2024 Year-end Newsletter: Living in Nature
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Feb 6, 2020
PRESS RELEASE: LAKE ERIE BILL OF RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF NATURE ARGUED IN US FEDERAL COURT
A post-court update of the Lake Erie Bill of Rights. Get an in-depth look at the arguments made in federal court as the Corporate State defends its constitutional right to pollute. The City of Toledo is triumphant in defending Rights of Nature.
Read More | News, Press ReleasesFeb 5, 2020
VIDEO: ‘The Transformation from Reformist to Revolutionary’
This 6 minute short explains how, across numerous social issues—from housing, worker rights, environmental protection to gentrification—“the people in the community lack the legal authority to determine their own future, a basic tenet of democracy.”
Read More | Blogs, Community Rights, Multimedia, News from the Grassroots, Resource Links, ResourcesFeb 3, 2020
Lake Erie Bill of Rights Court Update
Read the first-hand accounts from attendees at the historic Lake Erie Bill of Rights hearing that took place in Toledo, Ohio last week.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases, Press Releases & BlogsFeb 3, 2020
Who Speaks for Lake Erie?
Toledoans are tired of waiting for action out of Columbus. State and federal authorities — who are supposed to protect the lake, and the people who rely on it for drinking water, recreation and more — should step up to their responsibilities.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsFeb 3, 2020
Blog: Crisis Calls for More Democracy, Not Less
Financial and environmental crises call for more democracy – not less. Yet we see these crises used by U.S. and state governments to suspend democracy. It’s time to stop it.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsJan 27, 2020
Press Release: Lake Erie’s Day in Court
Organizations, activists, government officials, and hundreds of others from around the world support the Lake Erie Bill of Rights as oral arguments in federal court are held tomorrow.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsJan 25, 2020
The Blade: More at stake than water with Lake Erie Bill of Rights court decision
Can a corporation 40 miles from Toledo interfere with the rights of Toledoans to amend their charter and protect Lake Erie?
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJan 21, 2020
Lake Erie Bill of Rights Heads to Federal Court
Oral arguments in the federal case brought by a corporation to overturn the Lake Erie Bill of Rights are coming up. The world stands with Toledoans.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJan 20, 2020
Wink News: Push by Florida lawmakers to block bill giving ‘legal rights’ to nature
Florida state representatives endeavor to stop Rights of Nature as growing numbers of communities across the state advance local laws recognizing such rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJan 19, 2020
The Blade: Lake Erie’s fate
The Lake Erie Bill of Rights is part of a growing movement, and people are joining. What will the courts do?
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJan 19, 2020
NBC 24News: Toledoans For Safe Water screen “Invisible Hand” ahead of the state’s lawsuit against city
Toledoans grow support for the Lake Erie Bill of Rights as their day in court approaches.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJan 9, 2020
Blog: Dillon’s Rule Under Scrutiny in Virginia
Progressives may find Democratic wins favorable. But as long as Dillon’s Rule (legalized state preemption) stops local community self-government from heightening environmental and economic protections, no political party is going to help.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsDec 19, 2019
Susquehanna: 2019: A Historic Year, and We Are Just Getting Started
2019 has been a remarkable year for CELDF and our partner communities. Check out what we are celebrating!
Read More | News from the Grassroots, Press Releases & BlogsDec 17, 2019
Sierra: Nevertheless, they persisted
The epic story of Grant Township, Pennsylvania, fighting for their community’s water in the face of PGE’s proposed fracking wastewater injection well.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryDec 10, 2019
Guest Blog: A Conversation with The Guardian
LEBOR activists exchanged views with The Guardian on Rights of Nature and human rights. Here, they make clear the need to recognize that it is not nature’s rights vs human rights, but those combined against corporate claimed rights.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsDec 5, 2019
Blog: A Fundamentally Humanizing Agenda
The current administration wants a crackdown on people experiencing homelessness. It’s time, instead, for a humanizing agenda, such as that advanced by Denver residents this year.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsNov 25, 2019
Media Release: First Rights of Nature legislation introduced in Australia
The first Rights of Nature legislation is introduced in Australia, into the Western Australia Parliament. CELDF’s International Center for the Rights of Nature assisted in drafting the law.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryNov 13, 2019
Scalawag: Progressive wins in Virginia are limited as long as “Dillon’s Rule” is on the books
Regardless of political gains by Democrats in Virginia, residents still do not have authority to govern themselves in their own communities. Here’s why – and what communities can do about it.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsNov 11, 2019
Media Statement: Settlement Announced with Oil and Gas Industry Seeking Monetary Award: Ban Against Injection Wells Continues
Following settlement of one of the lawsuits against Grant Township, PA, for daring to protect its water from a frack wastewater injection well, the township continues to stand up to the oil and gas industry.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsNov 4, 2019
Press Release: Election 2019: Corporations Are Determining What Gets Voted On
Efforts are growing to not only determine how people vote, but what gets voted on. Your ballot measures are not yours to democratically determine.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsOct 23, 2019
In Plain Sight
Since its inception, a state-wide movement in Ohio has faced a state and corporate attack that amounts to concerted opposition from all branches of state government, corporate lobbies, private law firms, and both political parties. The entire repressive apparatus has revealed itself in 2019, for all to see.
Read More | PublicationsOct 23, 2019
High Country News: In Oregon, the fight for local control upends Western norms
Lincoln County residents continue their fight to protect themselves and ecosystems from aerial sprayed pesticides, and spark not only hope, but tangible strategies for advancing rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsOct 16, 2019
Press Release: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Attacks 4-Year-Old Community Water Protection Law
The people’s own Department of Environmental Protection in Pennsylvania sues Grant Township to overturn a democratically enacted Home Rule charter that includes a ban on fracking wastewater injection wells. This was their day in court.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsOct 10, 2019
Media Statement: Constitutional Amendment Introduced in Pennsylvania
Community Rights advances to the state level as a Pennsylvania legislator introduces the “Local Self-Government Amendment,” elevating people and communities over corporations.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryOct 8, 2019
Media Release: Rights of Nature Constitutional Amendment Introduced in Sweden’s Parliament
A representative in Sweden’s Parliament introduces Rights of Nature legislation – the first time a European national government considers the rights of ecosystems.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryOct 2, 2019
Media Statement: Court Issues Decision on Two Year Aerial Pesticides Ban in Lincoln County, Oregon
Lincoln County, Oregon, community members prepare to appeal judge’s denial of their right to protect themselves from aerial sprayed pesticides.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsSep 30, 2019
Press Release: Ohio Courts Continue Attack on Local Democracy and Rights of Nature, Petitioners Seek Federal Remedies
Williams County, Ohio, residents submit request to join a multi-plaintiff federal civil rights lawsuit against state of Ohio as they continue to be blocked from the ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsSep 19, 2019
Blog: We Stand With the Youth Climate Strike
CELDF stands with Youth Climate Strike as they demand systemic change, including legal Rights of Nature.
Read More | Press Releases & Blogs, Success StorySep 10, 2019
My Plainview: How giving legal rights to nature could help reduce toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie
An analysis of Rights of Nature laws as a path forward to protecting ecosystems in the face of continuing environmental harms.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 29, 2019
Media Release: EXPOSED: Chamber of Commerce Wrote Ohio Law Banning Rights of Nature Enforcement
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 21, 2019
Press Release: Democracy Challenged in Williams County, Petitioners Appeal to Ohio Supreme Court Again
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 13, 2019
Media Statement: Lake Erie Bill of Rights Court Case Heats Up as Algae Bloom Grows
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
Bryan Times: Forum: County charter being stonewalled
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
Next City: Can Cities Grant Nature the Right to Exist, and Thrive?
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: Should Rivers Have Same Legal Rights As Humans? A Growing Number Of Voices Say Yes
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
Truthout: States Are Thwarting Cities’ Attempts to Govern Themselves
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
Reuters: That river has rights: new strategy to protect planet
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
Press Release: Ballot Access Stymied in Ohio and Washington
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
The Columbus Dispatch: Letter: Budget section tramples on community, nature’s rights
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
Lake Erie Advocates’ Media Statement: Ohio Legislature Attacks Rights of Nature, Protects Polluters in Budget Bill
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
Media Release: Ohio Legislature Bans Rights of Nature Enforcement
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
CELDF on the Daily Show: The Fight to Turn Lake Erie into a Person
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
WGCU: The Rights of Nature Movement Comes to Lee County
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
Media Release: Rights of Michindoh Aquifer Encounter First Hurdle
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
Mother Jones: A New Wave of Environmentalists Want to Give Nature Legal Rights
Read More | News from the Grassroots, Success Story
Jul 2, 2019
Common Dreams: The Meek Be Damned on Global Warming
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
Press Release: Major Developments for Lake Erie Bill of Rights
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
Toledo Residents’ Media Release: Citizens Recognize the Lake Erie Bill of Rights as the Will of the People
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 Story