New Zealand passed a new law that designates the Whanganui River, the country’s third-longest river, a legal person. That means the Whanganui has rights such as owning property, incurring debts and even petitioning the courts. We can be sure that rational, intelligent people made this decision, but for what possible purpose? It was done with the hope of preventing environmental damage to the river. A similar legal action has been carried out in India for the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.

History repeats itself as mankind struggles to place value where real value is due.

There have been times when basic human rights were denied:

The Jews in Nazi Germany,

African Americans in slavery in the United States 

Now, babies in the womb. 

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent” (1 Corinthians 1:18-19).

Steve