David R. Boyd, "The Rights of Nature: A Legal Revolution That Could Save the World" (ECW Press, 2017)
Palila v Hawaii. New Zealand\u2019s\xa0Te Urewera Act.\xa0Sierra Club v Disney. These legal phrases hardly sound like the makings of a revolution, but beyond the headlines portending environmental catastrophes, a movement of immense import has been building \u2015 in courtrooms, legislatures, and communities across the globe. Cultures and laws are transforming to provide a powerful new approach to protecting the planet and the species with whom we share it.\nLawyers from California to New York are fighting to gain legal rights for chimpanzees and killer whales, and lawmakers are ending the era of keeping these intelligent animals in captivity. In Hawaii and India, judges have recognized that endangered species \u2015 from birds to lions \u2015 have the legal right to exist. Around the world, more and more laws are being passed recognizing that ecosystems \u2015 rivers, forests, mountains, and more \u2015 have legally enforceable rights. And if nature has rights, then humans have responsibilities.\nIn\xa0The Rights of Nature: A Legal Revolution That Could Save the World\xa0(ECW Press, 2017), noted environmental lawyer David Boyd tells this remarkable story, which is, at its heart, one of humans as a species finally growing up. Read this book and your world view will be altered forever.\nDavid R. Boyd is an environmental lawyer, professor, and advocate for recognition of the right to live in a healthy environment. Boyd is the award-winning author of eight books, including\xa0The Optimistic Environmentalist, and co-chaired Vancouver\u2019s Greenest City initiative with Mayor Gregor Robertson. He lives on Pender Island, B.C. For more information, visit DavidRichardBoyd.com.\nMark Molloy is the reviews editor at\xa0MAKE: A Literary Magazine.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\nSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/law