Can the Rights of Nature protect Indigenous territories in Latin America?

Expert talks, launch of 'Disputed Territories – The Rights of Nature and the Indigenous Worlds of Western Amazonia', and a wine reception Join us to discuss the Rights of Nature in Latin America with Jan Schulz, author of LAB's new book 'Disputed Territories', and "Barrister for the Earth", Mónica Feria Tinta, followed by a wine reception. At a moment when courts from Ecuador to New Zealand are granting legal personhood to rivers, forests, and ecosystems, Latin America Bureau (LAB)'s new book asks us to consider: can Western legal frameworks ever fully capture what Indigenous communities have known for centuries — that humans are not separate from nature, but part of it? Can a planet have legal rights? Could they be defended in a court of law? And who or what are we referring to when we refer to the right to life? These are the questions UK barrister Mónica Feria Tinta asked herself when she found herself defending Indigenous communities from the extractive industries in Latin America and around the world, and those Jan Schulz approaches in his book, 'Disputed Territories', which examines the importance of the Rights of Nature in the battle to defend Indigenous territories in Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. We'll bring these two experts together to discuss these issues for the official launch of 'Disputed Territories' on 17 November. -- Jan Schulz will introduce his book, 'Disputed Territories' -- Mónica Feria Tinta, will discuss her work and her book 'A Barrister for the Earth: Ten Cases of Hope for Our Future'. The event concludes with a wine reception where the new book will be available at a discounted price of £15.00 (RRP £24.95). ........ 'Disputed Territories – The Rights of Nature and the Indigenous Worlds of Western Amazonia' by Jan Schulz “In this timely and insightful book, Jan Schulz explores how humanity might restore its broken relationship with nature by combining Indigenous understanding of the Living Forest with the legal tools being developed by the Rights of Nature movement. Deftly pivoting on the spectacular victories achieved by the Sarayaku people in the Ecuadorian Amazon, he first looks back at the history of colonial extractivism in Latin America and then forward to the possibility of a healthier and more sustainable world view in which human and nonhuman life are so much more than “resources”. The result is a thought-provoking and often inspiring read.” – Jonathan Watts, environmental reporter for The Guardian 'Disputed Territories' examines how colonial legacies, extractivism, and Western conceptions of nature shape Indigenous land struggles in the Amazon regions of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Through interviews, field reporting, and analysis, it explores Indigenous resistance and alternative understandings of the human–nature relationship. It traces the development and impact of Rights of Nature frameworks, revealing their potential to challenge dominant models of environmental protection and advance more just, reciprocal and sustainable ways of inhabiting the Earth. More info here. 'A Barrister for the Earth' by Mónica Feria Tinta (Faber & Faber) will also be for sale at the event.