Rights of Nature and River Rights: What's possible in NSW?

NSW RIVER RIGHTS FORUM - WORKSHOP HOSTED ONLINE AND IN PERSON (SYDNEY)

Please join the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) and Total Environment Centre (TEC) for the next in our series of workshops about Rights of Nature and the potential of 'river rights' in New South Wales.

In this workshop, we will:

• bring people together from river communities around NSW, to discuss current initiatives and plans for the future;

• host a guest presentation by Paul Powlesland, a barrister from the United Kingdom, who will discuss the River Wye Charter, and the legal personhood for rivers movement in the UK; and

• discuss strategies for building a working group and network for river rights in NSW.

Join the discussions, and share your views about how we can collaborate to strengthen our capacity to be a voice for local rivers, and create new governance structures to protect and manage our living waterways.

PLEASE NOTE: This event is being hosted in-person in Sydney (101 William Street, Darlinghurst) and online. When you register, please indicate if you'll be attending in person, or via zoom.

DRAFT PROGRAM (All times are AEST)

5.00pm - Acknowledgement of Country and Introductions

5.15pm - Presentation: Rights of Nature and Legal Personhood for Rivers - Issues and initiatives in NSW - Dr Michelle Maloney, AELA and Mark Zihrul, TEC

5.30pm- Presentation: The River Wye Charter and legal personhood for rivers in the United Kingdom - Paul Powlesland, Barrister, UK

5.50pm - Q&A

6.10pm - Updates/short presentations from human beings working with the Hawkesbury-Nepean, Richmond, Nambucca and Macleay Rivers

6.30pm - Group discussion - facilitated by AELA and TEC

7.00pm - Close

GUEST SPEAKERS

• Dr Michelle Maloney, Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA)

• Mark Zihrul, Total Environment Centre (TEC)

• Paul Powlesland, Barrister, United Kingdom

• Brittany Vermeulen, Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance

• Kristen den Exter, Richmond Riverkeeper

• Luby Simson, Nambucca Valley Bioregional Alliance

• Fiona Preston, Macleay River

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN EARTH LAWS ALLIANCE (AELA)

AELA is a not-for-profit organisation working to increase the understanding and practical implementation of Earth-centred (ecocentric) governance. AELA works to create systems change, across an intersection of reimagining and decolonising: law, economics, education, ethics and community participation in Australia. AELA's vision is an Australian society that embraces an ecocentric or ‘life-centred’ culture, with governance systems that enable human communities to thrive within healthy ecological boundaries. AELA's work includes education programs and project support for people, communities and organisations working to create ecocentric and bioregional systems change.

For more information about AELA, visit our website: www.earthlaws.org.au
Email us anytime: aela@earthlaws.org.au

ABOUT THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT CENTRE (TEC)

TEC are a NSW based not-for-profit organisation, that has been working for 50 years to protect and care for the environment. TEC is managing a number of campaigns including: recycling infrastructure to protect our waterways and oceans from plastic pollutants, effective legislation for conserving native animals and plants and ensuring food and water security for future Australians. We act on climate change by advocating for renewable energy by encouraging innovation, a modern energy market and incentivising government and private investment. These are the building blocks of a sustainable Australia.

For more information about TEC, visit: https://www.tec.org.au