and the global warming scare is looking more and more like religious fundamentalism every day.