Why Lakes and Rivers Should Have the Same Rights as Humans
Provided by: TED|Published on: June 23, 2022
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Civics, Health
Authors: Kelsey Leonard
Region: North America, USA - West, USA - Midwest, United States, Global, California, Michigan, Colorado
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this video, a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation makes the argument that water should have legal personhood to ensure its health and the health of all people for years to come, citing examples where people of color have had disproportionate access to clean water, as in Flint, Michigan, Colorado, and Palm Springs, California.
- Dr. Leonard explains that some bodies of water have been granted legal personhood, protecting them from pollution, contaminants, and other human-caused problems.
- The video discusses the Mississippi, Ganges, and Klamath Rivers, and the Great Lakes.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The speaker uses photographs and infographics to illustrate her points.
- This video is engaging, and the argument is well-planned and executed.
- Dr. Leonard gives many solutions and explains many actionable ways to help. The resource also includes links to more information.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have a basic understanding of climate change and water scarcity.
- It would be beneficial for students to know the history of oppression that Indigenous people have faced in the United States and globally.
Differentiation
- This video touches on aspects of climate change, civics, law, history, and science, making it a great resource to use in any of these classes.
- History classes could use this video when learning about the history of Indigenous People in the United States, and students could compare and contrast their treatment by the government in the past and present.
- Science classes could use this video when discussing climate change and possible solutions.
In the United States, a corporation can be granted the rights of a person under the law. Not unrelated, Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color are most likely to be affected by polluted water. In this TED Talk, Kelsey Leonard makes the case for granting legal personhood to water. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
