Center for Humans and Nature

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Relatos: Giving Voice to Local Ethics around the World

Lead Staff: Kathryn Kintzele, J.D.

Rationale

As international actors, i.e. states and international organizations, continue to develop and advance the global Evolving Biosphere Ethic, the need has become increasingly evident to take the next crucial step intended for the BEI framework: the promotion of local ethics around the world. The global document speaks to global actors, for use in their programs, policies, conventions and conferences, and continues to be informed by them and local voices, but there is a strong need to connect more specifically to the mosaics of local communities around the world.

History and Partners

Since 2004, the BEI has held four Relatos (Chicago Wilderness, South African National Parks, Brazil’s Local Agendas 21, and Yunnan Province of China) aimed at developing the global Evolving Biosphere Ethic, launched at the Paris Muséum nationale d’Histoire naturelle in February 2010. Beginning with this formal launch, each Relato is now two-fold: (1) informing the global Evolving Biosphere Ethic; and (2) giving voice to a local ethic for that particular region or state. The first Relato using this new framework took place in September 2010: Toward a Local Ethic of the Indiana Dunes Region.  The Indiana Dunes Relato brought together government and non-government leaders from across sectors and disciplines, with the common aim to give voice to a local ethic for their region. It is important to note that these local ethics are owned by the local peoples; CHN convenes, facilitates dialogue, and provides the framework to guide the process.

Goals and Strategies

The goals of this project are to give voice to the local ethic of a region or a nation-state and move communities from ethical thought to ethical action.  The Relato Process is our central strategy for reaching these goals.  This process convenes conservation leaders in a 3-5 day Relato (mutual learning experience).  Additionally, we leverage the work of the Relato process through one- and three-year Action Plans targeted to the Relato focus area.  Our Action Plans seek to bring the insights of the Relato to the global community as well as help the Relato target area use the values, principles, and goals they have identified to affect their own policies.

In addition to each Relato resulting in a published local ethic (the form and substance to be determined by each Relato), CHN houses all electronic links to the homepages of each of the local ethics. This communications strategy maintains a unity to the entire Relato network, so that our partners can continue to learn from one another as their own local ethics and outreach evolve.

What’s Next

Drafting of the document Toward a Local Ethic of the Indiana Dunes Region has begun and is scheduled to end in a January 2011 with publication of the local ethic.

In 2011, CHN will lead the Relato Toward a Local Ethic of Jordan, hosted by World of Letters and its partner organizations. The particular religious and cultural aspects of this country will give unique insight into the global Evolving Biosphere Ethic, as well as give them a document that speaks to their own circumstances.

Also in 2011, Center will lead the Relato Toward a Local Ethic of Rio de Janiero, hosted by the Center for Applied Sustainability, with support from the Environment Ministry, Petrobras and the Supremo Tribunal Federal (the high court of Brazil). Rio is of particular importance as it will be the home of the 2012 Olympics and Rio +20, the 20^th anniversary of the Earth Summit, which created the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Agenda 21 Programme. The Center for Applied Sustainability is working with the local, state and national governments to green the Olympics, as well as working with Local Agendas 21 on the 15 programs that have been created with Petrobras.

The 6^th Annual Keeping Nature Alive Symposium will be conducted in partnership with the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the International Crane Foundation of Baraboo, Wisconsin.  We will also be partnering with native peoples of the Upper Midwest to give voice to the ethic of that region.