In-person panel event In Montréal, Canada.
(A recording will be made available and shared after the event)
Venue: Hôtel ZERO 1, 1 René-Lévesque Est, Montréal, QC H2X 3Z5
Time: 14.30 - 16:00 (Local time Montréal)
Host: Stop Ecocidio
At this time of environmental and human crisis, recognizing that Nature - Mother Earth - is a living being made up of numerous ecosystems and with rights is essential to stop the devastation and exploitation to which she is being subjected.
The inclusion of these rights - both at constitutional level and in national and international laws, agreements and pacts - opens up egal pathways to create alternatives to the ongoing danger of biodiversity loss and climate change, through binding processes in different sections of society, triggering a paradigm shift from anthropocentrism to eco-centrism.
At the same time, it is also vital to move towards the recognition of Ecocide as an international crime, since protecting the future of life on Earth necessarily implies stopping the massive damage and destruction of ecosystems that is taking place around the world. At present, in most parts of our planet, no-one is held accountable for this damage and the time has come to change the rules.
The introduction of Ecocide as the fifth crime against peace and world security under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court will make serious damage to nature both legally and ethically unacceptable to the international community.
As we will see in the deliberations of this panel, giving rights to nature and establishing an international ecocide law for its protection are two sides of the same coin and progress on both issues will be examined and discussed.
Speakers:
Verónica Sacta
Ecuadorian-Mexican activist, is currently Stop Ecocide Americas Coordinator. Co-founder of the international movement Rights of Mother Earth-Nature and of the Latin American Sustainable Settlements Council. Ambassador of the Global Ecovillage Network and awarded with the Peace Prize Mexico-2021. Expert of the Harmony with Nature Program of the UN.
Rainbow Eyes
Rainbow Eyes is a member of the Da'naxda'xw/Awaetlala First Nation with traditional Territory of Knight Inlet (British Columbia, Canada). A trained Land Guardian who worked for 4 years in Knight Inlet. After hearing the call of the forest She went to the Fairy Creek blockade where her life was forever changed by the forest and community. Through Fairy Creek Elders she met the Interm Leader of the Green Party Amita Kuttner and was asked to be Deputy Leader/Ooh-mah Ah-nise of the Federal Green Party. Following the path of Spirit to bring the energy of the Forest and the voice of her people into the colonial Canandian government system.
Maite Mompó
Spanish Director, Stop Ecocidio
Director of Stop Ecocidio, with a degree in Law, specialising in Ecological Ethics, Sustainability and Environmental Education. Maite has spent many years giving talks and lectures and developing environmental awareness projects and has a long history working in human rights, peace and environment, in direct collaboration with several International NGOs.
Alexandre Boulerice has been fighting against social and environmental injustices since he became an MP ten years ago. In addition to serving as deputy leader of the party, Alexandre has been the New Democratic Party's spokesperson on a number of issues, including tax justice, the environment, and now workers' rights.
A proud Quebecer, he is a straight talker and remains determined to make the voice of Quebec's progressive movement heard. He is fighting for a radical transformation of our society through a true energy transition and an improved social safety net.
Diego Pacheco
Diego Pacheco, current Director of Geopolitics of Good Living and Foreign Policy, is the head of the Bolivian delegation to the COP15 on Biodiversity being held in Montreal and was also the country's representative at the last COPs on Climate Change. Appointed Vice Minister of Planning and Coordination, during the last decade, he has been a senior advisor to the Government of Bolivia in the Ministry of Development Planning, the Ministry of Rural Development and Land, the Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy, and the Ministry of the Presidency. Since 2010, he has been Rector of the Universidad de la Cordillera, Bolivia.
Moderator:
Faith for Ecocide Law, End Ecocide Sweden
An ecologist who works with relational, systemic activism, change processes and leadership för a society in harmony with nature. Expert in the UN Harmony with Nature initiative and co-founder of Swedish Transition Network, End Ecocide Sweden, Save the Rainforest Sweden and coordinator of the first Rights of Nature Conferences in Sweden