Important Updates
A new system of law based on respect for Nature and the…
Issues, News, Resources, Rights of Nature
Human and ecosystem viability come when we figure out how to orient…
News, Rights of Nature
Protecting Water and Life: Frontline Stories from Ohioans fighting corporate and state…
Publications
Sep 5, 2019
Bestselling author Jim Hightower on Rights of Nature – its rights are our rights, and it’s time to act.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsSep 2, 2019
It’s time to change our law so that we can protect ecosystems over commerce. CELDF is helping communities advance that paradigm shift across the U.S., including Florida.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 30, 2019
Industry worked with Ohio legislators to insert language in the Ohio budget bill, attempting to make it illegal to enforce laws that recognize Rights of Nature.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 29, 2019
Investigation by Ohio citizens finds the Ohio Chamber of Commerce drafted Ohio legislation language to stop Rights of Nature enforcement.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesAug 22, 2019
The Ohio Farm Bureau and corporate agribusiness urge the Ohio Supreme Court to block Williams County voters from casting ballots on the people’s own initiative.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 22, 2019
Amidst calls for a new Irish Constitution are calls to recognize the Rights of Nature, changing how humankind and nature are in relationship, and how we protect nature under law.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Rights of NatureAug 21, 2019
It’s not enough to have Home Rule as state legislators continue to strip rights of local self-government from communities across the state. It’s time to change state constitutions to recognize the authority of communities to protect their own health, safety, and welfare.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 21, 2019
Williams County, Ohio, residents partner with CELDF to fight for their right to vote in the Ohio Supreme Court.
Read More | Community Wires, Democratic Rights, News, Press ReleasesAug 20, 2019
A Williams County, Ohio, resident speaks out on protecting the rights of communities and nature through a county charter and voting.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 20, 2019
Corporate interests intent on selling Williams County, Ohio, water for profit is the issue, points out this resident.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 20, 2019
CELDF is partnering with a coalition of Philippine activists, attorneys, and organizations to advance Rights of Nature protections in law.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryAug 19, 2019
Toledo residents file pro se lawsuit defending the people’s Lake Erie Bill of Rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesAug 18, 2019
Rights of Nature is gaining traction in the U.S. and around the world – the beginning of a paradigm shift. Here’s what it looks like on the ground.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryAug 16, 2019
The Rights of Nature is taking root in Florida, as counties begin working with CELDF to protect water ecosystems from relentless corporate harms.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryAug 13, 2019
The City of Toledo takes a stand in court to defend the Lake Erie Bill of Rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesAug 12, 2019
Williams County, Ohio, residents are working to protect their county’s water source from privatization. Their own government is trying to stop them.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 12, 2019
More and more cities are taking action to end the commodification and exploitation of people and nature for corporate profit, using Community Rights and Rights of Nature.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryAug 3, 2019
NPR covers this story on the growing Rights of Nature movement across the U.S. and around the world. “‘[W]e have to change our environmental protection in this country and across the world, because obviously what we’re doing isn’t working.'”
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJul 31, 2019
The federal court’s decision to uphold the Berkeley cellphone radiation disclosure law should not be mistaken for judicial deference to the right of local self-government.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsJul 31, 2019
Recognizing legal rights of ecosystems is a growing movement gaining momentum around the world.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJul 22, 2019
The corporate state attempts to strip democratic rights in Ohio and Washington state. CELDF supports communities as together they fight back.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesJul 22, 2019
Community members in Columbus, Ohio, call out the state legislators’ shameful efforts to quash Rights of Nature in the budget bill.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJul 22, 2019
Community groups release joint statement revealing not only the Ohio legislature’s efforts to stop Rights of Nature, but also expanding protections of industrial agricultural operations.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesJul 18, 2019
While Rights of Nature grows in Ohio, the state legislature tries to ban its enforcement. Undeterred, Ohio communities continue advancing laws to protect ecosystems based on rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesJul 17, 2019
The Daily Show’s Michael Kosta covers Toledo residents’ work to protect Lake Erie by recognizing the Lake’s rights…and he takes the Lake’s…hand in marriage?!
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJul 16, 2019
CELDF co-founder Thomas Linzey on the growing Rights of Nature movement as the people of Lee County, Florida, look to recognize the rights of the Caloosahatchee River.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJul 11, 2019
While efforts mount to stop Rights of Nature in Ohio, community groups press on, insisting on their right to protect the ecosystems upon which they depend.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesJul 10, 2019
Jul 2, 2019
A call to action by CELDF’s Thomas Linzey – the time to act is now, advancing community democracy in the name of sustainability, and the rights of nature.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsJul 1, 2019
Rights of Nature is hot in Ohio, where Toledoans take action to protect the Lake Erie Bill of Rights, another community advances an initiative to recognize the rights of a water ecosystem, legal cases continue, and more.
Read More | News, Press ReleasesJun 27, 2019
As the state of Ohio attempts to undermine the will of Toledo community members, residents file a pro se complaint to uphold the Lake Erie Bill of Rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press Releases, Success StoryJun 27, 2019
State of Ohio inserts anti-Rights of Nature language in the budget bill. In an era of climate crisis and growing efforts to advance ecosystem rights, Ohio government is on the wrong side of history.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesJun 27, 2019
Toledoans file lawsuit to affirm their Lake Erie Bill of Rights and as part of the growing movement for Rights of Nature.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJun 26, 2019
Community Rights and Rights of Nature continue to grow in Ohio as Williams County residents submit their citizen initiative to protect themselves from corporate water withdrawals.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press Releases, Success StoryJun 16, 2019
The State of Colima in Mexico recognizes the Rights of Nature in its constitution.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJun 14, 2019
CELDF’s community organizer Tish O’Dell on what it takes to protect Lake Erie and Rights of Nature as the state of Ohio attacks both.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJun 7, 2019
As Ohioans make strides to advance Rights of Nature, the people’s own state government fights to stop them.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJun 7, 2019
Grant Township, PA, resident speaks out on criticism aimed at Township’s efforts to protect the community from a toxic fracking wastewater injection well.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJun 6, 2019
With CELDF-supported attorneys, Tacoma, WA, residents filed a 1st Amendment petition with the Supreme Court challenging continued denial of ballot access for qualified citizen initiatives.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesJun 5, 2019
A Toledo woman’s journey to discover and join the Rights of Nature movement, protecting her daughter, community, and the rights of Lake Erie.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJun 5, 2019
Jim Hightower, national radio commentator, author, and public speaker, points to the Rights of Nature movement as a grassroots effort to protect the biosphere and challenge corporate rule.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJun 3, 2019
Derrick Jensen interviews CELDF’s Ben Price on his newly published book, How Wealth Rules the World.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsMay 29, 2019
The Yurok Tribal Council adopts law recognizing the rights of the Klamath River, which is central to the culture and life of the Yurok.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryMay 28, 2019
Ohio Attorney General files complaint to overturn Lake Erie Bill of Rights on behalf of industry, arguing there is a right to pollute.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesMay 24, 2019
Wealthy interests seeking to crush human rights in Denver, Colorado, out raised local supporters of the Denver “Right to Survive” initiative 23:1. This is the story of a fight for human rights that cannot be trampled by corporate hegemony.
Read More | Blogs, Community Wires, NewsMay 23, 2019
The story of one Toledo mom and her taking action to protect her children, her community, and the Great Lake Erie through Community Rights and Rights of Nature.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryMay 21, 2019
May 20, 2019
An interview with CELDF’s Ben Price on Denver’s Right to Survive ordinance, and the $2.3 million spent by industries to defeat it.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsMay 9, 2019
Today, the Ohio House adopts provisions to block communities and local governments from enforcing recognized legal rights for ecosystems.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press Releases