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Interactive Dialogue of the U.N. General Assembly
On Harmony with Nature
“Towards achieving sustainable development goals including
addressing climate change in the post‐2015 Development Agenda”
27 April 2015, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
U.N. Secretariat Building, New York City, NY, USA
Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature1
On behalf of The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature thank you for the opportunity to submit
these comments. We agree with President of the General Assembly H.E. Sam K. Kutesa’s opening
statement that “the development path we have taken over the last decades has imposed a heavy
cost on our planet, leading to serious environment degradation, among other consequences.”
And “The economic, social and environmental challenges our world is facing today are
inextricably linked. To address these interconnected challenges, we have to adopt a post-2015
development agenda that is holistic in nature.” Embracing the fundamental concept of Living In
Harmony with Nature requires us to 1) acknowledge that we are one Earth Community and 2)
realign the systems that govern how we relate to each other and our planet accordingly.
The Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature is a global network of organizations and individuals
from six continents who are committed to creating human communities that respect and defend
the Rights of Nature. The Alliance is based on Four Principles that express the key elements of
our shared worldview and the commitment to work together in solidarity in a manner that is
consistent with our beliefs and strengthens our connection with the Earth community. We
present these principles to the dialogue with the recognition that they are aligned with many of
the tenets presented during the 2015 General Assembly Interactive Dialogue on Harmony With
Nature:
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Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, Online: <http://therightsofnature.org/ >
UN Dialogue on Harmony with Nature Statement
Global Alliance for The Rights of Nature
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•
As members of an indivisible, living community of interrelated and interdependent beings we
each have a responsibility to contribute to the health and integrity of the whole Earth
community.
•
In order to achieve our vision of societies that flourish in harmony with other beings, are
socially just and spiritually fulfilling, we must recognize, respect and defend the rights of all
beings.
•
We will work in solidarity with one another to promote the recognition by all people that all
beings are subjects with rights, to ensure that humans respect and uphold those rights, and
to defend the rights of all beings.
•
We will integrate practices and rituals into our work that strengthen our connection to, and
respect for, the Earth community and that evoke gratitude and humility regarding our place
within it.
To adopt a “post-2015 agenda that is holistic in nature”, we must embrace and advance
sustainable development goals and economic approaches that support an ethical relationship
between humanity and the Earth. Social, economic and legal systems must reflect and respect
the interdependency of humanity and the Earth – including the rights of all members of our Earth
community – in order to implement a bona fide approach toward a sustainable Earth Community
living in harmony with nature.
Thank you again for this opportunity to provide a statement. We look forward to working with
you to set a clear path, supported by ethical economics aligned with rights of nature, to achieve
the well-being of all humanity and Mother Earth.
Sincerely,
Robin Milam
UN Dialogue on Harmony with Nature Statement
Global Alliance for The Rights of Nature
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