On April 20th of this year, the United Nations held a webcast interactive dialogue on the subject of "Harmony with Nature". This was in response to Bolivia's groundbreaking passage of their new law" Recognizing Mother Earth as a living entity and giving her the Same Rights as Humans". They agreed to work on adopting this philosophy worldwide and the day also ended in a surprising emergency call to action where the Indigenous, kids, renewable energy, and teamwork play key roles in the effort to stop our current path toward extinction.

The UN participants urged a shift from an economic system that regards nature as an exploitable commodity to one that respects the Earth and it's intrinsic values. They also agreed that solving the world's current problems will takes spiritual solutions. In order to do this they discussed the need for the Indigenous Peoples to share their wealth of ancient knowledge. This knowledge is based on the beliefs that human beings are an interconnected part of Nature and that man must only take what is needed. This is necessary in order to preserve a balance with nature and ensure a sustainable world for future generations

They also discussed that a view of environmental, social and economic well-being is indeed the only way to truly sustainable development". A combination of Earth rights and Keynesian economics was suggested as a feasible solution to end the down hill spiral that the world is currently in. A green job mobilization was mentioned as a way to repair the world's national and Global Security. The current model of domination at any cost to humanity and nature is not sustainable for the future. This model is not scientifically based because the economic indicators are not connected to Earth's "natural capital" and is doomed in the long run.

Fortunately the United Nations is not alone in it's thinking. Other important world leaders are also coming to the realization that a major shift in world view and actions is needed. In May, Pope Benedict's Pontifical Academy of Sciences came to the same conclusion. It was because of new evidence found by his 80 international scientists of diverse faiths, that global warming is increasing much faster than expected. The German Pontiff (known as the "Green Pope") made a bold "call to action for all people in all nations: "If we as inhabitants want to ensure our rights to daily bread, fresh air to breathe and clean water to drink, and want justice and peace, we need to protect the habitat that sustains us."
The Pope is responsible for switching to solar energy at the Vatican and he has urged everyone to help reduce the cause of climate change.

The way to do this is to switch from fossil fuels and nuclear energy to renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar and water. The Germans and Swiss have made the commitment to follow Sweden in shutting down nuclear reactors and to shift to renewable sources of energy. Thousands of protesters in India and Japan have led the shift from nuclear to renewables in Asia. Thanks also to the Germans for reducing oil needs and smog by inventing the "Most Economic Car in the World." Volkswagen's Aero car gets 258 miles per gallon at speeds of 74 mph and goes on sale next year.

The world is now realizing that we really are a global community and that in order to stop our world from total destruction by mankind we are all going to have to join together and make a global shift in thinking. Thanks to all those mentioned above as the leaders in this shift of thinking, we just might have a chance in reversing the damage we have already done before it is too late.

Once again the small and extremely poor South American country, Bolivia, is leading the way in world reform, this time to help reduce environmental destruction. In 2005 Bolivia elected it's first indigenous president, Evo Morales who is an outspoken champion for environmental protection. He has petitioned for substantive change for his country and at the United Nations.

Believing that the existing laws were not strong enough, President Morale led his country to develop the Law of Mother Earth which will grant nature the same rights and protections as humans. This new law has as it's foundation several of the tenets of indigenous belief, including that humans are equal to all other entities. Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca has been quoted as saying "Our grandparents taught us that we belong to a big family of plants and animals. We believe that everything in the planet forms part of a big family. We indigenous people can contribute to solving the energy, climate, food and financial crises with our values."

The new legislation will give the government new legal powers to monitor and control industry in the country. It will allow the government to regulate industry at national, regional and local levels. The law also redefines natural resources as blessings and allows the same rights to nature as to human beings, including: the right to life and to exist; the right to continue vital cycles and processes free from human alteration; the right to pure water and clean air; the right to balance; the right not to be polluted; and the right to not have cellular structure modified or genetically altered. There is also the right "to not be affected by mega-infrastructure and development projects that affect the balance of ecosystems and the local inhabitant communities".

Along with this new legislation, Bolivia will be establishing a Ministry of Mother Earth. Few details are available yet as to how the legislation will be implemented. Bolivia will have to balance these environmental changes against industries, like mining, which is a major contributor to the country's GDP.

Although the road ahead will not be an easy one, the eyes of the world will be on Bolivia. Bolivia's successes or failures with the implementation of the Law of Mother Earth may well lead the way for development of policies from other countries around the world.

We have all heard the horror stories and seen the pictures of how circus animals are treated so badly. They are forced to perform unnatural acts for the sheer entertainment of humans. And violence and force is often used to train them. This is vividly portrayed in the current movie "Water for Elephants".

Although other countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses, Bolivia has taken the groundbreaking step of banning all wild and domestic animals from circuses. A law was proposed by sponsor Ximena Flores in Bolivia after an undercover investigation by the nonprofit-making London-based group Animal Defenders International (ADI). This organization had found widespread abuse in circuses operating in Bolivia.

The law states that the use of animals in circuses "constitutes an act of cruelty", and it took effect on July 1st with circus operators being given a year to comply. Ximena Flores commented that Bolivian authorities have a goal of stopping circus operators from the practice of killing the animals they can no longer use. Currently there are about 50 animals that are performing in the national and international circuses in Bolivia.

Hats off to Bolivia in leading the way in the world to make sure that the abuse of circus animals is stopped in their country. It is now up to the rest of the world to take a hard look at this problem and to take their own steps to eliminate the pain and suffering of circus animals in their own countries. There will come a day, hopefully soon, when more people will become aware and this issue will become a thing of the past.