Over the past few weeks, my course studies have involved the idea of human rights. The idea that every human being has both survival and thrival rights is not a novel one, but rather one that is expected. As citizens of the U.S., we enjoy a certain sense of freedom, and from an early age we have learned about the idea of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. But the more I learned about this topic, the more I began to wonder: what makes us different from other creatures? What allows us to enjoy these rights while other beings are excluded? Turns out I'm not the only one who has pondered this topic. In my hunt for answers, I came across "The Universe Story: Its Religious Significance" -- an essay by Thomas Berry. And since it offers an interesting perspective on human relations with the earth, I wanted to share some of it with you.

 

It is not breaking news that we are facing an environmental crisis. Damage to the Earth's natural resources has gone far beyond what we ever predicted or expected. During our strive to maintain our survival and thrival rights, human beings had uninhibited access to all that makes up the Earth. They felt that they had the right to it. But as Berry points out, we failed to give the environment the same survival and "thrival" rights that we often take for granted.

 

- Thomas Berry

 

The idea that mountains and rivers have rights, to me, is a revolutionary one. I think that when we personify the mountains, rivers and oceans, as Berry has done, it seems like a punishable crime to pollute or chop down trees. I think that if we are able to shift our mindset to actually feel this way, we will be on a much better path with the environment. Think of what the world would be like now had we afforded a Bill of Rights to the rainforests, or the vast lands of Alaska. Would we be in the situation we are now? These parts of nature that we have used at our disposal are the very things that allowed us to come to be. Who are we to deny them rights?

 

While I'm well aware that we cannot really grant nature a Bill of Rights, the point is that we need to develop a new relationship with the environment. Rather than human-to-human communication, we need human-to-universe communication. Personifying the Earth makes you think more before you continue to consume. I think that if more people were to come to understand Berry's argument we may come closer to a harmony with nature. Over the past few years, green initiatives have certainly gotten the conversation started, and it is our job to continue it.

 

So in conclusion, I have one question: What would be on your nature Bill of Rights?

 

Thumbnail photo: Mundilfair/Flickr