TEDxMelbourne Circle: Everyone’s Environment

‍Theme: Everyone’s Environment

We see human rights as inalienable. They are our rights as a “person”. And yet in the West, corporations sometimes have more rights than people and certainly, the environment.

The United Nations has stated that we are on the verge of an impending "planetary catastrophe". In Western societies, we own and exploit our environment. For First Nations people, we are inseparable from our environment. Each perspective allows us to explore and cherish (or utilise) the world we live in from different points of view. But what if water (and nature) had legal rights?

Join us to discuss your reactions and thoughts on companies having the same rights as people and what we can do to protect and nurture our environment before it’s too late.

Watch this talk before the TED Circle:

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Featured Talk - Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humans, by Kelsey Leonard

Water is essential to life. Yet in the eyes of the law, it remains largely unprotected -- leaving many communities without access to safe drinking water, says legal scholar Kelsey Leonard. In this powerful talk, she shows why granting lakes and rivers legal "personhood" -- giving them the same legal rights as humans -- is the first step to protecting our bodies of water and fundamentally transforming how we value this vital resource.

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How to Participate:

1. Register to join the discussion (via our Website/ Eventbrite)

2. Watch the Featured Talk (see link above)

3. Join the event via Zoom on Wednesday 28th October 2020

4. Listen to our featured guests and host discuss the theme, and then join the smaller breakout groups of attendees to contribute your own thoughts with other attendees.

Don't forget to share your experience online by using the hashtag #TEDxMelb on your preferred social network, and tagging us!

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Featured Guests -

‍**NEW** Dr Anne Poelina

Anne is the Managing Director of Madjulla Inc., Chair of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council and a Nyikina Warrwa Traditional Custodian. She has multiple degrees, in education and public health and has received multiple awards for her academic and research work. Anne is an active Indigenous community leader, respected human, earth rights advocate and filmmaker. Her current work explores the entrepreneurial ‘New Economy’ opportunities for Indigenous people of the Martuwarra, Fitzroy River. In a time of Climate Chaos and uncertainty, Anne combines First Law, Indigenous Science (traditional ecological knowledge), and the rights of nature as solutions for planetary health and human wellbeing. Her focus is on protecting her sacred National Heritage Listed Fitzroy River’s right to life from invasive developments; threats from large-scale agriculture, fracking, and mining require extensive land clearing and water extraction. Anne believes our rivers are the lifeblood of our Nation. Find out more: www.martuwarrafitzroyriver.org

Dr Anika Molesworth

Dr Anika Molesworth has a PhD in agricultural science and a passion for rural communities and healthy ecosystems, committed to help create sustainable and vibrant farming landscapes now and for the future.  She is dedicated to raising awareness of climate change impacts on farms, and most importantly, what action can be taken to reduce emissions and adapt to changing conditions.

In 2015, she was named Young Farmer of the Year, and went on to be awarded the 2017 Young Australian of the Year NSW Finalist, and 2017 NSW Young Achiever Award for Environment and Sustainability. In 2018, she was awarded the Green Globe Awards Young Sustainability Champion and the 350.org Heroes of a Low-Carbon Economy Youth Champion. In 2019, she was recognised as a Future Shaper by InStyle and Audi, and a Woman of Influence by the Australian Financial Review.

Simon Molesworth AO, QC

Simon Molesworth is a former judge specialising in environment and heritage – providing a legal perspective on rivers and nature receiving status as persons.  

He’s a Queen's Counsel and former Judge, Non-Executive Director, Pastoralist and multi-awarded Community Leader in multiple sectors with an experience of leadership on numerous boards and management committees, including 16 corporations.

Having been the chair or president of 19 entities, Molesworth has been acknowledged by his peers as an inspirational leader in his fields, nationally and internationally, having been appointed a fellow of six professional organisations and receiving a multiplicity of honours and awards in all his disciplines. The Nation has recognised his achievements with the award of Member of the Order of Australia in 1994, the Centenary Medal in 2003 and then elevating him to Officer of the Order of Australia in 2012.

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** Please note this will be recorded and may be used by TEDxMelbourne for marketing and promotional purposes. Also, by participating in this event you agree to abide by Zoom’s Acceptable Use Policy, which can be found here: https://zoom.us/reasonableusepolicy

The recording will not be available for public viewing, so will not be replayed at a later date.