Introducing the International Rights of Nature Movement: Turtles and Rivers

© Jason Isley

This the first in a series exploring rights of animals.

Earlier this year, Panama’s legislature gave personhood status to the leatherback turtle species within its borders. Now, turtles have the right of free passage within the country, and citizens can sue on behalf of turtles to challenge barriers to nesting grounds and the sea.  

This is one example of the expanding and active “Rights of Nature Movement” currently being used to combat crises in the environment.  Christopher D. Stone wrote an important article in the 1970s that contemplates expanded rights for the natural world. His ideas are finally being leveraged to protect animal species and earth’s features by expanding their legal protections, a dramatic departure from the mindset that resources are to be exploited and monetized.

It’s not only animals that are being protected - rivers in Canada, Columbia, New Zealand and other countries have been granted personhood to help protect them.  Closer to home, the Klamath River now has legal protections given by the Yurok Tribe in Northern California. 

Here at Seattle Animal Watch, we advocate for increased legal protections of companion animals. One way we can do this is to develop concepts that promote more rights for our pets, and we can look to the Rights of Nature for ideas. However, any change in the legal standing of animals will be controversial and require vigorous debate.