🌍✨ It's inspiring to see more nations recognising nature and the environment as legal entities! This shift not only honours the intrinsic value of our ecosystems but also paves the way for stronger legal protections against environmental harm. AllRise we hope this momentum encourages the International Criminal Court to prioritise environmental policy on its agenda, reinforcing our collective responsibility to protect the planet. Together, we can advocate for justice that values both people and nature, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. 🌱⚖️ #Ecocide #EnvironmentalJustice #AllRise #Sustainability #ICC #LegalRecognition #NatureRights
CEO at Earthly | 4x Founder | WEF Top Innovator | Wilding Earth Host | Protecting & Regenerating >1% of the planet by 2030
🐋 Whales Now Have Human Rights: What Does This Mean for Our Planet? ⚖️ In a groundbreaking moment for ocean conservation, Māori and Pacific leaders have signed the historic ‘He Whakaputanga Moana’ treaty, officially granting whales legal personhood! This means whales now have the right to migrate freely, live in healthy oceans and thrive alongside humanity. The declaration was signed by King Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII of the 'Kiingitanga movement', Lisa Tumahai, who chairs the 'Hinemoana Halo Ocean initiative' and Kaumaiti Nui Travel Tou Ariki, leader of the Cook Islands. It recognises traditional Māori and Pasifika views of whales as ancestral beings. King Tuuheitia beautifully described it as “a woven cloak of protection for our taonga,” emphasising that the presence of whales “reflects the strength of our own mana.” Led by Indigenous wisdom and backed by global scientific consensus, this movement is protecting whales from ship strikes, pollution and climate change. Backed with a $100 million conservation fund and the creation of marine protected areas, real change is happening right now. And it gets even more exciting, whales could soon be recognised as official "ocean ambassadors" at the United Nations, a major step that could influence future global policy. 🇺🇳 This marks a growing trend where nature is being recognised as a legal entity: 🇳🇿 New Zealand granted the Whanganui River legal personhood in 2017, reflecting the Māori worldview that nature has rights of its own. 🇨🇴 In Colombia, sections of the Amazon Rainforest gained legal rights in 2018 to protect one of Earth’s most critical ecosystems. 🇮🇳 India recognised the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers as legal persons in 2017, pushing for stronger stewardship and conservation. These important shifts are showing us a new path, one where nature and humanity are truly connected and ecosystems are given the legal rights they need to thrive. 🌏 So what could be next? Imagine a world where every river and forest has the right to flourish and what if the ocean itself had a voice? 🌊 (Credit: NadiaAlyPhotography) #Conservation #Whale #Rights