12th may 2025

 The Rights of Nature is a legal and philosophical framework that recognizes the inherent rights of ecosystems and natural entities to exist, thrive, and regenerate, fundamentally shifting how we view and interact with the environment.

Definition and Significance

The Rights of Nature concept acknowledges that ecosystems, including rivers, forests, and wildlife, possess inherent rights similar to human rights. This framework challenges traditional views that treat nature merely as property to be exploited for human benefit. Instead, it emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life forms and the need for legal recognition of nature's rights to ensure its protection and sustainability. 

I have gone on ad-nauseam about how nature is an interlinking system, it is recognised more clearly now but the question of whether nature has rights, like for instance we have in Human Rights has been a matter of discussion.  We rape the ground of its minerals and in so doing create damaged ecosystems and the departure of indigenous people from their homelands.  We are so clever at selling our, or other countries, commodities on the Stock Exchange, that we barely notice the disastrous consequences.

MacFarlane had mentioned the Ecuadorian court case when a Rights of Nature law suit was brought - and won.  He had been visiting the Cloud Forest there where the battle to save it from prospectors had been fought out.  The prospecting for minerals and gold is a dirty world of forcing the indigenous people out and the killing of them.  Then when the trees are cut down, rivers become polluted with chemicals, the prize is won but only at the cost of the animals, insects and flora. 

The truth though lies in the fact that we as humans are totally dependent on Nature to provide for us and our ability to destroy it will result in our own destruction.  So all those nice cosy things we love so much, our cars and fancy furniture will not hold up against flood, fire and plagues.  A thing we are experiencing at the moment with Climate Change.

I think there is a 'creep' of legal justice that protects our environment in our country as well, the recent court case of the sycamore tree cut down by two men on Hadrian's Wall is evidence of this.  As also the destructive path that HS2 took through the countryside.  People stood by their trees not allowing them to be cut down, there is a symbiotic nature between humans and trees.  Rejoicing in them as we do when the first leaves of spring show their pale beauty and then the sadness at Autumn as the leaves die leaving a crumpled mess of brown leaves on the ground. Though of course regeneration of the leaves back into the soil creates the new life with its millions of bacteria.

Has the law been applied to the fouling of our rivers and lately the lakes in the Lake District though, the water companies are fined but does the money go back to cleanse the rivers?

According to this article a recent fine of £11 million pounds for several water companies will go to restoration  and not into the Treasury.  But this meagre amount of money is questioned by Charles Watson, Head of River Action who says.

“Every pound that is given to local communities to restore rivers is welcome and we are grateful for that, but the money in this fund is just a rounding error compared to how shareholders and lenders have been paid out by the water firms." ................

Edit:  Well coincidentally, the news rams on, whether you want another grey male from Thames Water trying to justify large salaries or bonuses from the money the government is giving them to make thing better, take your choice.  Well it will improve the bank balances of the company chairmen.  And of course we are heading into drought this summer.