From the 6th to the 8th of October, Portal Mãe Mirra was present at the 2nd National Forum for the Rights of Nature, in Ilhéus, whose objectives were to discuss the importance of rescuing ways of life in harmony with other beings and biomes and encouraging organs federal, state and municipal governments to establish social, political and economic laws and practices that recognize Nature as a subject of rights. The first day of the meeting was held in Aldeia Tukun, of the Tupinambá People of Olivença, and was initiated in the energy of the Poransym Ritual, echoing multiple songs and prayers, asking permission to step on the sacred ground, honoring the ancestors, the elders, the matriarchs and the great Spirit. This opening mystique ends with chief Ramon Tupinambá highlighting that
“Despite the evil and cruelty, we are here, resisting, believing that our planet can be different, based on the practices of each one of us.”
Afterwards, conversation circles promoted the exchange of knowledge between indigenous and traditional communities, the government, members of academia and civil society. One of the highlighted themes was the right of people to demarcate their territories and remain in their traditional places – where 80% of the planet's biodiversity is found, according to global studies. The urgency for the recognition of these understandings by the invading peoples was expressed warmly and insistently. Acting is necessary. Listen, change, transform, co-create a future of harmonious, loving, peaceful and respectful coexistence with Mother Nature. Act collectively, abandoning small differences and uniting people and communities for the great common purpose: life.
The circular sharing of the leaders of the peoples and communities that are guardians of the Earth was intensely marked by a feeling of unity. As chief Valdelice of the Tupinambá de Olivença people pointed out: “A stick breaks, a beam is more difficult [to break]. We are a bundle!” The idea that we are one people, one community, one Nature, which is unified by caring for Mother Earth, echoed in a resilient and sensitive way, in a single sound. Listening to build bridges was used as a link between people and unity for action. This was the principle that guided the work of the National Articulation for the Rights of Nature/Mother Earth in organizing the event. In the words of Vanessa Hasson, from Articulação: “It’s about building bridges. Bridges that begin with the mixing of our blood and can reach the entire planet. This is our commitment.”
Thus, the morning of October 6th continued in the spirit of communion, sharing and listening to a lunch prepared by cooks from the Tupinambá de Olivença village which, filled with affection, was able to nourish our bodies to continue dialoguing. The moment was shared by a bath in the River that coexists with the village, refreshing bodies, minds and spirits. Then, there was a second circle moment, where listening to complaints and experiences of resistance and struggle were shared, showing, based on the particularities of each group, great understandings that converged on a common objective: thinking about resistance and change in harmony with Nature.
The second day of the event took place at UESC – State University of Santa Cruz, where state deputies and councilors who have already proposed laws in their municipalities were represented or in person and were able to share their experiences and challenges. There was also a UN speech on behalf of the global program “Harmony with Nature”, in addition to workshops and cultural presentations.
With increasing reports of environmental crimes and environmental degradation, legislation and judicial decisions are being reviewed to guarantee the rights of Nature – as well as those of human beings – reversing the anthropocentric logic that allows the exploitation of natural resources and a series of destructive changes. without taking into account its ecological function of maintaining life and meeting the demands of society as a whole, especially the most vulnerable populations, such as indigenous people, quilombolas and riverside communities. The discussion is already taking place in several countries around the world due to the worsening of extreme climate change events, which have caused suffering and death for many people and systems. Seeking the rights of Nature – Mother Earth, as indigenous peoples call and treat her, is essential so that we can avoid the path we have been following so far as humanity, which is the destruction of living conditions on planet Earth.
The first edition of the forum took place in 2018, in São Paulo, and marked the approval of the first law to recognize the rights of Nature in Brazil, in the municipality of Bonito, in Pernambuco, boosting important achievements in the following years in other regions of the country , such as Pau D ́alho, Florianópolis, Cerro and, finally, Guajaramirim.
The event is an initiative of the National Articulation for the Rights of Nature – Mãe Terra, in partnership with the NGO Mapas, the Pastoral Land Commission, the Pastoral Committee of Fishermen, Aldeia Tukun, the State University of Santa Cruz, the Indigenous Council Missionary and Cáritas, with support from the NGO International Rivers.
Complete coverage of the two-day event is available in two volumes of the official Newsletter of the 2nd Brazilian Forum on the Rights of Nature:
