The Rights of Nature: A Global Movement - Feature Documentary

Western views and the legal system tend to view nature as property, and as a resource from which wealth is extracted, a commodity whose only value is to provide for human needs. But for millennia indigenous communities have viewed themselves as part of nature.

As pressures on ecosystems mount and as conventional laws seem increasingly inadequate to address environmental degradation, communities, cities, regions and countries around the world are turning to a new legal strategy known as The Rights of Nature.

This film takes viewers on a journey that explores the more recent origins of this legal concept, and its application and implementation in Ecuador, New Zealand, and the United States. Learn how constitutional reforms adopted in Ecuador have helped recognize nature as a legal entity, and how partnerships between the Māori and the government of New Zealand have led to personhood status for rivers, lakes and forests, and a renewed sense of balance between people and nature. See how the Rights of Nature function in the urban setting of Santa Monica, California.

The film explores the successes and challenges inherent in creating new legal structures that have the potential to maintain and restore ecosystems while achieving a balance between humans and nature.

Original Premiere at DOK.fest Munich, Germany

Additional Screenings
Rachel Carlson Center (Germany)
DOKfest Munich (Germany)
International Earth Trusteeship Gathering (Netherlands)
International Symposium on the Rights of Nature (Ecuador)
FICMA Barcelona Film Festival (Spain)
Envirofilm Bratislava (Slovak Republic)
Reel Earth Film Festival (New Zealand)
FICMA Montevideo (Uruguay)
DOCUTAH (United States)

Producers: Issac Goeckeritz, Hal Crimmel, María Valeria Berros
Writer: Hal Crimmel
Narrator: Shawn Murdock
Editor / Camera: Issac Goeckeritz
Audio Post Engineer: Gerald Hartly

[anandbhushan]

Issac has done a yeoman's service by making this film. In 1885 AD, my great grandfather bought 750 acres of virgin forest, partly hilly, from the King of Patiala in India. Then, Tigers roamed and an 8 acre lake teemed with fish. I have inherited 25 acres with a barren hill, top soil washed away, lake reduced to a pond needing replenishment of water artificially and tigers replaced by domesticated dogs. I have been fighting to to restore it to its pristine state and truly appreciate the impact the film will make for mother nature.

[mikechadid]

How does this have only 15 thousand views and 30 comments?.?? This may be one of the most important videos on youtube

[davidcanatella]

Caring about nature is caring about yourself and all the people you love

[kikinoro]

I cried the whole length of this.... out of hapiness and sadness. One day I will help nature reestablish itself somewhere and create a community where humans work together with nature. I promise!

[nynettesass]

We are part of the natural ecosystem...it is encouraging to see that Mother Nature is legally recognized by several countries....finally. Inspirational.

[wendystopford]

This has literally blown me away. At last a purpose and way of being in a world gone mad is becoming possible again. 💞

[ashleerosecelerian]

This the direction we need to go. Let nature have their own rights. No one should fight ownership over it. Let us be guardians for its protection

[DrTHC]

This documentary needs to be seen by nearly all of us in Alaska, ASAP. To inspire environmentalists, to inform naysayers, to seek the fundamental ethical ways we should be treating our home. All of these are needed, so that we can do whatever it takes to restore and protect Alaska's natural balance. We must inspire, teach, and live with respect for Nature.

[karenmorin]

This is the knowledge that should be shown and taught in all schools

[hArtyTruffle]

I’ve always thought ownership of land and exploitation of it is not right. This is good news. I hope it really does take a hold globally. Bless the guardians ✨❤️❤️❤️✨

[SwiftPushkar]

I think Rights of Nature should be a subject to introduce in schools worldwide. Great eye opening documentary.

[chrilin]

Well done Ecuador for introducing natures rights into your constitution first 👏

[granthlevy]

wish there was a transcript to make my school assignment on this easier

[woocheongan]

We are part of nature, and nature provides space for all species, including humans, to survive and thrive. Humans need to live in harmony with nature, and I hope everyone can cherish nature and protect the environment.

[pawshands]

Indigenous voices must be heard. Our genetic understanding of this planet must be heard.

[irenesorina]

Perhaps we incorporate school curriculum on taking care of our nature so the next generation of this children should learn to respect nature as they grow.

[synappticuser]

This documentary so needs to be taught worldwide. We all need to see this and learn this and live it's truth.

[tomjohn]

In todays environment, mining companies, developers and their owners, executives must be held criminally responsible for any and all environmental damages and for restoring the land, and water, and no one should own more than the house they designate as their primary residence, no one should ever be taxed out of their home, or off their prosperity, there should never be rental apartments that allows owners to raise rents beyond the renters ability to afford, and I completely agree with this documentary’, protecting nature rights should always be paramount.

The indigenous people of North America, did not understand private land ownership, the land belonged to nature and the animals, thus they never took lightly anything that effected the land, always taking into account how future generations would be affect.

Only corporation and those who saw themselves as superior to others, created private ownership to exploit the land and natural resources. This ideology, fundamental to capitalism must change, the wealthy, do not own this planet, nor the religious or whoever, if anything, depending on one ideology, and views, nature or God owns this earth and we are nothing but stewards, and thus it’s caretakers, preserving it for future generations, animals, to include all oceans and sea life.

Nature, like god, does not discriminate, as earths environments or biosphere goes, so will all life…

[paulforan]

I’ve been watching videos because I don’t sleep well at night and I’m feeling hopeful instead of hopeless about the future of us all 😊

[lydiaprimavera]

This brings me Hope! Since the day I was born I could never ever have believed anything else! Why does it have to take so long for the human animal to know this when they already should? When is the United States going to make amends and pay restitution for doing the same thing to our indigenous peoples and the land? We can all live, love and protect this right by our individual choices. Choose the next Right Thing!

Rudolf Steiner presents a notion of science that says we can know things that go beyond what we can weight, measure, and calculate. Science is the practice of observing phenomena and relating them in a way that correctly represents the phenomena’s reality. Agricultural judgments about health, what to do where, and when to do what, best succeed when we begin to rely on a certain wisdom gained through observation and experience and when we perceive consciously and concretely the phenomena that induce life itself.

*Spirituality is just science we don’t understand yet✨