TOWARDS THE RECOGNITION OF MOTHER EARTH AS A LIVING BEING
April 22: International Mother Earth Day
The worldwide recognition of our Mother Earth as a living being and the proclamation of a new proposal of the Universal Declaration of Mother Earth’s Rights, are the focus of educational talks that the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace is simultaneously carrying out in more than 15 countries of America, the Caribbean and Spain, to celebrate the Earth Day, next April 22, 2016.
These educational talks will be given from April 19th to the 22nd, 2016, in educational centers of all levels, from kindergarten to universities, and are coordinated for the International Program “Children of Mother Earth” by the GEAP. In the talks people are invited to visit the GEAP website http://embajadamundialdeactivistasporlapaz.com/en and subscribe to the global recognition of the planet, our Mother Earth as a living being, as defined by Resolution 63/278 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on April 22, 2009, and on the foundation of a peace agreement, with the unification of different cultures from different countries, but especially to protect our Mother Earth.
For Earth Day on April 22, the GEAP will perform restoration activities of urban spaces and tree planting, in conjunction with other organizations, schools and local governments. In addition, the GEAP will join the activities organized by the UN in each country.
For more information on the places where the GEAP will perform these educational talks and restoration activities of urban spaces, follow our social networks:
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General information by email:
General information (Source: www.un.org)
In Resolution 63/278 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on April 22, 2016, Earth and its ecosystems are recognized as our home, and that it is necessary to reach a “just balance among the economic, social, and environmental needs of present and future generations, it is necessary to promote harmony with nature and the Earth”.
On the other hand, in this resolution, the UN also recognizes the name “Mother Earth” as a common expression used to “common expression for the planet earth in a number of countries and regions, which reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit.”
For this reason, the UN assigned April 22 as “International Mother Earth Day,” and invites “all Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system, international, regional and subregional organizations, civil society, non-governmental organizations and relevant stakeholders to observe and raise awareness of International Mother Earth Day, as appropriate.”
That same year, a group of special rapporteurs prepared a study requested by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, on the implementation of Resolution 63/278 of the General Assembly “on the need to recognize and respect the rights of Mother Earth.”
In this study, the rapporteurs analyze the exclusion in greater and lesser degree of participation of aboriginal or indigenous people in the different resolutions on Mother Earth, or as some insist on replacing as “nature.” Therefore they are making a call to not leave out the participation and contributions from the ancient wisdom of the native peoples for the care and protection of Mother Earth. And in the analysis of Mother Earth’s Rights, it indicates the following:
“48. On the other hand, the idea that humans own nature might be considered a serious failure of non-indigenous thought and rights. There was a time when men thought that they could own women, an owner and chattel relationship that is obviously no longer the case. The same thing happened with the enslavement of human beings, on the basis of race with no distinction as to gender or age. The same idea of domination remains alive between men and natural beings. This position can be countered in cultures such as Hinduism.36 We are undergoing an evolution in all human cultures, including non-indigenous ones, in light of evidence that we need a new relationship with nature.”
Then on July 27, 2012, the UN approved Resolution 66/288, named “The future we want,” in which all nations agreed to the following:
“39. We recognize that planet Earth and its ecosystems are our home and that “Mother Earth” is a common expression in a number of countries and regions, and we note that some countries recognize the rights of nature in the context of the promotion of sustainable development. We are convinced that in order to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations, it is necessary to promote harmony with nature.
40. We call for holistic and integrated approaches to sustainable development that will guide humanity to live in harmony with nature and lead to efforts to restore the health and integrity of the Earth’s ecosystem.
41. We acknowledge the natural and cultural diversity of the world, and recognize that all cultures and civilizations can contribute to sustainable development.”
These resolutions, along with other instruments originating from the United Nations, are part of the backgrounds that the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace take to continue their global campaign towards the worldwide recognition of Mother Earth as a living being and therefore, full of rights that must be respected. We invite you to join us by clicking here.
To celebrate Earth Day 2016, the GEAP will join the call of the UN:
Earth Day 2016 – Trees for Earth. “Let’s plant.” But days before, we will be carrying out educational and informative activities for the International Program “Children of Mother Earth, and promoting the recognition of our Mother Earth as a living being, to undertake to respect her rights and to fulfill our duties to care and protect her as the HOME of all living beings.
