- Written by: Kamran Mofid
- Hits: 824
'Nature and Me'-Part III: ‘This is it! The moment so many of you have been waiting for…’- Stop Ecocide
Photo: Stop Ecocide
‘Stop Ecocide International, co-founded in 2017 by barrister and legal pioneer the late Polly Higgins and current Executive Director Jojo Mehta, promotes and facilitates steps towards making ecocide a crime at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in order to prevent devastation of nature and so protect the future of life on Earth...’-Stop Ecocide
Nota bene
Earth Lawyer Polly Higgins (4 July 1968- 21 April 2019): An Intellectual Activist who I met in Astana
A lawyer who abandoned a courtroom career to campaign for the international crime of ecocide
Polly, A Beacon of Hope and Light: A personal note by Kamran Mofid
See also: Moving from moral to legal wrong: Polly Higgins
‘Ecocide must be listed alongside genocide as an international crime.'
‘Large-scale environmental destruction affects the future of all life on our planet. Criminalising it would finally hold decision-makers to account.’-Alexandre Antonelli and Pella Thiel
A landscape created by a love of oil.- Photo: The Ecologist
‘This is the world's most destructive oil operation.’: A clear example of Ecocide?
‘Tar sands: tearing the flesh from the Earth.’
‘Half a century of oil sands mining in northern Alberta has transformed vast tracts of boreal forest and wetlands into artificial lakes contaminated with toxic tailings waste.
‘These lakes, which industry calls “ponds,” now hold over a trillion litres of water so polluted that entire flocks of birds have died after landing on them. Scientific research has shown they’re leaking into the groundwater and the Athabasca River, with one lake estimated to be leaking 6.5 million litres every day. This raised sufficient alarm to lead NAFTA’s environmental monitoring commission to call for an investigation in 2018.
‘But the polluted lakes left in the wake of oil sands mining haven’t dissuaded Export Development Canada (EDC) from supporting companies heavily involved in the business. Despite these and other severe ecological impacts of the oil sands industry — from extensive deforestation to soaring greenhouse gas emissions — EDC continues to finance some of its major players…’-Fuelling the oil sands
‘Historic moment’: Legal experts unveil new definition of ecocide'
Photo:Stop Ecocide
‘It is widely recognised that humanity stands at a crossroads. The scientific evidence points to the conclusion that the emission of greenhouse gases and the destruction of ecosystems at current rates will have catastrophic consequences for our common environment. Along with political, diplomatic and economic initiatives, international law has a role to play in transforming our relationship with the natural world, shifting that relationship from one of harm to one of harmony.
'Despite significant progress, the inadequacies of current global environmental governance are widely acknowledged.1 National and international laws are in place to contribute to the protection of the natural systems upon which our well-being depends, yet it is apparent that such laws are inadequate and more is needed.
'It is against this background that in late 2020 the Stop Ecocide Foundation convened an Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide (‘Panel’). It comprises twelve lawyers from around the world, with a balance of backgrounds, and expertise in criminal, environmental and climate law. They have worked together for six months, charged with preparing a practical and effective definition of the crime of ‘ecocide’. The Panel was assisted by outside experts and a public consultation that brought together hundreds of ideas from legal, economic, political, youth, faith and indigenous perspectives from around the globe.
'Between January and June 2021 the Panel convened for five remote sessions. Panel sub-groups were tasked with specific research and drafting tasks. A consensus on a core text of a definition of ecocide as an international crime was reached in June 2021.
'It is the hope of the Panel that the proposed definition might serve as the basis of consideration for an amendment to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Statute addresses crimes that are deemed to be of international interest and relevance, and the time has come to extend the protections for serious environmental harm, already recognised to be a matter of international concern’
ECOCIDE Defined
1-‘For the purpose of this Statute, “ecocide” means unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.
2- For the purpose of paragraph 1:
a. “Wanton” means with reckless disregard for damage which would be clearly excessive in relation to the social and economic benefits anticipated;
b. “Severe” means damage which involves very serious adverse changes, disruption or harm to any element of the environment, including grave impacts on human life or natural, cultural or economic resources;
c. “Widespread” means damage which extends beyond a limited geographic area, crosses state boundaries, or is suffered by an entire ecosystem or species or a large number of human beings;
d. “Long-term” means damage which is irreversible or which cannot be redressed through natural recovery within a reasonable period of time;
e. “Environment” means the earth, its biosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, as well as outer space.’-Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide
A selection of further readings from our archive for your interest
Mother Nature Crying: Fools and Heartless those who do not see the tears
Mother Earth is Crying: A Path to Spiritual Ecology and Sustainability
Mining in Canada: No native spirituality, No children dancing, No prayers- Ottawa urged
Detroit and Windsor: The Curse of the tar sands of Alberta
Why should we all become mother nature and sacred earth guardians
Detaching Nature from Economics is ‘Burning the Library of Life’
'Creation Is Groaning!': A Wake-up Call
'Nature and Me': Educating the Heart and the Soul of Children to Build a Better World
Connecting to Nature- 'Nature and Me': Unlocking a New Vision for a Better World
Nature the Best Teacher: Re-Connecting the World’s Children with Nature
Biomimicry: Learning from Nature
On the 250th Birthday of William Wordsworth Let Nature be our Wisest Teacher
- Written by: Kamran Mofid
- Hits: 1042
'Nature and Me'-Part II: ‘A new guide to strengthening the relationship between people and nature.’
Photo: INTIMINA
Continuing our study of ‘Nature and Me’, I am delighted to draw your attention to a recent research on how to strengthen and solidify the relationship between people and nature.
However, before highlighting this study, I would like to recall our earlier presentation on ‘Nature and Me’ which was about Educating the Heart and the Soul of Children to Build a Better World. Please if you have not read this piece already, do so, as it will be very helpful to a better understanding of what is to follow.
Photo: National Trust Images/Rob Coleman, Via Finding Nature: Nature Connectedness Research Blog by Prof. Miles Richardson
‘Nature and Me – a new guide to strengthening the relationship between people and nature.’
‘The warming climate and loss of wildlife show that our relationship with nature has been failing. However, during the restrictions to control the coronavirus pandemic people have turned to nature. This brings hope that people are ready for a new relationship with nature. During our work with the National Trust we’ve been thinking about, and actively building those new relationships with nature. A closer connection with nature that can boost the wellbeing of people and the wellbeing of the natural world we inhabit.
‘We want to share what we’ve learnt far and wide. So we’ve launched Nature and Me. A short guide with suggestions on how to get close to nature and the benefits this can bring. Nature and Me has two parts. Understanding the human-nature relationship and a guide to practically improving that relationship. It is based on research by the University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group and experiences at National Trust places.
‘Part one introduces the concept of nature connectedness, the level of an individual’s relationship with nature. A summary of some of the research findings is then introduced. How life feels good when people have a strong connection with nature. How it’s possible to feel close to nature in towns and cities. How people who feel more connectedness are more likely to protect nature. How teenagers fall out of love with nature, and most adults do not notice nature. The guide then introduces the five pathways to nature connection, a practical framework to inform the design of experiences in nature.
‘Part two shows that framework at work, using examples from National Trust places to explain how to rethink the approach to nature engagement. How that shifted from what people understand about a place, to the way people experience a place. This new mindset yielded powerful results. From the way places were managed, their habitats and views, to approaches to wellbeing that were more meaningful and mindful. The approach informed learning and education too, with remarkable results. The pathways helped in the celebration and sharing of nature conservation work and outdoor activities for children and adults.
We hope the guide is only the beginning. There are so many ways we can apply the five pathways to nature connection. Read the guide and imagine the results if we applied this thinking more broadly, in our schools, workplaces and cities to create a new relationship with nature for human and nature’s wellbeing.’
Download a copy of ‘Nature and Me – a new guide to strengthening the relationship between people and nature’ HERE
‘Nature's Future Is Our Future’
Photo:nature.org
'A degraded habitat will produce degraded humans. If there is to be any true progress,
then the entire life community must progress.'― Thomas Berry
As our home- the planet earth- faces the most dangerous century in its 4.5bn-year history, we look to Mother Nature for her wise and passionate guidance on what the future holds for our Sacred Mother Earth and us all.
A selection of similar readings from our archive for your interest
Envisioning the Future of our Children’s Education
Nature the Best Teacher: Re-Connecting the World’s Children with Nature
Detaching Nature from Economics is ‘Burning the Library of Life’
Desperately seeking Sophia: The Wisdom of Nature
A timeless reflection on two types of teaching and learning
What They Forget to Teach You at School’: Fix Education to Fix the World
Poetry is the Education that Nourishes the Heart and Nurtures the Soul
What if Universities Taught KINDNESS?
Why should we all become mother nature and sacred earth guardians
On the 250th Birthday of William Wordsworth Let Nature be our Wisest Teacher
Mother Earth is Crying: A Path to Spiritual Ecology and Sustainability
Biomimicry: Learning from Nature
To Heal the World and People We Need to Save the Commons from Plunder
Are you physically and emotionally drained? I know of a good and cost-free solution!
A Sure Path to build a Better World: How nature helps us feel good and do good
On the 250th Birthday of William Wordsworth Let Nature be our Wisest Teacher
- Written by: Kamran Mofid
- Hits: 1821
July is the month of Larkspur & Water Lily,flowers of happiness, love, enlightenment,
resurrection, purity, beauty, creation and divine birth.
'Be in love with life and the living and the world will be a better place.'- Kamran Mofid
July is the first month in the Roman calendar to be named after a historical person, Julius Caesar. His reforms had a lasting effect on the Roman calendar, not least because he had an entire month named in his honour. July was originally called Quintilis, as it was the fifth month in the traditional Roman calendar. However, after Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC, it was renamed iūlius in Caesar’s honour by the Roman Senate as it was the month of his birth.
The official birth flowers for July are larkspurs, signifying happiness and love. These popular ornamentals flaunt
tall flower spikes typically in shades of pink, white, and lavender. Photo: Petal Republic
- 'Nature and Me': Educating the Heart and the Soul of Children to Build a Better World
- Let us use our mobile phone cameras with different eyes: Mindful Photography to Nurture Positive Emotions, Gratitude and Appreciation
- Are You Bored with Zooming? So Let Us Zoom for Joy!
- Five thousand years of mystical magnificence: Epic Iran at the V&A- The true story of an extraordinary civilisation
- My Poem of the Month: June is the Month of Dreams, Love, Romance and Marriage