Vandana Shiva borrows the model of the Earth University from Shantiniketan, the forest school, which later became a university. It was established by Rabindranath Tagore in 1921. According to the writer, Earth University teaches Earth Democracy, which ensures freedom for all species to evolve within the web of life. It also confers freedom and responsibility on humans, as members of the Earth family, to recognize, protect and respect the rights of other species. Earth Democracy is a shift from anthropocentrism to eco-centrism. Earth Democracy translates into human rights to food and water, to freedom from hunger and thirst.
