Earth’s Bounty
Mother Earth’s bounty makes it possible for her inhabitants to thrive and aspire to peace. For this gift to be realized, however, we have a sacred duty to respect Earth’s biological limits. When we do, we sustain life and assure Earth’s endowment to us now and for future generations.
When competition and greed push us beyond Earth’s capacity, we threaten the web of life and jeopardize our well being.
The Leap Manifesto is a call for a Canada based on caring for the Earth and one another.
Earth Law
We have developed laws to protect the sanctity of life. Laws are simply the rules of the game.
Earth itself has no voice. It is our sacred duty, as trustees of Earth, to advocate for the planet in our courts.
At present , our laws aren’t up to the job of adequately protecting life. At present, Canadians do not have a Charter Right to a Healthy Environment. Clearly, this must be a priority.
Without adequate sanctions in place, today criminal individuals are polluting our air, poisoning our water, and compromising the ability of land to support life. We clearly need to change the rules of the game.
Scottish barrister Polly Higgins has launched an international campaign to make Ecocide the Fifth Crime Against Peace at the UN and under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
Ecocide is defined as:
Ecocide is the extensive damage to, destruction of or loss of ecosystem(s) of a given territory, whether by human agency or by other causes, to such an extent that peaceful enjoyment by the inhabitants of that territory has been or will be severely diminished.
The proposed The Ecocide Act is a game-changer. Those who contemplate dangerous industrial activities, or who support ecocide through financing or government policy, will have to think before they act. Failure to do so will result in personal criminal liability. But more important, this law will level the playing field and eliminate unfair competition where damage to Earth’s air, water and land are considered business “externalities”.
The Leap Manifesto is a blueprint for building an inclusive Canada that embraces our role as stewards of Earth. The Ecodcide Act is a law that will usher in a sustainable future for all.