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Introduction 2INTRODUCTION


 * What is ERA?
 * The Era Philosophy
 * ERA Knowledge is Based upon Participatory Research
 * What is Participatory Research?

2.1WHAT IS ERA?

Environmental Rights Action, or ERA, is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1993 as an arm of the Nigerian Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO).

The organisation is dedicated to the defence of human ecosystems in terms of human rights, and to the promotion of environmentally responsible governmental, commercial, community and individual practice in Nigeria through the empowerment of Local People.

It describes itself as having two purposes:


 * to act as a peaceful pressure group, campaigning for change in the policies of governmental, non-governmental and commercial organisations where those policies are likely to act against environmental human rights
 * to enable Local People to defend their Environmental Human Rights in law.

2.2THE ERA PHILOSOPHY

2.2.1 THE SEVEN BELIEFS

ERA is bound together and guided by a philosophy which avoids moral ambiguity when approaching problems of human ecology. This philosophy is not a rigid dogma, but a guide based upon the seven beliefs described below.



Article 24 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples' Rights states that:


 * All people shall have the right to (a) generally satisfactory environment favourable to their development.

ERA believes that a respect for all forms of life is an essential foundation to human happiness.

In other words, a genuine concern for humankind and our habitat depends upon a respect for other animals and their habitats, and upon recognition of the importance of diversity.

Humankind cannot achieve happiness in a degraded environment; living in harmony with other forms of life (as in some traditional relationships between people and their environment) is in itself a human right. Furthermore, every individual and responsible human being has an equal right to happiness, regardless of his or her wealth.



This concept is central to the ERA philosophy. 30