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The goal of this contribution is to provide an overview of the conceptual connections between the constructs of human rights, sustainability, and democracy, emphasizing the historically significant role of human dignity. This overview serves as an overarching introduction to the students’ articles in Chapter One, which explore selected relationships between these concepts. One main assumption of this overview is that the concept of human dignity is central to the institution of human rights, and human rights are instrumental in ensuring human dignity. Another key assumption relates to democracy, which is viewed as the framework for shaping human dignity, human rights, and sustainability. This article first focuses on the relationship between sustainability and democracy. It then analyzes the links between human dignity and human rights, followed by a discussion on the connections between human dignity and sustainability, and between human rights and sustainability. Finally, it concludes with an examination of the triangle formed by human dignity, human rights, and sustainability within the context of democracy, emphasizing the crucial roles of human agency and the rights of nature. Clarifying these links is essential for future empirical research to develop specific practical recommendations for sustainability transformation, including human rights, within a democratic context.
Already more than 50 years ago, against the backdrop of the "earth science" findings of the time, voices could be heard in the legal literature expressing concern about the planet's carrying capacity, calling for consistent political rethinking and action and explicitly questioning consumer behavior and the ongoing pursuit of economic growth. The realization that the limits of environmental resources must be respected, and that growth must be shaped effectively within this framework has therefore been omnipresent not only since the "Our Common Future" report by the "World Commission on Environment and Development", or "Brundtland Commission" for short, in 1987 (United Nations General Assembly, 1987). Nevertheless, the current planetary status quo shows that the era of environmentally friendly economic development has by no means been effectively ushered in since then; on the contrary, implementation deficits or a lack of effectiveness of environmental protection measures against the excessive use of ecological resources are to be deplored. The demand for an ecological transformation of society is one of the most urgent on the political agenda and continues then as now, albeit partly with new terminology, at the level of jurisprudence: Currently, it is discussions about intertemporal freedom rights, nature's own rights and the greening of law that dominate the picture. However, the demand for ecologically oriented protection of fundamental rights is not new: the idea of protecting nature from excessive human behavior - also with a view to the generations of tomorrow and their chances of realizing a life in freedom in the future - is reflected not least in the precautionary principle, which is internationally recognized as a legal principle. Its ecological potential will be briefly explored below, culminating in an overview of constitutional tendencies towards an ecologically oriented protection of fundamental rights from a German perspective. This overview at the same time serves as an introduction for selected legal, ethical and social aspects of case studies in Latin America done by students in the context of a Human Rights interdisciplinary seminar in Wintersemester 2023/2024.
When we want to understand why the laws of nature and nature itself are currently in such bad condition, we need to look at our way of seeing the world. When we want to stop the rapid deforestation, climate change, mass extinction, and other catastrophic impacts we have on our environment, we need to figure out at what time and why they started. There are fundamental differences between an anthropocentric worldview, where humans are above all other species, and an animist worldview, where humans are a part of nature. Due to people acting accordingly to their perception of the world, we need to understand why these perceptions differentiate so much and why people from the imperial core, respectively, the exploiting countries, think in a hierarchical pattern. Our disconnectedness from nature has reached a shocking extent. People living in big cities see nothing but concrete and cars; the plants they have in their homes are made out of plastic; and the only time they see animals is when they go to a zoo, where they are crammed in little enclosures and alienated from their natural habitat. Children growing up these days spend more time watching ads on TV or social media than they spend in nature. No wonder that many people know more brands than tree species, despite the fact that just one of those two keeps them alive. It is high time to question this development and to ask ourselves how we ended up here. Interestingly, there are still elements of a human-nature relationship visible in our modern capitalist society. Some people see their dog or cat as part of the family and talk to them; others care for plants as well as they do for their own children. And even in movies, a world is a portrait where the birds talk to the people and plants are alive. Therefore, the idea of nature being alive rather than just some material resource still prevails in our subconscious and in our fantasy to this day. The first part of this paper portrays our current perspective on nature and how it developed. From Plato’s Allegory of the Cave to the scientific revolution initiated by Francis Bacon and the dualism founded by Descartes, many theories influenced our perception of the world. The term Anthropocene is widespread, but it is rarely discussed or narrowed down when used. It will be discussed and elaborated on how the rise of capitalism is related to the accelerating exploitation of nature. The second part is about defining animism, the initial view of humans as a part of nature, which is still prevalent in indigenous culture. Cartesian dualism will be challenged, and other philosophical theories will be examined. The concept and theory of ecological feminism are going to be introduced, and the underlying analyses will be conducted in the context of animism. Our perception of nature will be debunked, and strong advocacy will be made for a more sustainable human-nature relationship.
The following collection of manuscripts emerged from an interdisciplinary virtual exchange held during the Winter semester of 2023/2024 at the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld, organized by Prof. Dr. Milena Valeva and Prof. Dr. Kathrin Nitschmann. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Héctor Bombiella Medina, a lecturer of anthropology in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Iowa State University, contributed to the virtual exchange and supervised case studies 3 and 4, bringing his extensive experience in this field and facilitating the international exchange. Within the elective module on Human Rights, students from the Bachelor's programs "Nonprofit and NGO Management" and "Environmental and Business Law," as well as the Master's program "Energy and Corporate Law," explored the interconnections between human rights and sustainability.
In an era marked by unprecedented environmental challenges and profound social transformations, the intersection of human rights and the rights of nature has emerged as a critical area of inquiry and debate. Today, as we face the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, the traditional boundaries between human and environmental rights are increasingly blurred. This confluence demands a fresh, interdisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing the complex and interrelated issues at hand. Human rights, fundamental to the dignity and freedom of individuals, are deeply impacted by environmental degradation. Communities worldwide are experiencing firsthand the devastating effects of polluted air, contaminated water, and deforested landscapes, all of which undermine basic human rights to health, livelihood, and well-being. Conversely, recognizing the rights of nature — the intrinsic value of ecosystems and species — challenges us to reconsider our legal, ethical, and philosophical frameworks. It calls for a paradigm shift from a view to one that embraces the interconnectedness of all life forms. Engaging in robust discussions and research on these topics is essential in today's context. By exploring interdisciplinary perspectives, we can forge innovative solutions that honor both the rights of individuals and the integrity of nature. This special issue aims to contribute to this vital discourse, providing insights and fostering dialogue on how we can collectively navigate the complex landscape of human rights and environmental sustainability.
The first chapter „Human rights and SDGs in the context of democracy“ examines the significance of international human rights in today's context and links them to new value systems like sustainability. The second chapter, the case study „Rights of Nature“ explores the concept of granting legal rights to nature itself by comparing laws from various countries to show how it combats environmental exploitation. The third chapter, the case study „Traditional coca leaf consumption and drug trafficking in Colombia“ delves into the complex issues surrounding coca cultivation in Colombia, highlighting its economic, social, and political impacts. The fourth chapter, the case study „The artisanal fishing community of Chorrillos, Peru“ aims to provide theoretical insights and recommendations for improving the livelihoods of artisanal fishing communities in Peru, considering legal, ethical, and environmental perspectives as well as how economic liberalization, privatization, and deregulation affect the community's socio-economic conditions.
Content:
CHAPTER 1 - Conceptual: Human rights and SDGs in the context of democracy
Milena Valeva:
From Human Dignity and Human Rights to Sustainability within the context of Democracy
Yannick Sebastian Wagner:
The relationship between the SDGs, human rights, and Catholicism in the United States, on health-related issues
Christine Wetter:
Comparison of Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goals
Jacob Mayer:
The challenges and opportunities of liberal democracies in promoting international value systems
Pauline Nicolay:
Effective conflict resolution through ADRs: opportunities, challenges and applications in different contexts
CHAPTER 2 - Case Study: Rights of Nature
Kathrin Nitschmann:
Ecology and the protection of fundamental rights: status quo and development potential in the light of the precautionary principle"
Johannes Hagemann:
Decoding the Environmental Crisis: A Historical Analysis of Human-Nature Relationships
Sahar Mallak:
Rights for Nature in selected states
Nergiz Dogan:
Rights for Nature in Germany
CHAPTER 3 - Case Study: Traditional coca leaf consumption and drug trafficking in Colombia
Héctor Andrés Bombiella Medina:
Prologue
Cara-Maxine Heyd:
Affected Human Rights by the destruction of coca plantations
Maxi-Mercedes Jahn:
Glyphosat[e] use in line with the peace policy Colombia
Daniel Förster:
Coca Cultivation in Colombian Economy – Considering the 2007 US-Colombian Free Trade Agreement
CHAPTER 4 - Case Study: The artisanal fishing community of Chorrillos Peru
Dorothea Hensing:
Artisanal fisheries in circumstances with political framework and comanagement
Nina Giordano:
Traditional ecological knowledge – a key element of sustainable development
Yasmin Krami:
Strategy to promote the Human Right to an adequate standard of living for Peruvian artisanal fishers according to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
This article discusses ethics in times of pandemic crisis (COVID-19) taking into consideration the sustainability paradigm. Two related ethical approaches are discussed and contrasted. On the one hand, the relational embodied ethics of the commons is discussed in the background of the pandemic of COVID-19. On the other hand, "lifeboat ethics" is interpreted in considering the pandemic situation. The main goal of the article is to compare the two ethical approaches as a way of dealing with our shared predicament in times of a pandemic, a state of exception, and based on that, to additionally derive conclusions about their application in further crises in the Anthropocene, whereby the primacy of sustainability is presumed.