Since pre-historic times, there have been laws and principles governing society. In the Semitic traditions, or among Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, many of the laws derive from Moses, Deuteronomy, and the teachings of various scholars who comment on those legal traditions. Thus, in the societies where practitioners of the Semitic religions are in the majority, those legal traditions have had great influence.

Modern law tends to be based on humanitarianism and regulation of new technologies, among other considerations, but the lingering influences of the old Semitic legal traditions persist.

For many Vaishnavas, the ancient dharmic tradition, like that found in Manu Shastra, provides a somewhat relevant, yet admittedly outmoded influence.

Throughout the intervening centuries after the Manu dharmic tradition was followed in Vedic times, that tradition was adjusted by the influences of Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, humanitarianism, socialism, and so on.

Vaishnavas today are generally a passive group. Unlike Islam, which seeks to introduce Sharia, or evangelical Christianity, which seeks to influence certain moral laws, until now, Vaishnavas in modern times have not sought to influence government based on Vaishnava principles. A significant exception might be the participation of Vaishnavas in Hindu causes and parties in India. However, such causes and parties often don’t take environmental considerations very seriously.

Regarding the environment, the following items are essential, and a majority of Vaishnavas agree. Thus, around the world, the 300 million Vaishnavas and their friends are being called to action to implement these policies through legislation and litigation:

1. It should be decreed by law that all animals have equal souls; or at minimum, that all animals have the right to life as much as humans. Devotees of Vishnu and the Gita seek to influence municipalities and states to legislate and litigate against animal slaughter and sales based on the right to life.
2. Also, rivers, forests, the land, oceans, and the environment should be recognized as persons. Similar to the way corporations, or groups of humans, are recognized as persons under the law and they’re given rights, so should these natural bodies have rights. Note that in 2017 the Whanganui River in New Zealand was recognized by law as a person.[1]
3. Humanity is in a relationship with the environment, like citizens who are in a relationship with the government. As citizens have no right to do violence to the government, its laws, buildings, representatives, and so on, the people and the instruments of the people have no right to destroy the environment but must treat it respectfully and sustainably. This must be enshrined in law.[2]
4. Vishnu devotees will work toward government endorsement and support, without prejudice toward any group, for sacrifices that are intended to control greed and reestablish humanity’s relationship with the higher powers in place of the exploitation of the gifts provided by those higher powers.
5. Automobiles, vehicles, factories, and other human instruments that cause pollution are a threat to the environment, humanity, and posterity. The government’s treatment of cigarettes provides a model for the use of cars, trucks, factories, fossil fuels, etc. Their use should be taxed accordingly with prominent notices posted that warn of the dangers of use.
6. The government should grant money to research dharma—specifically, how science and technology can be brought under control, particularly its weapons of mass destruction for humanity and the environment. These are the aspects of dharma that are decidedly non-religious but concern the responsible implementation of science. These studies must be encouraged by the way in which they’re financed to provide practical solutions to greed and the destructive tendency of humans, particularly in relation to the environment.
7. Vaishnavas will seek to establish yoga philosophy on the university level, not as a study of religion, but as an adjunct to science, acknowledging the theory that humans have souls and they have a responsibility to connect with the soul to avoid the degradation of society and the environment. This will be done in a scientific manner. The concept is that materialistic science and yoga’s science of the soul both constitute separate worldviews. To allow only the study of the physical universe constitutes prejudice toward one worldview or religion. The study of soul and the means for connecting to the soul is indeed a scientific discipline. A major motivation for conducting research in this area is for the control of greed and for the elevation of humanity to stop its current self-destructive direction.

[1] Should Trees Have Standing? Law, Morality, and the Environment by Christopher D. Stone. https://goo.gl/pDVQcU

[2] In Ecuador, article 71 of its 2008 Constitution states that nature “has the right to integral respect for its existence and for the maintenance and regeneration of its life cycles, structure, functions and evolutionary processes.” Also, Bolivia granted nature the rights to restoration, regeneration, and respect.