Rivers are People Too (Regional 1)

Rivers are People Too (Regional 1)

Introduction

New Zealand previously passed the Te Awa Tupua Act, which gives Whanganui River and its surroundings the rights of a person. Soon after, India followed suit and gave Ganges and Humana rivers and their surroundings the same in order to preserve and conserve them. The rivers have suffered human pollution for the longest time. Regardless, these rules leave the question of what does it mean for a river to have the rights of a person? (Regional, p. 1). The central conflict identified from this case is whether it is good to issue a river, the rights of a person and if this will correct the previous mistakes. My solution to this conflict is to raise public awareness of the essence of practicing sustainability.

Argument

I propose that it is right and to give rivers the rights of a person. Rivers have legal rights; they are rights-bearing entities whose rights should be enforced by the local community and individuals in court. However, it is unfortunate that these rights are not recognized in international treaties. It is time that the rights of a river are recognized. The universal rights of a person include the right to food, security, shelter, education, etc. their main focus is to promote the welfare of a person. Obviously, rivers cannot be given rights to education or security, but the whole point is that rivers also have a right to welfare. Therefore, rivers have a right to be protected from anything that interferes with their welfare, such as pollution.

Rivers are said to be “the arteries of the earth” (regional, p. 1). They are the lifelines of humanity, animals, and plants. From the rivers, we get water to drink, to and farm our foods. Some people earn a livelihood through fishing. There are many recreational activities done in rivers. Rivers also have spiritual significance to some communities, such as Indians. One cannot imagine a life without a river. Therefore, a river is a vital feature in the human world, and it protecting them will require extra measures like giving them the rights of a human, then people should support this decision fully.

Rivers have been misused for the longest time. Most industries direct their waste to the rivers. In some areas, and especially the rural areas, it is common to find people washing their vehicles and motorbikes in the river. That means all the oil and waste go to the rivers. This completely affects marine animals. It also affects the plants growing around the river. More importantly, it pollutes the water human beings take. Not taking care of the rivers affects animal and plant life. It the rivers are not taken care of, then global warming will keep rising. Giving the rights of the river for a person makes it easier to stand in a court of law and fight for its rights and even punish people who violate these rights.

Objection and response

My proposal that the rivers should be given the rights of a person may receive objections that giving them such rights limit human use. Such as the construction of dams, generation of hydroelectricity, trapping water fr irrigation, and many others. Others might reason that it does not make sense to give the river such rights because it has no voice of its own to ensure that such rights are upheld or ask for compensation when they are violated. My response is that giving the rivers the rights of a person does not necessarily mean that people stop using the rivers indefinitely. It only means that people ought to avoid any activities that may interfere with the ability of the ecosystem and species to thrive. Also, we should be responsible enough to report people who do not adhere to these rights. The river cannot ask for compensation. We should stand and fight for their rights because we are the primary beneficiaries.

In addition to my response, it is essential to create public awareness of the rights of a river. We all say that water is life and the source of water is rivers. Therefore, the rivers have a right to life. The government, the community, and individuals should work hand in hand to protect the s=rivers from pollution. We should practice sustainability by finding alternative means to dispose of waste instead of directing them to the rivers.