Human Rights: The Commons and the Collective - Softcover

Westra, Laura

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0774821183 ISBN 13: 9780774821186

Publisher: UBC Press, 2012

Synopsis

International law has evolved to protect human rights. But what arehuman rights? Does the term have the same meaning in a world beingtransformed by climate change and globalized trade? Are existing lawssufficient to ensure humanity’s survival?

Drawing on case law and practice and examples from philosophy, law,and ecology, Laura Westra argues that the current system is notadequate: international law privileges individual over collectiverights, permitting multinational corporations to overlook thecollectivity and the environment in their quest for wealth and power.Unless policy makers redefine human rights and reformulateenvironmental law and policies to protect the preconditions for lifeitself -- water, food, clean air, and biodiversity -- humankind facesthe complete loss of the ecological commons, the preservation of whichis one of our most basic human rights. A new kind of cosmopolitanism,one centred on the United Nations, offers the best hope for preservingour common heritage and the survival of future generations.

About this title

About the Author

Laura Westra holds doctorates in both philosophy andjurisprudence, and has taught in the fields of philosophy, ethics, andenvironmental law at several US, Canadian, and Italian universities.

From the Back Cover

International law evolved to protect human rights. But what are human
rights? Does the term have the same meaning in a world being
transformed by climate change and globalized trade? Are existing laws
sufficient to ensure humanity's survival? Westra argues that
international law privileges individual over collective rights,
permitting multinational corporations to overlook the collective and
the environment in their quest for wealth. Unless policy makers
redefine human rights and reformulate environmental law to protect the
preconditions for life itself -- water, food, clean air, and
biodiversity -- humankind faces the complete loss of the ecological
commons, one of our most basic human rights.

From the Inside Flap

International law evolved to protect human rights. But what are human
rights? Does the term have the same meaning in a world being
transformed by climate change and globalized trade? Are existing laws
sufficient to ensure humanity's survival? Westra argues that
international law privileges individual over collective rights,
permitting multinational corporations to overlook the collective and
the environment in their quest for wealth. Unless policy makers
redefine human rights and reformulate environmental law to protect the
preconditions for life itself -- water, food, clean air, and
biodiversity -- humankind faces the complete loss of the ecological
commons, one of our most basic human rights.

Edition details

• Publisher: UBC Press
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0774821183
• ISBN 13: 9780774821186
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 392