Hail the Bolivians!

It's a sad fact that, here in the States, more and more people are allowing the brainwashing of the Radical Right to take hold in terms of doubting the realities of global warming. In recent times, several different groups have committed to a general disinformation campaign that seeks to discredit widely shared scientific knowledge. Even in those western democracies in which global warming and climate change enjoy widespread acceptance by the general populace, their governments are not too keen on adopting standards that might mitigate the growing problem to any significant degree.

It is enough to make even the most fervent tree-hugger quite disheartened.

Enter the Bolivians to the rescue!

The Guardian has reported that

Bolivia is set to pass the world's first laws granting all nature equal rights to humans. The Law of Mother Earth, now agreed by politicians and grassroots social groups, redefines the country's rich mineral deposits as "blessings" and is expected to lead to radical new conservation and social measures to reduce pollution and control industry.

The country, which has been pilloried by the US and Britain in the UN climate talks for demanding steep carbon emission cuts, will establish 11 new rights for nature. They include: the right to life and to exist; the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration; the right to pure water and clean air; the right to balance; the right not to be polluted; and the right to not have cellular structure modified or genetically altered...

As you know, I am no fan of religion, but I might need to take a second look at the issue because of a "resurgent indigenous Andean spiritual world view which places the environment and the earth deity known as the Pachamama at the centre of all life. Humans are considered equal to all other entities." I can dig that somewhat!

It would be nice to think that Bolivia is setting a precedent that would be embraced the world over. Unfortunately, where capitalism enjoys a stranglehold, Mother Earth is nothing more than another commodity to be exploited.

Maybe I should start brushing up on my Spanish!