Work

The birth of an earth being: ‘Rights of nature’ in Brazilian Amazonia and elsewhere

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In June 2023, the Laje River, located in the traditional territory of the Wari’ Indigenous people in Rondônia, Brazil, was declared a legal entity, an earth being , with rights, following the co‐ordinated action of an indigenous councillor and non‐indigenous activists. This made the Laje the first river in Brazilian Amazonia to attain such a legal status. In this article, I explore the different conceptions of earth being that characterize, on one hand, the indigenous perspective, and, on the other, the perspective of the non‐indigenous actors involved in the legislative process. Similar cases in South America and New Zealand are compared, seeking a broader understanding of the equivocations that arise in the encounter between societies that accept instability and the possibility of an alternation between ontologies as positive factors and those societies more oriented towards dogmatism and a unity of perspectives.

Source: Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute

Author: Aparecida Vilaça

Institution: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Language: English

Topic: Environmental law and policy

Subfield: Law

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,120

Funders: University of Cambridge, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro