An overview of the ‘new’ Charter of Athens, asserting and formulating the rights of the elements so as to ensure the fundamental right to life of all, from urban centers to the web of life upon which they rely – thereby fundamentally ‘advocating’ and ‘facilitating the use and development’ of human structures (both infrastructural and social) towards the resolution of all human-related crises: economical, social and environmental. A collection of essays addressing the proposed rights of water, earth, air and fire are assembled, proving the remarkable durability of intercultural, historic narratives of ‘the elements’ by demonstrating their relevance to contemporary questions of urbanization in a post-oil world.