THE WOMB OF OUR WORLD, THE SANCTITY OF OUR HOME AND RIGHTS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS
11 August, 2026: This week is Women's Health Week in Aotearoa New Zealand and in the Andean calendar, August is the most sacred time of the year dedicated to Mother Earth (Pachamama).
Our Blue Planet, One Ocean and One Health
The current global polycrisis and carbon tunnel vision demand multidisciplinary approaches, at both the macro and micro level, to effectively address the complex challenges (these include e.g. biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution). The 1968 Apollo 8 photo Earth Rise gave a new perspective to Earth, the “blue planet” with 71% of its surface covered by water. Our interconnected world means the health of humans, animals and the environment are intricately linked. Our One Ocean and “One Health”approach acknowledge this interdependence and may have a role in tackling the challenges, especially when innovatively combined in constructive and novel ways with other stakeholders.
"We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one.”
~ Jacques Cousteau
Rights of Mother Earth, Rights of Nature, Rights of Future Generations: The Macro Sanctuary
In 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to recognise Pacha Mama – Mother Earth as a legal subject - rather than an object. That country now has Rights of Nature in its constitution, although this eco-jurisprudence has not been without challenges. As described, this legal framework grants Nature fundamental rights, such as the right to exist with intrinsic rights.
This ecocentric vision from law to nature recognises and grants nature rights that can be enforced when those are violated or at risk. There are other national legal systems in which transcendental values are added in the legal framework, such as Aotearoa New Zealand Māori's "Ko au te awa. Ko te awa ko au ("I am the river. The river is me” ) described in the Te Awa Tupua Act 2017. The iwi consider the Whanganui River as and ancestor and “the central bloodline of their one heart”, establishing that humans are connected to the world. The approach carries responsibilities and rights as one would attribute to fellow family members. Papatūānuku is Earth Mother in Te Ao Māori and for several Oceanic cultures, such as the Māori, placenta and land are connected and the same word (whenua). If Mother Earth is protected and respected, her sons and daughters will be protected and have duties to her; time is not a linear phenomenon, hereby, there is a correlated responsibility to think on the ongoing present and the upcoming generations. This establishes an obligation for the current inhabitants to preserve and to give in exchange what Mother Earth has given and to those unborn with Rights of Future Generations (RoFGs).
Another example is Bolivia, where the Law No. 300 “Ley Marco de la Madre Tierra y Desarrollo Integral para Vivir Bien” [1 ] was enacted on October 15, 2012 as well as their Ley No. 071 “Derechos de la Madre Tierra”[2] from December 10, 2010. The 300 Act is the guideline for various authorities and the genesis of additional legal bodies that protect and have a voice for Mother Earth, called “Consejo Plurinacional” or Plurinational Council. Among others, it frameworks how policies, laws, strategies, rules, plans, programs, and projects[3] must be aligned and integrated in its core to rule under the vision of respect for Mother Earth and Living Well, applicable to all the autonomous territorial entities of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, considering the multi-reality on which different communities cohabitate for the Living Well.
As per the Act's definition, the Living Well or Vivir Bien is a “cultural alternative to capitalism and modernity born in the cosmovisions of the indigenous nations (...) in the intercultural context. It is achieved collectively, complementary and solidarity (...) It means living in complementarity, balance and harmony with Mother Earth and societies, eliminating inequalities and domination mechanisms. Is living well with what surrounds us and Living Well with oneself” . Unifying the Bolivian Living Well principles and values to what the United Nations has established for a global approach, we can see that the Law no. 300 looks for an integral development that is also considered in the UN’s One Health. This is “an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems. It uses the close, interdependent links between these fields to create new surveillance and disease control methods.”.
In different technical words, both cases are establishing the correlation among species and the positive impact -along to many other spheres- to the health of all beings, since harmony and balance between species and the environment are directly co-dependent, influencing one to another, and hereby people’s applicable public policies must consider this holistic One Health approach to be effective to all agents, including the other species and ecosystems.
To accomplish the wanted integral development, the Bolivian Act imposes the obligations and duties of the Bolivian State, society, and people to achieve this development and the objectives of the Living Well.
Why the Need to Strengthen Rights of Nature Through Blue Tourism Policy
Tourism (as per Figure below) intersects with other sectors such as recreation and transport. It is an impactful economic activity relying on uniqueness and sense of place; its character as a destination. Tourism as an industry can change the place or destination. As proposed by Wilson et al., 2027, strengthening tourism policy might offer a way to strengthen Rights of Nature (RoN) . Building on this specifically Blue Tourism (marine, coastal and freshwater tourism) may have a role to play. This is, especially so in the Ocean Decade where the focus is on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) and the new 2026 Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, commonly referred to as the "High Seas Treaty". This covers international waters.
Due to human behaviour and, more recently the influence of different technologies and communication modes, more people are traveling, and as much as possible. However, tourism heavily relies on transportation. As per the World Travel & Tourism Council (2025) Interim CEO Gloria Guevara stated “(...) Travel & Tourism can grow while reducing its environmental impact. But we need to continue to accelerate action. Our data shows that 40% of our emissions lie in transport, and a further 19% in purchased electricity. We also know that 57.4% of our emissions lie in our supply chain. We must double down on sustainable fuels, renewable energy, and low-carbon infrastructure, and key to achieving this is effective public-private partnerships. (...) From creating high-quality jobs to reducing our share of global emissions, our sector is proving it can be both resilient and responsible. With the right partnerships, the sector will continue to be a force for good for people, planet, and prosperity.” The environmental impact of tourism is partly from aviation. Aviation produces greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions that contribute to ocean and climate changes and global warming. Barriers to decarbonisation are complex for tourism leaders. However, tourism intersects with all industries and thus it is a way to reach people (Figure in gallery below), with regenerative blue tourism approaches offered as impactful consumer choices.
Sanctity of the Home: The Micro Sanctuary
Grounded in common law the sanctity of the home is a principle that a home is a place of privacy and free from intrusion. Over 300 years ago Sir Edward Coke summarized the rule as “domus sua cuique est tutissimum refugium”—each man's home is his safest refuge. While tourism involves travel away from home, “Mi casa es su casa” “my house is your house” is a global sentiment of hospitality. In addition, Dr. Sylvia Earle and Rachel Carlson described the ocean as home and "the original cradle of life" confirming that the environment and public health are inextricably linked. Terrestrial and marine biodiversity loss is more than a conservation issue; it is a health crisis, threatens our identity and heritage, and affects our long-term resilience. The ocean plays a crucial role in regulating the climate with millions relying on it for their livelihoods. Just as the womb nurtures unborn life, the "primordial soup” of the ocean is our first home (Figure The Womb of the World below inspired by Pacha Mama, Dr Earle, Rachel Carson, the Portuguese artist Fatinha Ramos and Te Ao Māori). This is our common Blue Home and future generations have a right to life. As we well know, in pregnant women overheating can lead to pregnancy complications, so too the overheating of the ocean leads to One Health complications. Current and future One Health is thus important for RoFGs.
“Even if you never have the chance to see or touch the ocean, the ocean touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume. Everyone everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea.”
~ Sylvia Earle
Tourism often occurs with the absence of full acknowledgment of Mother Earth's participation. This compiled data from the WTTC provides a lot for different micro and macro economics. It shows a significant amount of emissions that the industry is looking to reduce, however, the economic considerations are still the main ones, since relevant for government, such in 2024, when Travel & Tourism generated $3.5TN in tax revenues, up from $3.3TN in 2019, representing a 6.1% increase, and one-tenth of total global government revenues. This is an opportunity where Non-governmental organisations and other institutions can lead from inside society, beyond the regulations that provide solutions to stop emissions or reduce them (e.g. the Paris Agreement). Consulting and providing opinions to bodies that participate actively in the decision making but also de facto parts such as tourism industry merchants, tourist guides and landscape interpreters, but even local rule makers and organized groups.
NZ already has Tiaki Promise at arrivals, but to be more effective tourist education needs to start well before the airport, possibly at the social media influencer point and include practical things visitors can do e.g. citizen science contributions. In this sense, we consider that the different approaches described here act as an inspiration for societies to adopt and develop their own tourism policies with the Mother Nature Rights. From the smallest visited space to a larger city, where tourism always leaves a footprint, thinking in community will thrive the RoN vision and the tourist will not only enjoy the visit, but also need to have a positive impact for those who live, work, play and visit in the destinations. There is a route for integral tourism approaches as taken by Bolivia, New Zealand, Ecuador and other countries. But we also need to integrate alternative metrics into tourism statistics, shifting our focus away from mere economic growth and toward the benchmarks of Living Well.
CONCLUSION Expanding the Idea of Home
Being in harmony with Mother Earth is being in harmony with other human beings, as the same species of living organisms. This path protects nature and human wellbeing, considering all the aspects for their development and Living Well. Taking the core values and principles established in the Bolivian Act, aspects of Te Ao Māori or the Ecuadorian recognition, and linking them into tourism may be a way to irrigate the Rights of Mother Earth to other territories. In addition, widely acknowledged as welcoming "mi casa es su casa" captures aspects of tourism - to make visitors feel relaxed, comfortable and at home. A home is more than a house. It is not possible to have a safe home within collapsing ecosystems, so this piece expands the boundary of home and is supported by a One Health and One Ocean approach. The sanctity of the home protects our rights to privacy and safety as well as preserves Sense of Place. Weaving this with Rights of Mother Earth strengthens the foundation for Rights of RoFGs with a right to life.
Even though each State has its own sovereignty, RoN and RoFGs are universal, beyond any political and legal border, affecting or benefiting our own generation as well as those yet to be born.
“He waka eke noa - “A canoe which we are all in with no exception”.
~ Māori proverb
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[1]Author’s translation: it would be the “Frame Law of the Mother Earth and Integral Development for Living Well”, although in common law, because of the source, it would be an Act.
[2] “Rights of the Mother Earth”, on which objectives, principles, definitions, rights and state’s obligations were established in a short 5-pages document.
[3] See the first 2 articles of the Spanish language version of the law
The authors met through the Earth Law Center Summer School, 2026
