Wild Law (book)

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Wild Law
Author Cormac Cullinan
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Publisher Green Books
Publication date November 2003
Media type Print (Paperback)
Pages 224p
ISBN 1-9039998-35-2

Wild Law: A Manifesto for Earth Justice is a book by Cormac Cullinan that proposes recognizing natural communities and ecosystems as legal persons with legal rights. The book explains the concept of wild law, that is, human laws that are consistent with earth jurisprudence.[1] Foreworded by Thomas Berry, the book was published by Green Books in November 2003 in association with The Gaia Foundation, London. It was first published in August 2002 by Siber Ink.[2]

The feasibility of developing a new form of jurisprudence was discussed at a conference in Washington attended by Thomas Berry in April 2001, organised by the Gaia Foundation. A group of people involved with law and indigenous peoples attended from South Africa, Britain, Colombia, Canada and the United States.[3]

A conference based on the concept of wild law was held in November 2005 at the University of Brighton. The conference was chaired by former Environment Minister Michael Meacher MP and speakers included Jacqueline McGlade, head of the European Environment Agency and Lynda Warren of the Environment Agency.[4]

The Tamaqua Borough Sewage Sludge Ordinance enacted in 2006 by the 7,000 inhabits of the community of Tamaqua, PA is based on the 2002 ideas set out in Wild Law and has been viewed potentially as one of the most important events of 2006.[5] Tamaqua's ordinance not only denies the right of corporations to spread sewage sludge as fertilizer on farmland, even when the farmer is willing, the ordinance recognizes natural communities and ecosystems as legal persons with legal rights.[5] This ordinance is among the first " wild laws" to be passed anywhere in the world.[5]

Wild Law was discussed in April 2007 at a conference on the emerging field of Earth Jurisprudence.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Discovering the meaning of Earth jurisprudence, Legalbrief, August 27, 2002, <http://www.legalbrief.co.za/article.php?story=2002082769459999> 
  2. ^ Temkin, Sanchia. October 21, 2002. Business Day (South Africa) Changing out approach to earth governance.
  3. ^ Mike Bell (2003). "Thomas Berry and an Earth Jurisprudence: An Exploratory Essay" ([dead link] – Scholar search) 19 (1). The Trumpeter. 
  4. ^ Former Environment Minister leads debate on 'Wild Law', University of Brighton, 14 November, 2005, <http://www.brighton.ac.uk/news/2005/051114wildlaw.php?PageId=825> 
  5. ^ a b c Cameron, Silver Donald. January 11, 2007. Rachel's Environment & Health News. When does a tree have rights? Issue 889.
  6. ^ Miami Herald April 19, 2007. Earth Jurisprudence Section: NC; Page 10.

[edit] General

[edit] External links