Granting Legal Personhood to the River Seine is Paris's plan to enhance its protection against pollution.
Article:
Paris's Seine: Set to Swim and Soar?
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🌊 Swimming in the Seine in a Month!
Paris's iconic Seine could soon join the ranks of legally recognized entities, following plans announced by Mayor Anne Hidalgo. The city's river may soon have an independent guardian to protect its rights in court.
🗳️ Rights for the Seine
Citing concerns about the river's health and preservation, the Paris City Council has urged Parliament to pass a law granting the Seine legal personhood. The move stems from a public convention focused on the river's future, which identified fundamental rights for the Seine, such as the right to exist, flow, and regenerate.
📷 Swift Change:
Mayor Hidalgo wrote in a LinkedIn post that recognizing the rights of rivers and ecosystems is essential to addressing the ecological crisis. She published a photograph of the Seine under a blue sky, stating that the time of car-centric cities has passed, and walking and cycling should be encouraged instead.
🏊♂️ A Seaworthy River
Inviting citizens to swim in the Seine's cleaner waters is expected in a month, provided it stays clean enough for swimming and the water temperature remains suitable. The city has spent billions on the river's restoration, investing in projects such as an underground tub to store wastewater before it reaches the river.
🎉 A Step Forward
If passed, this move would represent another step in Paris's ongoing efforts to protect the Seine from pollution. From reclaiming the riverbanks in 2016 to historic swimming events during the 2024 Olympics, Paris has consistently pushed for a cleaner and healthier Seine.
🌍 Rivers with Rights
From Ecuador to Spain, various communities have advocated for the legal recognition of rivers and ecosystems to safeguard their future. The legal protections for the Whanganui River in New Zealand blend Western legal principles with Maori beliefs, acknowledging the river as a living entity.
🔍 Sources
- BBC News. 🔗 Paris River Seine Given Personhood Rights Proposal
- The Guardian. 🔗 Paris to Grant Legal Personhood to the Seine: ‘It’s a Political Response to the Ecological Emergency’
- Agence France-Presse. 🔗 Paris to Propose Legal Status for the Seine
- The Telegraph. 🔗 River Ouse Becomes First in England and Wales to be Granted Legal Person Status
- New Zealand Government. 🔗 Te Awa Tupua (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act 2017
🐟 Did You Know?
In recent years, the Seine has witnessed a remarkable resurgence of fish populations. In 1970, the river was home to just four fish species, but now more than 40 can be found thriving in its waters.
- The legal personhood granted to the Seine is part of a growing movement in environmental-science, with rivers like the Whanganui River in New Zealand and the River Ouse in England and Wales also receiving similar rights.
- Recognizing the rights of the Seine is not just about improving its health and wellness, but also about addressing climate-change, as protecting the environment is essential to tackling the ecological crisis, as pointed out by Mayor Anne Hidalgo.
