SA lawyer an eco-warrior

2008-02-18 12:00

Cape Town - South African environmental lawyer, Cormac Cullinan, has been listed among the world's most extraordinary environmental champions.

In a new book entitled Planet Savers: 301 Extraordinary Environmentalists, released in London earlier this month, Cullinan is recognised for making a significant difference to the planet and its inhabitants alongside some of the world's most respected environmental warriors including St Francis of Assisi and Sir David Attenborough.

In the book Cullinan is applauded for his pioneering work in developing a new approach to law known as Earth jurisprudence. This approach recognises that the planet and all its creatures' have rights which humans will be compelled by law to respect.

Since 2000 Cullinan, a director of Cape Town based environmental consultancy, Enact International, and environmental law firm Winstanley & Cullinan, has worked with representatives from around the globe to develop an eco-centric approach to law and governance.

In 2003 he published a book, Wild Law: A Manifesto for Earth Justice which argues that because humans cannot exist or flourish except as part of the community of life on Earth, environmental and social crises will continue to worsen unless our legal system compels us to respect the laws of nature and the rights of the other members of the earth community.

Today a Centre for Earth Jurisprudence has been established by universities in Florida. Earth Jurisprudence is now taught in law schools in the United Kingdom, Ghana and Ethiopia. And since 2005 the UK Environmental Law Association holds an annual "Wild Law" conference.

"I feel extremely honoured to be included among the ranks of so many of the men and women whom I most admire," said Cullinan.

Changing for the better

"The future of our species and of many others depends on whether or not we can rapidly put in place mechanisms that stop humans exploiting and destroying the community of life that sustains us. Some people think that we don't need to change and that recognising rights for other species is absurd, impractical and will hamper economic growth. They used to say the same about abolishing slavery."

"Reading Planet Savers is a wonderful reminder of how the passion, commitment and determination of all kinds of people have changed our world for the better."

Cullinan has worked in more than 20 countries around the world and has also played a significant role in developing environmental law in South Africa.

His work includes drafting: the Integrated Coastal Management Bill now before Parliament, the agreement between South Africa, Namibia and Angola that established the Benguela Current Commission; waste legislation for KwaZulu Natal and legislation for sustainable land use in the Western Cape.

Planet Savers: 301 Extraordinary Environmentalists, provides a who's who of environmentalism and recognises scientists, artists, business people, priests, poets, politicians, lawyers and many more who have put their careers, reputations and lives on the line to defend the world from pollution, deforestation, species loss and climate change.

The book was written by Kevin Desmond who did his research from his home in Bordeaux South-West France, via search engines such as Google in order to leave a very scarce carbon footprint.

It is published by Greenleaf Publishing and available online at www.greenleaf-publishing.com.

- News24