Standing together for nature
How 20 environmental friends groups are working together to protect the environment
NOW is the time for change – and we are ready for it. This was undoubtedly the message at a recent gathering of more than 20 environmental friends groups from across the Western Cape.
They met at Tygerberg Hills Nature Reserve. For change we need momentum. “And this,” says Cormac Cullinan, author and well-known environmental attorney with a practice in Kenilworth, “is occurring all over the world”.
Cullinan is one of the architects of the international movement ushering in the understanding of the rights of nature. It was at the 2010 World People’s Conference on Climate Change in Bolivia where the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Mother Earth was signed, acknowledging the inherent rights of all other beings. Human rights must be in balance with those of Earth and every human is responsible for respecting and living in harmony with the natural world.
Cullinan compares the mindshift necessary for this to occur with what took place during the years of activism that resulted in the abolition of slavery. Universal human rights were hard won, and now the struggle is on for the rights of nature.
The consequence of thoughtless pillage of nature will cause sufficient destruction of Earth that the fittest survivors (humans) will not have a host from which to live.
Cullinan says the threats of resource depletion, rapid disappearance of species, and the negative effects of human-accelerated climate change has started to change the prevailing world view to one where humans are seen as an inseparable part of the biosphere community.
“Nature will continue to exist long after we are gone, but we cannot exist without nature,” says Cormac. “Laws are needed to regulate human behaviour. The philosophy underpinning environmental law needs a new approach.
“It’s time for organisations that are committed to protecting the environment and to social justice to work together.
“We need to create a powerful movement capable of driving the transformation of our legal, economic and political systems that will be necessary to address the key challenges of the 21st century successfully. Small environmental groups are the bedrock for this. Collaboration of enough people can render the old way of thinking obsolete.”
Cullinan serves on numerous international bodies dedicated to the change, including the International Tribunal for the Rights of Nature. He is currently establishing the Wild Law Institute in South Africa.
Although other speakers at the February 17 event, co-hosted by Wessa (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) and Tygerberg Hills Friends Group, narrowed the focus, the theme of change ran through the day.
There were haunting images of suffering of marine life presented by Hayley McLellan of Two Oceans Aquarium. Every bit of plastic ever made is still on the surface of the Earth. How to forget the image of a team working to relieve a gasping turtle of the full length of a plastic straw embedded, possibly for years, in its nostril? Or birds too weighted down with plastic in their gut to stand?
One wonders about the many creatures not photographed, not assisted by marine warriors.
The problem feels beyond our imaginings and possibly even our capability to rectify. Can humans turn around the tragedy they have created? With her campaign Rethink the Bag, McLellan is an agent of change, fully grasping Cullinan’s call for a new approach to the philosophy underpinning environmental law.
Cullinan’s call for modifying our philosophy and behaviour vis-à-vis nature is reflected in Samantha Bennett’s work at Strategic Waste Solutions.
She adds that green technologies are there to assist the change. Bennett has more ideas than one could dream of when it comes to waste reduction, disposal, storage, use and mitigation.
To reduce air pollution, there are air-purifying roof tiles, energy-harvesting concrete, smog-eating buildings and more.
Out-the-box thinking is available. In the certain knowledge that the old ways are no longer acceptable, it is everyone’s responsibility to embrace the new developments, to seek them out.
With more than 500 plant species, abundant wild life, the care of the only conserved Swartland Shale Renosterveld (338ha rated critically endangered) and numerous hiking trails to husband – all this surrounded by suburbia – Ashton Mouton, Tygerberg Hills reserve manager, says that without co-operation from surrounding neighbours he could not do his job.
Maps down the years dramatically show that human encroachment has diminished the once widespread fynbos now under Mouton’s protection. Without collaboration and redressed environmental laws, it will not be possible to stop 100% encroachment.
“Release the scientist inside,” said Joey Hulbert, founder of Cape Town Citizen Science, a platform for the pubic to participate in reporting what is going on out there – good and bad. With a commitment to collaboration, we can all contribute to a bank of valuable knowledge.
Mea Lashbrooke and Isabel Collett are with Wessa Western Cape.