Ecuador has become the first nation in the world to grant constitutional rights to the natural environment. On Sept. 28, the country voted for a new constitution that, among other changes, gives many of the same rights to rivers, forests, plants and animals as it does to people. (From the Green Report, Toronto Globe and Mail)
Rivers, Plants and Animals Now Have Constitutional Rights
YAAHOOOO!!!!!!!!! This is awesome! 😀
I am from Ecuador, and it is a horrible mockery. Correa’s constitution robs people of individual rights and abolishes the right to property.
Hopefully it will offset incidents like those involving foreign nationals. And it could be a blueprint for environmental protection worldwide.
How does it abolish the right to property Merryjest?
The new constitution redefines property as ‘having a social function’, becoming state-owned. The only reason you may own something is because the state lets you own it now, and it may take it away whenever it deems that ‘social reasons’ dictate it so.