Green Options

Exit polls indicate that a majority of Ecuadorians have voted yes to a new constitution. The constitution is the first in the world’s history to grant nature legal rights, and also to allow individuals to sue on nature’s behalf in courts. It is a major victory for Ecuador’s President, Rafael Correa.

On Sunday Ecuadorians will vote to accept or reject a new constitution for their country. The constitution would make major changes to how the government functions. Among the constitution’s 444 articles, highlights include giving the government more control over the mining, oil, transportation, telecommunication, and banking industries, allowing the president to run immediately for re-election after his or her first-term, bestowing nature with legal rights, and giving individual citizens the ability to fight for nature’s rights legally in courts.