What idea is powerful enough to heal the relationship between humans and nature?
This conference will be a space for dialogue and co-creation about the idea that nature, not just humans, have rights. In a time of accelerating socio-ecological challenges, Earth rights is the focus of interest at different scales, from local communities to UN bodies. It is an ancient idea, present in indigenous cultures all around the world. Can Earth rights be the foundation of a new culture of respect and harmony between people and planet?
Come to Sweden’s oldest town, Sigtuna, in April and investigate. For more details visit: http://www.earthrightsconference.org/
Sigtunastiftelsen
Manfred Björkquists allé 4
193 31 Sigtuna
Sweden
WORKSHOPS FRIDAY
Advancing the Rights of Nature
This workshop with Mari Margil from Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) will provide a practical examination of the Rights of Nature – what it is; why and how it is advancing around the world; and strategies for advancing it at the local and national level in Sweden and other countries. This will include discussion on how existing environmental laws legalize the use and exploitation of nature, and how these frameworks are unable to protect nature.Art for the Rights of Nature
To open up for the solidarity with all living beings, we need to open to a sensory, creative exploration of ourselves and the world. A mindful, intuitive workshop, where we explore our inner sense of music and rhythm, and practise interbeing. How can we create sounds, noise and gestures into a co-creative piece? How can we listen to our true selves and to the group at the same time? An adventure beyond words with Peder Karlsson and Annika Lykta.
Ecological Rights and Environmental Justice
Humans, as part of nature, share the rights of nature. We live together in interconnected and interdependent ways. This workshop will reflect on how rights of nature relate to human rights and environmental justice. The demands that human societies place on nature may imply an unequal distribution of rights in some cases. Moreover, rights that are beneficial to certain societies may or may not be beneficial for other societies or lives. By extension, rights for nature must entail different kinds of rights for different communities. How might rights of nature support non-exploitative, mutually nurturing relationships between people? This workshop includes a conversation between Stefania Barca, Martin Hultman, Cormac Cullinan and Marie Persson moderated by Marco Armiero, director of Environmental Humanities Laboratory at KTH.Law & Ecological Awakening
This workshop explores ecocide law as an expression and agent of ecological awakening. Law influences our values and steers our behaviour; ecocide law will steer our behaviour towards ecological citizenship. Making ecocide an international crime could help humans reconnect to nature by the values they prioritize: people and planet above profit. Lawyer Femke Wijdekop explores connections between the promotion of Ecocide law and alignment of intellect, body and heart to act from a place of connection to Earth. Niklas Högberg, Lodyn, will guide the participants through a process of reconnecting to ourselves, each other and the planet.
WORKSHOPS SATURDAY
The International Tribunal for the Rights of Nature
Cormac Cullinan discusses how the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature is using the International Tribunal for the Rights of Nature to pioneer and experiment with alternative international and regional governance structures, and to provide a space for sharing experience about the damage done to nature. Next Tribunal is planned in Bonn, november 2017 in adjunction with COP 23.
Co-Creating a New Earth Rights Movement from the Inside Out – A truth and reconciliation process in every heart
To be an earth rights activist means to be a carrier of a new paradigm, a new story in which rights of nature is transformed from one of many ideas into shaping the context for our common future. This is a journey of deep re-learning that requires courage – the courage to face yourself, others, the world and nature in new ways. The courage to be, feel, think and act from the inside out. This journey can be viewed as a truth and reconciliation process in every heart, aimed at restoring balance in all our relationships. We will take part in an extraordinary testimony by the Giron Sámi Teáhter: Their own truth and reconciliation commission based on stories by the Sámi people who seek to recover after ages of colonization and oppression. In the workshop, indigenous rights are interweaved with Earth rights as well as the rights of all people to live in peace and balance with nature. We will explore what it means to empower ourselves and each other in our own healing journeys, as parts of a global eco-social movement connected by a common vision: The ancient and revolutionary idea of Earth rights. A focus of the workshop is the co-creation of a short Earth Rights Declaration by the participants. With Åsa Simma, CEO of Giron Sámi Teáhter, Marie Persson, Sámi activist and Niklas Högberg, Lodyn.
Earth rights and the role of native spiritual traditions
Indigenous and traditional cosmovisions have been a very important inspiration for the Rights of Nature movement from the start. The sacredness and interconnectedness of all life is the foundation whereupon indigenous cultures are built. Dominant paradigms of colonization and modernization through history and in present times have caused transformations and even loss of many spiritual traditions. In this sense decolonization of indigenous knowledge and spirituality become an important challenge. This workshop is a dialogue between Patricia Gualinga from the Sarayaku, an indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and Henrik Hallgren, practitioner of Forn Sidr – the Scandinavian heathen tradition. The dialogue is expressed partly as a shared ceremony and partly as a verbal dialogue where all participants will be invited to share reflections.The Nature of learning – Humanity and the More-than-Human world in Education
How do we embed questions of humanity and nature in our learning? How do we address the overarching crucial concepts and values that shape how we see our roles as humans? In this workshop we will discuss the importance of making questions on the relationship between humanity and nature a priority in education about/for sustainability. Facilitated by Isak Stoddard and Malin Östman, together we will explore possibilities and challenges for educators and students, drawing on experiences and pedagogical practice from the transdisciplinary, collaborative and student-centred courses at the Centre for Environment and Development Studies (CEMUS) at Uppsala University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
