“Let us not forget that we live within her and we are part of Earth, Mother Nature needs our care.” – Shirlley Mamani, Community Member, Aymara, Peru

(Greetings in Aimara). My name is Shirley Mamani, and I am Peruvian. I was born in the Puno region, in a city situated at 3,800 meters above sea level, and I lived in the province of Yunguyo, an agricultural province, Part of Aymara culture. The Aymaras believe in the union of humans with the Earth, Mother Nature, we also believe in the mountains, the Apus, and other symbolic representations, that this union possible. Today I come to speak to you on behalf of my Aymara brothers, because we believe that Mother Nature has rights, no one owns it, and as such we must protect it. Nowadays, with pollution and environmental impact, more and more of it is destroyed. Let us not forget that we live within her and we are part of Earth, Mother Nature needs our care.