TED Talks Daily Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humans | Kelsey Leonard
Dec 23, 2020
In this insightful talk, Kelsey Leonard, a legal scholar from the Shinnecock Nation, explores the urgent need to grant lakes and rivers legal personhood. She argues that viewing water as a living relative can transform our relationship with this essential resource. Leonard also highlights global water injustices, emphasizing the disparities faced by Indigenous communities in accessing safe water. By advocating for rights similar to those of corporations, she calls for a fundamental shift in how we value and protect our waterways, framing them as vital allies in our survival.
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Global Water Crises
- Kelsey Leonard mentions Cape Town's 2018 water restrictions and Chennai's water delivery struggles.
- She highlights the ongoing water crises in Flint, Michigan, and several First Nations communities.
Water Injustice and Race
- In the US, race is the strongest predictor of water access, with Native Americans facing the most significant issues.
- Leonard connects these injustices to the Western legal system's failure to recognize water's personhood.
Corporate Personhood vs. Nature's Rights
- Corporations, like in Citizens United and Hobby Lobby cases, have been granted legal personhood.
- Leonard questions granting this status to corporations but not to nature, highlighting a moral inconsistency.