What images come to mind when you think of human rights? Pictures of torture, unjust detention, police brutality, political persecution? Or do you think about climate change? What about when you think of the environmental movement? Do you picture oceans, forests, whales, butterflies? Or do you think about people?
Although the environmental and human rights movements are sometimes perceived as two different things - especially in many developed countries like the United States - in much of the world they are closely intertwined.
Environment is Life: Voices of Human Rights Activists from Around the World celebrates Earth Day 2009 by bringing you stories from Ecuador, Jamaica, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania and more.
The interviews were recorded in March 2009 at the annual meeting of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide in Eugene, Oregon.

HUMAN RIGHTS & THE ENVIRONMENT

So what are the actual provisions in human rights law that guarantee the human right to a safe and healthy environment?  From our friends at the People's Movement for Human Rights Education (PDHRE), here's a great overview:

"We are deeply convinced that economic development, social development and environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development, which is the framework for our efforts to achieve a higher quality of life for all people."

"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for ... health and well-being...."

-Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Excerpts from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (No. 169) all discuss the enviroment.

FULL INTERVIEWS

Week 12: Tim Ream, USA

Week 11: Pablo Fajardo, Ecuador

Week 10: Svitlana Kravchenko & John Bonine, 

Week 9: Diana Mewerimbe, Papua New Guinea

Week 8: Danielle Andrade, Jamaica

Week 7: Rugemeleza Nshala, Tanzania 

Week 6: Fernando Ochoa Pineda, Mexico 

Week 5: Diana McCaulay, Jamaica

Week 4: Maria Bisquera, Philippines

Week 3: Yersil Sanchez, Panama

Week 2: Maurice Makoloo, Kenya

Week 1: Theiva Lingam, Malaysia

GROUPS WORKING ON THE ISSUE...

● Center for International Environmental Law,  a nonprofit organization that uses international law and institutions to protect the environment, promote human health, and ensure a just and sustainable society

● Environment and Human Rights Advisory, a non-profit that provides information and analysis services to environmental organizations and government agencies.

● Earth Rights International, a non-profit that combines the power of people in defense of human rights and the environment

RELATED ACTIVISM

● Water as a Human Right?  Access to clean water is not always a given, whether it is restricted by pollution or corporate control. 

● Shell On Trial Oil corporations have been polluting for decades.  This landmark trial against Shell Oil demonstrates some of the pressing issues surrounding environmental degradation and human rights abuses when it comes to oil extraction.

● tcktcktck.com The ‘tck tck tck' campaign aims to organize mass public support for
a fair and equitable outcome at the UN's Framework Convention on
Climate Change (COP 15) in Copenhagen, December 2009.