Is a river a person?

Let's check it out!

WHO OR WHAT IS A RIVER?

How do you answer that question?

Maybe you will say that it is water, flowing water. But is a river also a fish that lives in its water and a bird that stands on its bank? Is it land, a stone, reeds, a frog, and a dragonfly? We call a living organism that provides life to countless other organisms a person.

It is up to us to decide whether we consider the river a person – while being aware that this is not a sufficient answer to the question of who or what a river is. At the same time, it is a sufficient answer to change the way we talk about the river and to change the law that will protect the river.

The word “person” comes from the Etruscan word “phersu,” which means a mask worn by an actor on a theater stage. The law created the concept of a “legal person” to protect companies, businesses, cooperatives, churches, universities, political parties, associations, and foundations. To be a legal person, that is, a subject, means to have value that can be protected, for example, by representing it in court. A “legal person” is a prop, a shield, a tool in the hands of the law used to represent and protect a specific structure, group of people, but also land or a river. If corporations can be recognized as legal persons, why not recognize a living river as a legal person?

A human person who cannot speak up for oneself – unconscious, disabled, underage – remains a person whom the law has a duty to protect. Therefore, being a human does not determine whether or not one is recognized as a person. Even the ability to formulate logical or any words does not determine it.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION

It is up to us to decide whether we consider the river a person – while being aware that this is not a sufficient answer to the question of who or what a river is. At the same time, it is a sufficient answer to change the way we talk about the river and to change the law that will protect the river.

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The "Osoba Odra" website was created as part of the project "Strengthening the potential of activists through learning online campaigning" - a project implemented by Akcja Demokracja and funded by the Active Citizens - National Fund program, financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway under the EEA Funds. All texts on the website were created by volunteers from the Odra Tribe.