News from the Grassroots

Write for CELDF

Aug 11, 2017

Vindy.com: Fracking issue in Youngstown could ignite fight in the courts

Vindy.com: Fracking issue in Youngstown could ignite fight in the courts

Gas industry allies in the Ohio legislature adopted a law authorizing BOEs and the Secretary of State to keep measures off the ballot based on content. The new law may be used in an attempt to keep 2 Youngstown community rights measures off the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 9, 2017

Fosters.com: We must protect fair elections in NH

Fosters.com: We must protect fair elections in NH

The New Hampshire legislature is suppressing voters and refusing to protect the vote through a verification process. This resident calls for using community rights to change that.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 8, 2017

In These Times Rural America: Youngstown Residents Push to Oust Corporations from Election Campaigns, Cap Contributions at $100

In These Times Rural America: Youngstown Residents Push to Oust Corporations from Election Campaigns, Cap Contributions at $100

Youngstown, OH, residents work to ban corporations from elections and cap campaign spending to level the playing field.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 8, 2017

Vindy.com: Committee turns in petitions for elections charter amendment

Vindy.com: Committee turns in petitions for elections charter amendment

Youngstown residents submit a petition for the November ballot that would remove corporations from elections, and cap campaign contributions.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 5, 2017

The Athens News: Let the people of Athens County have a vote on county charter

The Athens News: Let the people of Athens County have a vote on county charter

A resident and attorney in Athens County, OH, urges support for the county charter initiative advanced by community members to protect the county from fracking.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Aug 2, 2017

The Athens News: Anti-fracking group protests rejection of county charter

The Athens News: Anti-fracking group protests rejection of county charter

For a third year, Athens County, OH, residents battle efforts to keep them from voting on their qualified charter initiative. The measure bans fracking activities as a violation of rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 31, 2017

BG Independent News: BG charter amendment group submits ballot initiative

BG Independent News: BG charter amendment group submits ballot initiative

Facing the proposed Nexus pipeline and determined to protect their community’s water, Bowling Green, OH, residents turn in signatures for their community rights initiative.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 27, 2017

The Athens News: Judge rules charter petition had enough signatures after all

The Athens News: Judge rules charter petition had enough signatures after all

For a 3rd year, Athens County, OH, residents fight to protect themselves from fracking activities through a rights-based Home Rule charter. They continue to come up against the corporate state blocking them.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 26, 2017

Truthout: Oregon Ecosystem Files Lawsuit to Defend Its Rights

Truthout: Oregon Ecosystem Files Lawsuit to Defend Its Rights

As the Siletz River Ecosystem is being destroyed by aerial sprayed pesticides, the river is taking legal action to protect itself, using a community rights ordinance adopted by Linconl Co, OR, voters.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 25, 2017

Public News Service: OR River Could Take Legal Action in Aerial Pesticide Ban Case

Public News Service: OR River Could Take Legal Action in Aerial Pesticide Ban Case

Nature’s rights are necessary to protect local ecosystems, and the Siletz River in Lincoln County, OR, is filing to intervene in a lawsuit to make that argument.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 22, 2017

Akron Beacon Journal: Pipeline opponents gagged in Medina County

Akron Beacon Journal: Pipeline opponents gagged in Medina County

Medina, OH, resident lays out the gagging of democratic rights by county government when residents advanced a measure to protect themselves from the Nexus pipeline and compressor station – and the harms that will come with those projects.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 21, 2017

World Policy On Air: “The Rights of Trees”

World Policy On Air: “The Rights of Trees”

As global warming accelerates, a radical change in how we view and interact with nature is necessary. World Policy on Air’s David Alpern interviews CELDF’s Mari Margil.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Jul 21, 2017

BG Independent News: Petition aimed at prioritizing people over pipelines

BG Independent News: Petition aimed at prioritizing people over pipelines

Bowling Green, OH, residents prepare to submit signatures to place a community rights ballot initiative before voters for November. The measure bans the Nexus pipeline as a violation of rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 20, 2017

NexusMedia: Meet the Rural Pennsylvania Town at the Forefront of Environmental Law

NexusMedia: Meet the Rural Pennsylvania Town at the Forefront of Environmental Law

Grant Township, PA, digs in deep to fight a frack wastewater injection well, leveraging rights to challenge a legal system stacked against them.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 18, 2017

The Gazette: Judge rejects county charter complaint

The Gazette: Judge rejects county charter complaint

The right of Medina Co., OH, residents to alter their government through citizen initiative is denied by a Common Pleas judge. Residents are considering next steps.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 17, 2017

The Spokesman-Review: Federal judge tosses suit by Raging Grannies seeking to ban coal and oil trains through Spokane

The Spokesman-Review: Federal judge tosses suit by Raging Grannies seeking to ban coal and oil trains through Spokane

A federal judge does not consider the people’s right to a healthy climate in a lawsuit filed by Spokane residents who are fighting to protect their community from fossil fuel activities.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 14, 2017

The Gazette: Board’s charter decision an insult to democracy

The Gazette: Board’s charter decision an insult to democracy

Medina County, OH, resident calls out the County Board of Elections for their refusal to let the people vote on their qualified county charter initiative. The measure secures democratic and environmental rights, and bans fracking infrastructure.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 13, 2017

The Blade: Toledoans can band together to protect Lake Erie

The Blade: Toledoans can band together to protect Lake Erie

Toledo resident calls out local government’s lack of meaningful response to protect Lake Erie, and calls in the broader community to participate in direct democracy in advancing community rights – including rights for Lake Erie.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 12, 2017

UCY.TV: The Age of Fission Program – Community Rights with CELDF’s Kai Huschke

UCY.TV: The Age of Fission Program – Community Rights with CELDF’s Kai Huschke

CELDF’s Kai Hushke is interviewed on UCY.TV, examining the barriers our communities face when they exercise their right to govern the places they live – and exploring how community rights is a means to challenge and change them.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Jul 11, 2017

The Gazette: Elections board doesn’t certify county charter petitions

The Gazette: Elections board doesn’t certify county charter petitions

Medina County, OH, residents find the Board of Elections blocking their initiative to establish a Home Rule charter, refusing to allow citizens to vote on their own measure.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 10, 2017

Immense Possibilities: The True Rights of Communities

Immense Possibilities: The True Rights of Communities

Immense Possibilities interviews CELDF’s Thomas Linzey and Coos County, OR, community rights activist Mary Geddry.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Jul 9, 2017

Akron Beacon Journal: Petition decision is important

Akron Beacon Journal: Petition decision is important

On Monday, the Medina County, OH, Board of Elections is meeting to certify residents’ petition for a Home Rule county charter measure on the ballot. This Medina resident urges citizens to attend and insist on their right to vote on the people’s initiative.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 9, 2017

Akron Beacon Journal: Myths about the Nexus pipeline

Akron Beacon Journal: Myths about the Nexus pipeline

A resident of Medina County spells out what the problem is with the Nexus pipeline threatening to cut through the county – and what residents can do about it through a rights-based county charter.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jul 9, 2017

Business Insider: How Pittsburgh embraced a radical environmental movement popping up in conservative towns across America

Business Insider: How Pittsburgh embraced a radical environmental movement popping up in conservative towns across America

Recognizing the rights of nature is a strategy leveraged by communities in partnership with CELDF across the U.S. to protect themselves from fracking harms. The strategy crosses traditional conservative/liberal demarcations.

Read More | News from the Grassroots, Success Story

Jul 7, 2017

Yes! Magazine: A New Zealand River Has Human Rights. Now Will Modern Law Come to Its Senses?

Yes! Magazine: A New Zealand River Has Human Rights. Now Will Modern Law Come to Its Senses?

Rather than being an idea on the fringes, the rights of nature is gaining legal and cultural traction as courts around the world are beginning to recognize rights of rivers.

Read More | News from the Grassroots, Success Story

Jun 29, 2017

The Athens News: Committee submits anti-fracking charter petitions to county Board of Elections

The Athens News: Committee submits anti-fracking charter petitions to county Board of Elections

Athens County, OH, residents submit signatures to place a community rights county charter on the November ballot. The charter bans fracking activities as a violation of rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 29, 2017

Mountain Xpress: Community rights movement promotes local sovereignty

Mountain Xpress: Community rights movement promotes local sovereignty

Asheville, NC, residents recognize sustainability is illegal under our structure of law and governance – and are taking steps to challenge that structure and create renewable energy systems using Community Rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 29, 2017

The Gazette: NEXUS foes try charter again

The Gazette: NEXUS foes try charter again

Facing the Nexus pipeline to transport fracked gas, Medina County, OH, residents turn in petitions to place a rights-based county charter on the ballot. The measure protects environmental and democratic rights, and bans pipelines.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 29, 2017

The Laconia Daily Sun: Our rights are being claimed by corporations, with state’s backing

The Laconia Daily Sun: Our rights are being claimed by corporations, with state’s backing

Moving beyond protest, many New Hampshire communities are taking action to reclaim their democratic rights and protect their communities from harm by establishing Community Bills of Rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 25, 2017

Vindy.com: Support urged for new community bills of rights

Vindy.com: Support urged for new community bills of rights

Youngstown, OH, residents advance two rights-based measures to protect their water and their elections. Community members are gathering signatures for the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 22, 2017

The News Guard: Aerial Spraying: Lawsuit reaction

The News Guard: Aerial Spraying: Lawsuit reaction

Community rights advocates in Lincoln County stand firm on their right to be free from aerially sprayed pesticides. They are fighting to protect Lincoln residents’ rights-based ban of the practice, adopted in May.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 19, 2017

Scientific American: Rivers Get Human Rights: They Can Sue to Protect Themselves

Scientific American: Rivers Get Human Rights: They Can Sue to Protect Themselves

Rights of nature has shifted from theory to practice over the last decade, being realized in legal doctrines in U.S. communities and in countries around the world.

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

Jun 16, 2017

Fosters.com: Community Rights Ordinance saved Nottingham’s water

Fosters.com: Community Rights Ordinance saved Nottingham’s water

Our communities are threatened by unwanted development, and our democracy is in crisis. This is what we can do: join together and protect ourselves and the places we live using community rights.

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

Jun 15, 2017

EugeneWeekly.com: Aerial Spray Ban

EugeneWeekly.com: Aerial Spray Ban

Lincoln County, OR, residents recently adopted the nation’s first countywide ban on aerially-sprayed pesticides. They’re celebrating their win – and preparing to defend their law as it is challenged by industry.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 14, 2017

Orion Magazine: Speaking of Nature

Orion Magazine: Speaking of Nature

Changing our relationship with nature in part means changing our language. It means shifting away from talking about nature as an object, to recognizing nature as alive – and how we are in relationship.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Jun 10, 2017

Daily Camera Opinion: John C. Lamb: Democrats not helping in battle against fracking

Daily Camera Opinion: John C. Lamb: Democrats not helping in battle against fracking

Don’t be fooled – the Democratic Party is as supportive of oil and gas as the Republican Party. The answer isn’t in our party electeds, but in ourselves. It’s time to take action and govern ourselves in the places where we live.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jun 1, 2017

The Hill: In praise of Trump pulling out of the Paris climate pact

The Hill: In praise of Trump pulling out of the Paris climate pact

The Paris Accords are not our salvation. Pulling out may be the best thing to happen if we’re actually going to take action to build a real climate movement.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 31, 2017

Cleveland.com: Ohio Community Rights Network fights for local government rights

Cleveland.com: Ohio Community Rights Network fights for local government rights

The Ohio Community Rights Network is supporting communities across the state to advance their right to local community self-government, and to protect people and ecosystems from corporate harms.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 31, 2017

KBOO: Lincoln County Aerial Spray Ban Passes

KBOO: Lincoln County Aerial Spray Ban Passes

Aerial spraying of pesticides is banned by Lincoln County, OR, voters. Residents elevate the rights of communities over corporate “rights” as they protect themselves from the timber industry.

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

May 30, 2017

News Deeply: Three Reasons Why Water Markets May Be Damaging the West’s Rivers

News Deeply: Three Reasons Why Water Markets May Be Damaging the West’s Rivers

Water market approaches are problematic – including keeping us in a commodity framework for ecosystems. Rights of nature, however, is a powerful legal paradigm, and is growing around the world.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

May 26, 2017

Street Roots News: Victory, defeat and alternative facts in two coastal county elections

Street Roots News: Victory, defeat and alternative facts in two coastal county elections

Using citizen initiative, two Oregon communities fight to protect themselves from the timber and oil/gas industry, and secure their democratic and environmental rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 22, 2017

Rolling Stone: How a Small Town Is Standing Up to Fracking

Rolling Stone: How a Small Town Is Standing Up to Fracking

Rolling Stone Magazine covers the story of Grant Township, PA, where the residents are working with CELDF to protect themselves from PGE’s fracking injection well. In the process, together, we’re pioneering a new legal framework for rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 17, 2017

KUOW: Oregon Voters Could See More Community Rights Measures Going Forward

KUOW: Oregon Voters Could See More Community Rights Measures Going Forward

Two community rights measures were on the Oregon ballot this week to stop corporate harms, and more coming down the pipe. Growing numbers of Oregon residents are using community rights to protect themselves and assert democratic rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 15, 2017

The World: Measure opponents exceed $1 million in combined donations and spending

The World: Measure opponents exceed $1 million in combined donations and spending

As election day approaches, a foreign corporation and its allies spend over $1 million to defeat a local rights-based measure banning a massive LNG export terminal.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 15, 2017

National Observer: Oregon votes on whether to reject a Calgary company’s fossil fuel project

National Observer: Oregon votes on whether to reject a Calgary company’s fossil fuel project

A Canadian company attempting to force in a LNG export terminal and pipeline in Coos County, OR, irks residents, who are voting on a community rights ordinance banning the project tomorrow.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 13, 2017

DeSmog: Jordan Cove LNG Backers Spend Huge Money to Sway Tiny Oregon County Election

DeSmog: Jordan Cove LNG Backers Spend Huge Money to Sway Tiny Oregon County Election

Corporate interests pour funds into defeating a Coos County, OR, community rights measure. The citizen’s initiative bans the Jordan Cove LNG export project as a violation of environmental and democratic rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 11, 2017

Daily Camera: Opinion: Boulder Co commissioners don’t have answers – but residents do

Daily Camera: Opinion: Boulder Co commissioners don’t have answers – but residents do

Cliff Wilmeng calls for Boulder County, CO, commissioners to stop politicking and start protecting; stop colluding by doing nothing and start acting courageously by enacting community rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 5, 2017

The Ridgway Record: Highland Twp, PA, residents seek support from county commissioners

The Ridgway Record: Highland Twp, PA, residents seek support from county commissioners

Seneca Resources attempts to force a frack wastewater injection well in Highland Township, PA, against the will of the people. Residents request support from Elk County Commissioners in their fight.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

May 3, 2017

El Heraldo: Rights of Nature granted to the Atrato River in Colombia

El Heraldo: Rights of Nature granted to the Atrato River in Colombia

A Colombian court recognizes the rights of the Atrato River to exist and flourish, ordering the end of illegal mining and the use of toxins in extracting minerals.

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

Apr 27, 2017

The Bradford Era: The joke is on Highland Township

The Bradford Era: The joke is on Highland Township

We watch as Highland residents fight to protect their water, the oil and gas industry attack, and the people’s own state government and PA Department of Environmental Protection back industry.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots