When presented with the concept of human rights, many people instinctively think of the inalienable rights to life, liberty, justice and freedom of expression (among others). All these fantastic opportunities notwithstanding, I think something is still missing from the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which turned 60 this year. What’s absent? Environmental rights.

As part of the Bloggers Unite For Human Rights event today, I’ve decide to put a difference spin of the issue and lack of international rights in both first and third-world countries. There is no denying the overarching issue of human rights all over our planet, but with the environmental movement reaching its second peak (the first being in the 1960s), it is clear (no pun intended) that having access to pristine land, water and air are vital parts of human existence.

Would you move to a neighborhood with a river full of raw sewage? How about living on land that has nuclear waste buried under it? Most would instantly avoid these places, but what about people who can’t afford to be choosy? Should they be “punished” due to their lower income. No. No no no. The RIGHT to a safe environment should be the very same as the right to life itself. How can we live a full life with the onslaught of both local and corporate pollution inundating ever element of our day?

Let’s turn to conversation to third world countries for a moment. Unstable governments and low national income are issues seen across the board, but does that mean they should be given the blessing of clean air and sparkling rivers? Of course not. Industrial progress has been set as the international standard for success without much considering to what it has and is doing to the only home we have.

Color, creed, sexual orientation, religious affiliation and economic background should not be grounds for discrimination on the air we breath … it shouldn’t, but it is. The right to freedom of speech is constantly debated and will likely not be solved soon - same with the right to justice, equality and education. The world is not perfect, nor will it ever be, but we will not be able to advance as a society or a species until we remember that we must all be secured with the basic needs for human existence - clear air, water and food - before we try to build another skyscraper or settle on the moon.

Do you think clear air and water could be classified as human rights? Why? Why not?

Tell me your thoughts!

[Image courtesy of LensENVY on flickr.com]