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Oct 3, 2015

The World: Your View: Time for people to reject corporate shackles

The World: Your View: Time for people to reject corporate shackles

Future generations in Coos County, OR, have a fundamental and unalienable right to a sustainable economy and energy future. Coos residents advance their bill of rights banning pipelines and a proposed LNG port, recognizing the need to challenge existing law that makes sustainability illegal.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 1, 2015

Boulder Weekly: Letters – Community Rights

Boulder Weekly: Letters – Community Rights

Boulder, CO, resident Rick Casey urges discussion and exploration of community rights and the community rights state ballot initiative, heading for the November 2016 ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 1, 2015

Eugene Weekly: Fighting Back Against Corporate Rights

Eugene Weekly: Fighting Back Against Corporate Rights

CELDF’s Thomas Linzey returns to Oregon on a speaking tour, addressing community rights as a challenge to corporate harms such as GMOs and coal trains. Linzey will be speaking at Lane Community College on October 7th.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 30, 2015

Statesman Journal: Salem talk starts “community rights” events

Statesman Journal: Salem talk starts “community rights” events

In Oregon and across the U.S., community rights is growing into a people’s movement. CELDF’s Thomas Linzey is on a community rights tour in Oregon, speaking to the authority of communities to make governing decisions to protect rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 28, 2015

Wisconsin Public Radio: Ho-Chunk Nation Amends Constitution To Add Environmental Protections

Wisconsin Public Radio: Ho-Chunk Nation Amends Constitution To Add Environmental Protections

Tribal members add the rights of nature to their constitution, in order to strengthen protections against corporate harms. Over the last decade, CELDF has helped the 1st communities in the U.S. to adopt laws recognizing nature’s rights.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Sep 25, 2015

Commonweal: Pope Francis to UN: Respect the ‘Right of the Environment’

Commonweal: Pope Francis to UN: Respect the ‘Right of the Environment’

In a stunning assertion during a speech to the U.N., the Pope asserted the need to recognize the Rights of Nature. For over a decade, CELDF has been working with communities, civil organizations, and countries to codify and protect nature’s rights in law.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success Story

Sep 24, 2015

WKBN First News 27: Youngstown fracking amendment makes another run, group supports passage

WKBN First News 27: Youngstown fracking amendment makes another run, group supports passage

Frack Free Mahoning Valley members urge support in Youngstown for a Community Bill of Rights banning fracking, which is on the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 23, 2015

Truthout: Campaign for a “Worker Bill of Rights” Puts ALEC in Spokane’s Crosshairs

Truthout: Campaign for a “Worker Bill of Rights” Puts ALEC in Spokane’s Crosshairs

Spokane, WA’s Worker Bill of Rights asserts the right to community decision-making over corporate claimed “rights” to call the shots. And in Colorado, residents’ community rights state constitutional amendment asserts community decision-making over state claimed preemptive authority.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 21, 2015

Earth Island Journal: Government and Gas Industry Team Up Against Local Fracking Ban Initiatives in Ohio

Earth Island Journal: Government and Gas Industry Team Up Against Local Fracking Ban Initiatives in Ohio

Reporter Simon Davis-Cohen reveals how Ohio state government used tax payers’ money, hiring private oil and gas industry law firms to keep the people’s community rights initiatives off the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 18, 2015

Aurora Advocate: Were Supreme Court cases victors really the victors?

Aurora Advocate: Were Supreme Court cases victors really the victors?

While the Ohio Secretary of State spins a “win” in last week’s Ohio Supreme Court decision, the Justices in fact slapped his wrist for his claim to be empowered to “prejudge the legality or constitutionality of the substance of a petition,” freeing up Ohio counties to bring their measures forward next year.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 18, 2015

Vindy.com: Ohio Supreme Court orders frack ban onto Nov. ballot

Vindy.com: Ohio Supreme Court orders frack ban onto Nov. ballot

After slapping the wrist of Ohio’s Secretary of State for attempting to rule on the content of community rights initiatives in three counties, the Ohio Supreme Court does the same with the Mahoning County Board of Elections, placing the Youngtown Community Bill of Rights charter amendment back on the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 17, 2015

WFMJ: Court overrules election board on Youngstown anti-fracking amendment

WFMJ: Court overrules election board on Youngstown anti-fracking amendment

Youngstown, OH, residents’ Community Bill of Rights charter amendment banning fracking has been ordered back on the ballot by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success Story

Sep 16, 2015

Chron: Ohio Supreme Court rejects fracking foes’ ballot protest

Chron: Ohio Supreme Court rejects fracking foes’ ballot protest

While three Ohio counties are unable to place their community rights charter amendments on the November ballot for a technicality, the Ohio Supreme Court makes clear to Secretary of State Husted that he may not rule on the legality of the proposed charters’ content.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 16, 2015

The Athens News: Bill of rights/charter won’t be on November ballot in Athens

The Athens News: Bill of rights/charter won’t be on November ballot in Athens

Ohio Supreme Court keeps Home Ruler charter initiatives off the November ballot in three Ohio counties; slaps Secretary of State’s wrist for attempting to keep the measures off the ballot for content.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 15, 2015

Daily Egyptian: Rights group to Jackson County Board: Protect us

Daily Egyptian: Rights group to Jackson County Board: Protect us

Jackson County, IL, residents rally at the County Courthouse to support adoption of a Community Bill of Rights ordinance. The local law would establish community rights to clean air, water, and soil, banning fracking as a violation of those rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 12, 2015

My Daily Tribune: Ohio Court of Appeals denies Meigs ‘Home Rule’ ballot initiative

My Daily Tribune: Ohio Court of Appeals denies Meigs ‘Home Rule’ ballot initiative

An Ohio appellate court refuses to place a community rights county charter initiative on the ballot for residents of Meigs County. Residents are appealing.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 12, 2015

The Medina-Gazette: Party leaders weigh in on charter denial

The Medina-Gazette: Party leaders weigh in on charter denial

Some local party leaders make clear Ohio Secretary of State’s decision to remove county home rule initiatives that were duly qualified from the ballot is tyranny.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 11, 2015

The Bradford Era: Publication describes liabilities townships face over bill of rights ordinance

The Bradford Era: Publication describes liabilities townships face over bill of rights ordinance

The PA State Association of Township Supervisors disparages CELDF’s work, while others see through the smokescreen to the real issue at hand: communities fighting to protect their health, safety, and welfare, while corporations bully them for doing so through lawsuits.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 11, 2015

The Spokesman-Review: Supreme Court date set for Envision arguments

The Spokesman-Review: Supreme Court date set for Envision arguments

Spokane, WA, residents qualified a Community Bill of Rights for the ballot for 2013. Corporate and government interests attempted to keep the measure off the ballot, and lost in an appellate court. November 10th the Washington Supreme Court will hear the case.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 10, 2015

The Athens News: Charter petitions awaiting decision by Ohio Supreme Court

The Athens News: Charter petitions awaiting decision by Ohio Supreme Court

An Athens County, OH, resident, lays out the considerations for the Ohio Supreme Court as it determines whether or not residents of three counties may vote on their own community rights county charter initiatives.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 9, 2015

Envision Spokane fires back against mayor’s legal challenge

Envision Spokane fires back against mayor’s legal challenge

Envision Spokane is asking a judge to throw out a legal challenge brought by the mayor against the group’s most recent ballot initiative.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 9, 2015

Citizens should be able to vote on charters against pipelines

Citizens should be able to vote on charters against pipelines

Thank you, Paul Wohlfarth, for your 7/28 LTE raising awareness about the hazards of pipelines and the Waterville compressor station and for pointing out that we cannot rely upon our judicial system to do what’s right for the people. Experience indicates that the same could be said for our legislative and regulatory systems as well.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 9, 2015

Columbus Free-Press: Community Rights Network Calls Out Jon Husted for Blocking Anti-fracking Initiatives

Columbus Free-Press: Community Rights Network Calls Out Jon Husted for Blocking Anti-fracking Initiatives

Ohio residents don’t take “no” for an answer, protesting Ohio Secretary of State’s recent decision to remove three county Home Rule charter initiatives that ban fracking infrastructure projects from the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 8, 2015

StateImpact: DEP delays deep injection well decisions

StateImpact: DEP delays deep injection well decisions

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection refuses to issue two frack wastewater injection well permits where townships have community bills of rights bans on injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 6, 2015

The Journal Gazette: Fracking at center of battle over vote

The Journal Gazette: Fracking at center of battle over vote

Residents in three Ohio counties argue to the Ohio Supreme Court that their right to vote is being violated by Secretary of State Jon Husted. Attorneys for the Secretary of State argue Mr. Husted acted within his authority to pull the duly qualified initiatives from the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 5, 2015

The Athens News: Big state groups come out against charter/bills of rights in Athens and two other counties

The Athens News: Big state groups come out against charter/bills of rights in Athens and two other counties

Big business comes out against the people of Ohio and in favor of reining in democracy as it files amicus briefs in support of Secretary of State Jon Husted in the Ohio Supreme Court. Mr. Husted pulled 3 county Home Rule initiatives from the ballot. Residents are suing Mr. Husted to place their duly qualified initiatives back on the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 5, 2015

Observer-Reporter: DEP cites local ordinances in wastewater well rejection

Observer-Reporter: DEP cites local ordinances in wastewater well rejection

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection rejects a permit for a frack wastewater injection well in Grant Township, acknowledging the Township’s Community Bill of Rights banning those wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 3, 2015

The Spokesman-Review: State Supreme Court to hear 2013 Envision Spokane case

The Spokesman-Review: State Supreme Court to hear 2013 Envision Spokane case

Not wanting communities exercising authority in the places where they live, business and government interests appeal a Washington appellate court decision to the Washington Supreme Court. The appellate court had ordered Spokane’s Community Bill of Rights on the ballot for a vote by the people.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 3, 2015

The Crescent-News: Dozens protest Husted speaking engagement in opposition to fracking decision

The Crescent-News: Dozens protest Husted speaking engagement in opposition to fracking decision

Determined to have their right to vote recognized, residents from across Ohio protest the Secretary of State’s blocking of their community right county charter ballot measures. More than 9,000 signatures were gathered in three counties.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 2, 2015

Stow Sentry: Backers of fracking-related ballot issues protest at Columbus event featuring Jon Husted

Stow Sentry: Backers of fracking-related ballot issues protest at Columbus event featuring Jon Husted

Residents from across Ohio protest outside a luncheon where Ohio Secretary of State Husted is speaking today. Mr. Husted is attempting to block Home Rule county charter initiatives in Athens, Medina, and Fulton Counties from being on the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 2, 2015

Cleveland Scene: Medina County Citizens Protesting Jon Husted’s Petition Review Process

Cleveland Scene: Medina County Citizens Protesting Jon Husted’s Petition Review Process

Citizens from Medina, Fulton and Athens counties in Ohio are gathering in Columbus today to protest Secretary of State Jon Husted’s ruling that those counties’ citizens may not vote on their own county charter initiatives, despite meeting requirements to place those initiatives on the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 1, 2015

The Republic: Fracking foes in 3 Ohio counties say elections chief exceeded authority to block ballot issues

The Republic: Fracking foes in 3 Ohio counties say elections chief exceeded authority to block ballot issues

Three Ohio counties argue in their filing to the Ohio Supreme Court that the Secretary of State overstepped his authority in removing their county charter initiatives from the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 27, 2015

Capital Press: Why initiatives should remain a power tool for citizens

Capital Press: Why initiatives should remain a power tool for citizens

The Oregon Secretary of State refuses to certify a duly qualified state constitutional amendment that would secure the right to democratic local self-government. This writer points out the dangerous precedent established by such action if allowed to stand.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 27, 2015

The Inlander: Worker Bill of Rights will be on ballot as city declines to appeal judge’s ruling

The Inlander: Worker Bill of Rights will be on ballot as city declines to appeal judge’s ruling

The Worker Bill of Rights is the fourth initiative from Envision Spokane, now operating under Envision Worker Rights, to qualify for the ballot. It would grant new protections and rights to workers in Spokane, a prospect that has the business community worried.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 27, 2015

Vindy.com: Mahoning elections board votes to keep Youngstown anti-fracking proposal off ballot

Vindy.com: Mahoning elections board votes to keep Youngstown anti-fracking proposal off ballot

With the Mahoning County Board of Elections unanimously voting to keep a Youngstown anti-fracking charter amendment proposal off the Nov. 3 ballot, backers of the initiative are unsure of their next step.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 26, 2015

Read the Dirt: Hundreds of Communities Are Building Legal Blockades to Fight Big Carbon

Read the Dirt: Hundreds of Communities Are Building Legal Blockades to Fight Big Carbon

Communities across the country – threatened by harmful carbon extraction – are leveraging community rights and lessons from indigenous peoples to use rights-based legal strategies, working to overcome unjust western legal doctrines.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Aug 26, 2015

The Spokesman-Review: Recognize workers’ rights

The Spokesman-Review: Recognize workers’ rights

While The Spokesman-Review got it right that all qualifying citizens’ initiatives should make it onto the ballot, the editorial board continues to get it wrong on corporate rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 25, 2015

The Bradford Era: New defendants want in on Highland Township injection well lawsuit

The Bradford Era: New defendants want in on Highland Township injection well lawsuit

A natural gas driller suing Highland Township in federal court claims attempts by outside parties to intervene in the case, one involving a municipal ban on wastewater injection wells, are both “befuddled” and baseless, asking the court to refuse their inclusion, in a statement filed on Monday.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 24, 2015

The Vindicator: Youngstown council puts anti-fracking amendment on November ballot

The Vindicator: Youngstown council puts anti-fracking amendment on November ballot

YOUNGSTOWN ­— City council voted today to put an anti-fracking charter amendment proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot, and the Mahoning County Board of Elections could do the same as early as Wednesday.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 24, 2015

EcoWatch: Corporate Rights Trump Democracy in Ohio Fracking Fight

EcoWatch: Corporate Rights Trump Democracy in Ohio Fracking Fight

People who oppose having their communities transformed into corporate resource colonies are familiar with the Halliburton Loophole, a secretly drafted edict that places the oil and gas industries above the law, exempting them and no one else from obeying the clean water act, the clean air act, the safe water drinking act, and others. Now, Ohio Sec. of State Jon Husted has unilaterally placed those same corporations above the Ohio State Constitution.

Read More | News from the Grassroots, Press Releases & Blogs

Aug 24, 2015

Ohio SOS in hot water over dismissing unconventional oil & gas ballot proposals

Ohio SOS in hot water over dismissing unconventional oil & gas ballot proposals

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has been sued by 10 residents of Fulton, Medina and Athens counties after he invalidated hydraulic fracturing ballot proposals.

The group is challenging Husted’s decision to remove a series of ballot questions that contain bans on fracking-related oil and gas drilling projects, such as wastewater injection wells used during the fracturing process.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 24, 2015

Pagosa Daily Post: Coloradans for Community Rights Submits State Ballot Initiative

Pagosa Daily Post: Coloradans for Community Rights Submits State Ballot Initiative

Coloradans advance their campaign for a statewide community rights state constitutional amendment for the 2016 ballot. Residents across the state refuse to remain resource colonies for corporate profits, and are working to codify their right to local self-government.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 23, 2015

Vindy.com: Youngstown council to vote Monday to put an anti-fracking charter amendment proposal on ballot

Vindy.com: Youngstown council to vote Monday to put an anti-fracking charter amendment proposal on ballot

City council will vote Monday to put an anti-fracking charter amendment proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot, and it appears the Mahoning County Board of Elections will do the same in a couple of weeks.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 22, 2015

The Colorado Statesman: Activists tweak message, timing in latest anti-fracking ballot fight

The Colorado Statesman: Activists tweak message, timing in latest anti-fracking ballot fight

Activists will take another crack at passing the Colorado Community Rights Amendment, a proposed ballot initiative designed to give localities a veto over corporate activity, starting with the oil and gas industry.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Aug 21, 2015

E&E Reporter: Fracking foes ask Ohio Supreme Court to reinstate ballot drives

E&E Reporter: Fracking foes ask Ohio Supreme Court to reinstate ballot drives

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted blocked the initiatives in Athens, Fulton and Medina counties on Nov. 13, 2014, saying local governments cannot get around state law that allows fracking. He acted under a section of Ohio law that allows the secretary of state to respond to election complaints (EnergyWire, Aug. 17).

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 21, 2015

NGI’s Shale Daily: Ohio Organizers Sue Secretary of State For Invalidating Anti-Fracking Petitions

NGI’s Shale Daily: Ohio Organizers Sue Secretary of State For Invalidating Anti-Fracking Petitions

The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) has filed a lawsuit against Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted for his recent decision to invalidate petitions in three counties across the state that sought to ban oil and gas development.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 21, 2015

Judge sets path for voters to decide renewable energy ordinance

Judge sets path for voters to decide renewable energy ordinance

The second of two legal challenges filed in opposition to a proposed “community Bill of Rights” relating to energy production and consumption in Columbia County was resolved Friday, Aug. 14.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 21, 2015

Fracking Fight Heats Up In Ohio

Fracking Fight Heats Up In Ohio

With the oil and gas industry already reveling in a recent Ohio Supreme Court decision stripping local control on fracking and other extraction activities away from communities, the Secretary of State has now handed the industry another victory, opening the door for fracking infrastructure projects to spread even faster across Ohio.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 21, 2015

Lawsuit filed against Jon Husted over Medina County charter ballot issue

Lawsuit filed against Jon Husted over Medina County charter ballot issue

A Medina County environmental organization Wednesday sued Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted after he threw out a fall ballot issue last week that would have placed restrictions on oil and gas projects within county lines.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 21, 2015

Union Leader: Northern Pass project remains a lightning rod

Union Leader: Northern Pass project remains a lightning rod

Opposition to Northern Pass – a 180-mile proposed route through NH of high transmission wires and steel towers reaching 140 feet in height – remains strong. CELDF partner, the New Hampshire Community Rights Network, stands strong to protect residents’ right to decide whether or not Northern Pass sites here.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots