In this issue

• Rights of Nature Summit – read the summary notes
• Travel to Ecuador With Us!
• Get your copy of the revolutionary new book The Rights of Nature
• Nature’s Rights Come Alive this fall
• A Special Perspective on Community Rights
• Internships Available

Report Back From Rights of Nature Strategy Summit

Global Exchange convened a summit last month around the concept of Rights for Nature. The conference was attended by a handful of activists actively engaged in Rights of Nature (RON) work at the local, national and international levels, and a larger number of experts and leaders from a broad spectrum across the climate justice movement, representing key issues and strategies including policy, Indigenous rights, REDD and market-mechanisms, water, economics, and more.

• To get a complete copy of the summary notes and topics covered at the summit, please e-mail Shannon Biggs 

• For more information on REDD, please check out this article from Carbon Trade Watch.

• If you are an activist involved in the environmental or climate justice movement and are interested in learning more about this framework or getting involved in the Rights of Nature movement, please contact Shannon Biggs by e-mail or call her at (415) 575-5540
  

Seeing Nature in a New Right

Join Shannon Biggs and Global Exchange Co-Founder Kevin Danaher on a special Reality Tour to Ecuador this January – a unique opportunity to visit the region that has set an example for the world by recognizing Nature’s Rights in their law. On this trip you will be able to explore how Ecuador has dealt with extractive industries and how they are moving forward with a plan for a sustainable future and the recognition of nature’s rights. You will be able to see the effect of the Nature’s Rights framework on communities and ecosystems from the Amazon to the Andes.

• Check out this blog post by Shannon about the trip that will be taking place Jan 13-22, 2012

• For more information or to reserve your spot on this wonderful RealityTour: Please e-mail Beth Garriott   or, contact her by phone at (415) 558-6939.

New Book: The Rights of Nature

Co-developed by Global Exchange, Council of Canadians and Fundacion Pachamama, this book begins to reveal the path of  movement that is driving the cultural and legal shift that is necessary to transform our human relationship with nature away from being property-based and towards a rights-based model of balance.

It includes essays and interviews from esteemed thought leaders such as Maude Barlow, Vandana Shiva, Desmond Tutu, Cormac Cullinan, Edwardo Galleano, Nimo Bassey, Thomas Goldtooth, and Shannon Biggs; in order to make a case for how and why humans must change our current structures of law to recognize that nature has inherent rights.

Copies of the book are available for $15. To get your copy, please contact Kylie Nealis

Nature’s Rights Come Alive at Bioneers this year

"Ever wondered what species and ecosystems would say if they could stand up for their rights, perform their songs and share their stories? Please join Global Exchange and BALANCE Edutainment (www.pachaspajamas.com) for an inspirational youth workshop on Nature's Rights, as explored through the timeless medium of storytelling, music and performance!"

This year at the Bioneers conference in San Rafael, CA, Kylie Nealis of Global Exchange and BALANCE Edutainment will be exploring the Rights of Nature with youth of all ages. For more information on the workshop, please contact Kylie Nealis

And don’t miss these other innovative panels at the conference this year:

• “Earth Juriprudance: Driving The Rights of Nature Into Law": Saturday Oct. 15^th, 2:45-4:15 p.m.
• “Community Connection: Driving Community Bills of Rights into law": Saturday Oct. 15^th, 4:30-6:00 p.m.

• For more information about the conference and to register, visit their website 

A Summer Spent Working on Community Rights

Check out this two part blog series written by Hannah Zucherman about her experience working as the Community Rights Program intern at Global Exchange this summer. In these pieces, Hannah shares some great insight into what she learned during her time at Global Exchange this summer and poses some critical questions around the issues of corporate power, the shortfalls of government and regulatory law, and the fast emerging movement for community and nature’s rights.

• Read Pt. I here 
• Read Pt. II here

• Interested in interning on the Community Rights Program at Global Exchange? Visit our website for a listing of current internships that are available.