Human Rights : The Commons and the Collective

International law has evolved to protect human rights. But what arehuman rights? Does the term have the same meaning in a world beingtransformed by climate change and globalized trade? Are existing lawssufficient to ensure humanity''s survival?

Drawing on case law and practice and examples from philosophy, law,and ecology, Laura Westra argues that the current system is notadequate: international law privileges individual over collectiverights, permitting multinational corporations to overlook thecollectivity and the environment in their quest for wealth and power.Unless policy makers redefine human rights and reformulateenvironmental law and policies to protect the preconditions for lifeitself -- water, food, clean air, and biodiversity -- humankind facesthe complete loss of the ecological commons, the preservation of whichis one of our most basic human rights. A new kind of cosmopolitanism,one centred on the United Nations, offers the best hope for preservingour common heritage and the survival of future generations.