PERSPECTIVES ON THE RIGHTS OF NATURE
The Indigenous Environmental Network will host a conversation with Casey Camp-Horinek, Tom BK Goldtooth and Chief Ninawa Huni Kui to talk about the importance of the Rights of Nature in making sure Indigenous values and rights are reflected into colonial law. Rights of Nature or Rights of Mother Earth seek to define equal legal rights for ecosystems to exist, flourish, and regenerate their natural capacities. Recognizing these rights places obligations on humans to live within, not above, the natural world, of which we are only one part, and to protect and replenish the ecosystems upon which our mutual well-being depends. It is necessary to transform our human relationship with nature from property-based to a legal rights-bearing entity.
By joining this screening, you will support I.E.N’s work, the film impact campaign and two Indigenous communities in Nicaragua who were hit by two of the strongest storms of the year, destroying their homes, flooding their fields and livestock and contaminating their drinking water.
A MESSAGE FROM FILM PROTAGONIST BRYAN PARRAS:
“The 2020 Hurricane Season brought an unprecedented number of named storms to the Atlantic. Coastal communities from the Gulf Coast to the Mosquito Coast bore the brunt of the devastating impacts from back to back storms like Laura and Delta in Louisiana & Eta and Iota in Nicaragua.
Two of the strongest storms of the year hit Indigenous communities in Nicaragua destroying their homes, flooding their fields and livestock and contaminating their drinking water. Most of the families in the Pueblo Indigena de Salinas de Nahualapa and Virgin Morena have lost everything including their homes and belongings. These communities live a modest lifestyle and have contributed least to the rising temperatures as a result of industrialized carbon emissions. These communities have also resisted proposed mining operations in their area as other communities begin to sell off their mineral rights and land. In a sense, these communities are fighting the good fight and being good stewards of the land.
As Pueblo Indigena de Salinas de Nahualapa and Virgen Morena begin the difficult process of recovery, we would like to use this screening to help support the long and difficult recovery efforts that they are now beginning to undertake.
I have had the privilege of traveling to Nicaragua myself and have visited nearby areas where these two communities are located. My friends from the Peace & Dignity Journey have also visited these communities and have made a direct plea for help. Living in the Gulf Coast and being heavily involved in recovery efforts from multiple storms I can fully appreciate the incredible need that these two communities are faced with. In a time of Covid-19, we know that these communities will also face daunting setbacks from viral surges as well. It is indigenous communities who have seen the most loss per capita to this pandemic as well. I hope that you support our efforts by watching the film and donating to this effort”
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