Our philosophy.
Our shared stories - at the community and global levels - shape the way we perceive the world, make decisions and live together. These stories are not static; instead, they evolve over time, through the totality of continuing conversation, action and relationship between all members of the earth community, both human and non-human.
For many generations, our dominant global narrative has been based on a perception of separation, between each other and between humans and the rest of the natural world. Founding our legal, economic, political and other systems on this misconception has resulted in many of our current converging global crises – from the devastating impact of extraction and degradation of the natural world, the privileging of corporate profit over human rights, an untenable economic system focused on linear financial growth in a finite world, harmful ‘othering’ and exploitation of numerous groups within societies and associated human rights violations.
In reality, we are inextricably interconnected with each other, with our communities, and with the natural world. This truth has been held by many indigenous communities around the world, is being affirmed increasingly by mainstream science and is already felt in the hearts of many of us. As part of a complex, living, whole earth entity, every act we take ripples out to impact the planet and eventually comes back to affect ourselves as well.
This is a time requiring solidarity and urgent action. It is also a time of opportunity and collective initiation, asking us to question what no longer serves us, what values and practices we wish to take forward and what we must restore and heal, as we move toward a new shared story of interconnection.
What we do.
The Anima Mundi Law Initiative was launched to explore how to practice law in the truth of ecological and climate reality and interconnection. Our current areas of focus include:
Strategic research, capacity building, litigation and advocacy using the human rights framework, as embedded and contextualised within ecological contexts.
Practical tools for advocates and communities to both understand this significant legal development and facilitate a shift in our collective thinking about the relationship between humans and the rest of the natural world.
Exploration and practices to ground legal and advocacy strategies in place and community.
Who we are.
Leadership.
The Anima Mundi Law Initiative is coordinated by Susie Talbot, an international lawyer, systems thinker and facilitator focused on human rights (economic, social and cultural) and Earth Law, with over 15 years of experience working with lawyers, activists, NGOs and communities around the world to effect positive change, most recently as legal director for a global human rights network which coordinates the collective work of 300 NGOs and social movements across 80 countries. Her experience includes:
the use of strategic human rights litigation before United Nations treaty bodies, the European Court of Human Rights, the European Committee of Social Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, ICSID and national level courts in multiple jurisdictions to address significant socio-economic violations, support the participation of affected communities, achieve progressive change to legislation, policy and/or practice, and leverage the broader impact of cases
progressive collaborative vision and action to strengthen corporate accountability around the world, shifting the global narrative away from the current promotion of profit above human and planetary thriving, including through the UN treaty negotiations on business and human rights, feminist analysis, and as a board member of the Corporate Justice Coalition
delivering practical strategy and capacity building workshops for lawyers and others in over 20 countries in Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia, as well as expert meetings and presentations before UN treaty body committees and UN special rapporteurs, Members of the European Parliament, students, human rights networks, and in other spaces
focused research, dialogue, participatory mapping and analysis to identify and address specific risks, challenges and patterns of human rights violation, create accessible advocacy materials for a range of audiences and purposes, and implement collaborative advocacy strategies
Susie is a member of the Experts Group for the UN Harmony with Nature program, and her legal and advocacy experience is complemented by ongoing engagement in nature guide training, community rewilding projects, women’s circles and embodied practices such as meditation and chi gong, as well as lived experience in six countries.
For more information, please visit her LinkedIn profile or contact Susie at stalbot@animamundilaw.org
Collaborative action.
We work with a network of colleagues - including lawyers, advocates, academics, and experts in nature connection and other embodied practices - to offer creative, cross-disciplinary and effective strategies as tailored to specific projects.
Please get in touch to discuss how we might collaborate on Anima Mundi Law Initiative activities or other projects.