In Switzerland an initiative was started for the rights of the river Reuss
- doris909
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
On Saturday morning, 26th April I joined a small group of people by the river Reuss in the beautiful city of Lucerne, who was launching an initiative for the rights of the river Reuss.
Markus Stierli, the Initiator and president of the association “Rechtsperson Reuss”, stood there with a blue balloon, explaining his heartfelt reasons for the respect of the rivers’s rights to the press.
“Imagine a car collides with yours in an accident. The police arrive, and the other driver receives a fine. This doesn't do you any good personally. Therefore, you have the option of claiming compensation. However, if you apply this example to a river polluted with manure, the river can't defend itself, because a river has no legal standing in court.”
His example is a simple analogy but a perfect one to explain what is missing in modern legal systems; acknowledging Nature as a living being and as a subject of law. This is a reform of the law, which is necessary to be able to effectively deal with environmental challenges of our times. Only then can Nature be legally defended if she is harmed. Environmental protection still treats Nature - rivers, trees, air, land and soil as an object, merely deserving of protection, which does not provide for damage claims - or prevention.
The initiative for the rights of the river Reuss needs 5000 signatures.
It requests to include the following in the Constitution of the Canton of Lucerne:
- Fundamental rights and legal personality for bodies of water - and other non-human nature, to be guaranteed in accordance with the constitution of the canton.
- Waters are entitled to existence and ecological integrity.
- The law shall regulate the practical implementation. It shall be designed in such a way as to ensure the effective and independent assertion and enforcement of the claims granted.
I am delighted about this exciting initiative in Switzerland which joins many other countries like New Zealand where the rights of the Whanganui River was acknowledged in 2017 and very recently the Maranon River in Peru and another body of water, Mar Menor in Spain.
For more information see:
Reuss Initiative :
Rights of the Maranon River:
Rights of Mar Menor in Spain
Rights of the Wanganui River in New Zealand:
Help us advance the Rights of Mother Earth by signing and sharing the global petition for a UN Declaration of Rights of Mother Earth: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/826/567/703/
Comments