ELC Mexico Lead Claudia Brindis
Interview by Jason Baran for ELC.
Claudia Brindis has dedicated her career to advancing the Rights of Nature in Mexico and globally. Officially, she is ELC´s International and Mexico Lead, but she prefers, "strategic partner for Mexico." She is also an expert within the United Nations Harmony with Nature program as well as a teacher, therapist, coach, and facilitator.
Earth Law Center: Let’s start at your beginning. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? And, what led you to this career?
Claudia Brindis: When I was a child, I liked to sing to Nature. I remember that I sang to the Sun and I sang to the stars. Later, while at university, I learned to be a strategist and to devise action plans that would give me the best results. At the same time, through yoga and meditation, I became aware of myself and everything around me. In addition, over the years I specialized in human development, community development and environmental education. When I was a child I did not know about the Rights of Nature and the truth is I never imagined working on this, but now it has become my life mission.
ELC: If you could get people to do one thing to help advance Rights of Nature and subsequently, environmental conservation, what it would that be and why?
CB: I think one of my most important responsibilities is to help people change the way they think. The beliefs that we have as a modern world and as a society are what have caused our suffering. Now we are suffering a pandemic, water and air pollution, climate change. We have affected the balance of Nature and life, but if we change these ideas of consumerism and exploitation, we can save ourselves and build a just new world but the change begins in oneself. We cannot change the collective reality just by wanting to, but we can change our individual reality by taking care of our body, taking care of Nature and taking care of animals. If we are many people making these deep changes in our lives, we will be able to change the collective reality. That’s what is already happening with the international movement for the Rights of Nature.
ELC: How do you encourage people to change their thoughts and take action around conservation?
CB: First, reminding them that we are alive, that we have the great blessing of existing in this time of many challenges but also of great changes. In the Toltec tradition, the tradition of my ancestors, we honor death and recognize it as a great teacher and counselor, because if we were aware every day that we are going to die and that our death can occur at any moment, we would not be wasting time. We would be looking for ways to leave a legacy, conserving species, restoring ecosystems and cleaning up rivers. There are so many things that we could do and be in this process.
ELC: Getting back to Rights of Nature, what would you say is your greatest success in advancing the Rights of Nature in Mexico or globally? And, what’s next?
CB: My greatest success is that legislators from more parliamentary groups are getting to know ELC’s work, are becoming interested in the Rights of Nature, and are including them in the laws. So, no matter the political party, the important thing is that we can support them in these crucial moments for Mexico and the world, to generate the paradigm shift we want. The next success is carrying out integral projects of conservation of species, restoration of Nature and environmental education. In addition, doing more clinics in universities on Theory and Practice in Environmental Law and Rights of Nature. The first one will be held online from March 15th to 26th with students from the UAM (Autonomous Metropolitan University).
ELC: Diving a little deeper, what are the current projects you’re working on? What is it you’re hoping to accomplish?
CB: I continue to work with the wonderful ELC team to get the constitutional reform proposal approved to include the Rights of Nature in the Constitution of Oaxaca, as well as the proposed law for the Defense and Recognition of the Rights of Rivers and other Water Sources in the State of Oaxaca. We began working on both proposals at the end of last year. We are also working on the proposal for a new Water Law for Mexico City and we are following up for the approval of the proposal for the new General Water Law which is at a national level. We are also supporting the approval of the proposed constitutional reform at the federal level to include the Rights of Nature. What we wish to achieve is that the Rights of Nature and the Rights of Rivers and other Water Sources are recognized in more laws and constitutions in Mexico.
ELC: What are the repercussions of failing to enact these policy reforms? What scares you the most about climate change and continued environmental degradation?
CB: More people, ecosystems and species die. That is why it is so important to make a systemic change. As the elders of many Indigenous traditions would say: when we honor and respect Mother Nature and realize that she does not belong to us, but that we belong to her as her children, then we will realize that our life is connected to hers and to the life of all species. That is how we will transform the reality of the world.
ELC: You obviously have a deep passion for Nature and for conservation, but what energizes you outside of work? What are your hobbies and interests?
CB: I get energized by traveling, getting to know new places, new people, new cultures. I am a traveler and I like to marvel at my country and the world. I like to read, learn more about different topics, topics that nurture me as a person. It also gives me energy to listen to people, learn from each person I meet on my way, and observe the trees, the clouds, the wind, the birds, the rivers. I learn a lot by observing Nature.
ELC: What is your favorite outdoors spot in Mexico and why?
CB: In Mexico City, my favorite place is Chapultepec Park, which is bigger than Central Park in New York. I love it because, besides being a beautiful place with trees, flowers, and animals, it has a rich history of my ancestors. Imagine, there you can find a pyramid and the only castle in Latin America that was inhabited by European kings.
ELC: In that vein, what would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
CB: Enjoying life! In Mexico, I have learned about the wisdom of my ancestors and I try to practice that wisdom on the weekend, as well as dance, do exercise, eat delicious food, laugh, share with people I care about. I don't think I do this only on the weekends. I try to do it every day.
ELC: You clearly embrace a harmonic existence with Nature. How can the rest of us best live in harmony with the environment?
CB: First, you must know yourself because, to live in harmony with Nature, the human being needs to realize that they are Nature, part of this web of life, and that they are as important as the rest of the species. If we harm Nature, we harm ourselves as human beings. Failing to recognize that means we will not survive as a species.
ELC: What have you seen that gives you hope for a sustainable environment and for humans living in harmony with Nature?
CB: What gives me hope is that more people are waking up, listening to the call to become Mother Nature's guardians, and putting their talents and abilities at the service of this great purpose. I have no doubt that we will find solutions to remedy our mistakes, but we need to keep working on that and unite to make it happen.