Universal Declaration of Rights of Mother Earth

Article 1. Mother Earth

(1)   Mother Earth is a living being.

(2)   Mother Earth is a unique, indivisible, self-regulating community of interrelated beings that sustains, contains and reproduces all beings.

(3)   Each being is defined by its relationships as an integral part of Mother Earth.

(4)   The inherent rights of Mother Earth are inalienable in that they arise from the same source as existence.

(5)   Mother Earth and all beings are entitled to all the inherent rights recognized in this Declaration without distinction of any kind, such as may be made between organic and inorganic beings, species, origin, use to human beings, or any other status.

(6)   Just as human beings have human rights, all other beings also have rights which are specific to their species or kind and appropriate for their role and function within the communities within which they exist.

(7)   The rights of each being are limited by the rights of other beings and any conflict between their rights must be resolved in a way that maintains the integrity, balance and health of Mother Earth.

Article 2. Inherent Rights of Mother Earth

(1)   Mother Earth and all beings of which she is composed have the following inherent rights:

(a) the right to life and to exist;
(b) the right to be respected;
(c) the right to regenerate its bio-capacity and to continue its vital cycles and processes free from  human disruptions;
(d) the right to maintain its identity and integrity as a  distinct, self-regulating and interrelated being;
(e) the right to water as a source of life;
(f) the right to clean air;
(g) the right to integral health;
(h) the right to be free from contamination, pollution  and toxic or radioactive waste;
(i) the right to not have its genetic structure modified  or disrupted in a manner that threatens its integrity  or vital and healthy functioning;
(j) the right to full and prompt restoration for  violation of the rights recognized in this  Declaration caused by human activities;

(2)   Each being has the right to a place and to play its role in Mother Earth for her harmonious functioning.

(3)   Every being has the right to wellbeing and to live free from torture or cruel treatment by human beings.

Article 3. Obligations of human beings to Mother Earth

(1)   Every human being is responsible for respecting and living in harmony with Mother Earth.

(2)   Human beings, all States, and all public and private institutions must:

(a) act in accordance with the rights and obligations  recognized in this Declaration;
(b) recognize and promote the full implementation  and enforcement of the rights and obligations  recognized in this Declaration;
(c) promote and participate in learning, analysis,  interpretation and communication about how to  live in harmony with Mother Earth in accordance  with this Declaration;
(d) ensure that the pursuit of human wellbeing  contributes to the wellbeing of Mother Earth, now  and in the future;
(e) establish and apply effective norms and laws for  the defence, protection and conservation of the  rights of Mother Earth;
(f) respect, protect, conserve and where necessary,  restore the integrity, of the vital ecological cycles,  processes and balances of Mother Earth;
(g) guarantee that the damages caused by human  violations of the inherent rights recognized in this  Declaration are rectified and that those responsible  are held accountable for restoring the integrity and  health of Mother Earth;
(h) empower human beings and institutions to defend  the rights of Mother Earth and of all beings;
(i) establish precautionary and restrictive measures to  prevent human activities from causing species  extinction, the destruction of ecosystems or the  disruption of ecological cycles;
(j) guarantee peace and eliminate nuclear, chemical  and biological weapons;
(k) promote and support practices of respect for  Mother Earth and all beings, in accordance with  their own cultures, traditions and customs;
(l) promote economic systems that are in harmony  with Mother Earth and in accordance with the  rights recognized in this Declaration.

Article 4. Definitions

(1)   The term “being” includes ecosystems, natural communities, species and all other natural entities which exist as part of Mother Earth.

(2)   Nothing in this Declaration restricts the recognition of other inherent rights of all beings or specified beings.