The rights you might not realize you have - Shannon Odell
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Since 2015, an unprecedented movement has been sweeping courts around the world. Groups of young plaintiffs are suing their governments for their inaction on tackling climate change. These suits argue that climate inaction violates their basic human rights. But what do human rights have to do with the environment? Shannon Odell examines our right to a healthy environment, food, health, and water.
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Additional Resources for you to Explore
To continue engaging with the fight for environmental justice, follow updates from the United Nations Human Rights Office. Read about their mission here, which includes information about environmental activist and journalist Sophia Li. Li's podcast, Climate Talks, discusses the steps we can all take toward building a sustainable world and is an excellent resource for any budding activist. This Reuters article can also get you up to speed on the latest and most significant legal action being taken in the fight for eco-justice.
For more information about the growing climate crisis, watch this TED video here. And for more on the history of human rights, watch the TED-Ed lesson, What Are Human Rights? If you're feeling ambitious, you can also explore the full text of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
About Universal Human Rights
In 1948 the United Nations issued a Universal Declaration of Human Rights that laid out a common standard of fundamental rights to be universally protected. But how much do you know about the rights and freedoms everyone, everywhere - including you - is entitled to? Explore this page to learn more about the history, philosophy and practice of ensuring universal human rights, brought to you in partnership with the Open Society Foundations.
Meet The Creators
- Video created by
- TED-Ed
- Lesson Plan created by
- Hayley Levitt
