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Aug 11, 2015
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Aug 11, 2015
Press Release: Ecosystem, Community Group, and Municipal Authority File for Intervention in Lawsuit to Defend Community from Injection Well
HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP, PA: Today, an ecosystem in the United States filed a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit to defend its own rights to exist and flourish.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsAug 9, 2015
Ohio Secretary of State to decide on charter protest this week
The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office is expected to make a decision by this Thursday on whether a proposed charter government for Athens County will go on the November ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 5, 2015
The Spokesman-Review: People, not city, should vote on workers’ bill of rights
As the City of Spokane sues its own citizens in an attempt to keep a Worker Bill of Rights off the ballot, this opinion piece points out the hypocrisy and the anti-democratic tactics of City Hall.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 3, 2015
Inlander: City of Spokane wants Worker Bill of Rights initiative off ballot, files suit
The city of Spokane attempts to keep the people of Spokane from voting on their own Worker Bill of Rights, filing a lawsuit to block the duly qualified initiative from the November ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 3, 2015
Envision Worker Rights Media Statement: City Files Legal Challenge to Block the Democratic Rights of Voters
Despite the constitutional right of Spokane, WA, citizens to vote on their own Worker Bill of Rights, the City of Spokane files suit in an attempt to block the qualified initiative from the ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJul 25, 2015
The Spokesman-Review: Workers Bill of Rights proposal qualifies for Spokane ballot
Spokane, WA, residents successfully place a Worker Bill of Rights initiative on the November ballot. The city council is working to place advisory questions on the ballot as well, to deter voters from supporting the measure.
Read More | Community WiresJul 24, 2015
The Southern Illinoisan: Anti-fracking group drafting a community bill of rights
Jackson County, IL, residents launch a campaign to advance a Community Bill of Rights banning fracking as a violation of their rights to clean air and water.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJul 20, 2015
The World: Your View: Kudos from the other end of the LNG pipe
The people of Colorado express esprit de corps with and appreciation of the people of Oregon as both states advance community rights to stop fracking and its infrastructure and make real the promise of democratic self-governance.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJul 3, 2015
Foster’s Daily Democrat: Reclaiming community rights is nothing new
A New Hampshire Community Rights Network Board member traces Community Rights back to colonial New England, where residents reclaimed those rights from the British Crown in the American Revolution – and where Community Rights are being reclaimed again today.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsMay 12, 2015
Dissident Voice: The Future is in the Past: Economics 101 for Spokane
An in-depth look at Spokane, WA, its economy, and what sustainable and just would mean to the almost 40,000 people living in poverty. This includes Envision Spokane’s Worker Bill of Rights, aimed for the November 2015 ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsMay 1, 2015
PACRN Statement: Conestoga Township, PA, Resident Unjustly Arrested for Speaking Truth at a Public Meeting
The Pennsylvania Community Rights Network stands by Conestoga Township, PA, resident Kim Kann, who was arrested for speaking truth at a public meeting this week. Kann and other residents are tirelessly pursuing community rights to protect themselves from LNG pipelines, despite local government officials’ hostility.
Read More | Community WiresApr 25, 2015
Foster’s Daily Democrat: CELDF can help communities
In a letter-to-the-editor, New Hampshire resident and New Hampshire Community Rights Network member Pamela Martin recognizes CELDF’s work to support communities in protecting their rights over corporate claimed “rights” and government interests.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsApr 23, 2015
Plunderblund: Lethal Injection: One County’s Fight Against Frack Waste Wells And The Need For A Statewide Effort
As Athens County, OH, residents are subjected to increasing quantities of fracking wastewater imported into their communities, they are finding no remedy in their state government. It’s time for residents to stand together to protect their health, safety, and welfare.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsApr 1, 2015
In Remembrance of Gail Darrell
It is with great sadness that we share with you the loss of our friend and colleague, Gail Darrell. For nearly a decade, Gail has worked to protect communities across New England from corporate and government interests that sought to override the rights of people, communities, and nature.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsMar 25, 2015
The Kane Republican: Seneca now seeks court injunction against Highland Twp.
While Seneca Resources insists it has suffered “irreparable harm” from Highland Township, PA’s, Community Bill of Rights banning fracking injection wells, residents assert they have an inalienable right to protect their water, and continue to back their Supervisors to exercise that right.
Read More | Community WiresMar 25, 2015
The Spokesman-Review: Envision Spokane initiative would add workers’ rights to city charter
Envision Spokane – a community, rights-based organization in Spokane, WA – is advancing a Worker’s Bill of Rights for the November 2015 ballot that would protect workers’ rights to a living wage, equal pay for equal work regardless of gender or race, and other rights for workers.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsMar 20, 2015
Inlander: Envision Spokane files new Worker Bill of Rights initiative
Envision Spokane advances a CELDF-drafted Worker’s Bill of Rights to protect workers’ rights to a living wage, and three other key provisions.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsMar 19, 2015
Windsor Now: Community rights discussion takes root in Windsor
Residents of Windsor, CO, work to place a rights-based Charter Amendment on the ballot for a vote by the people, to secure and protect community rights, and ban fracking as a violation of those rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsMar 9, 2015
New Hampshire Public Radio: Newfound Voters Again Weighing Wind Restrictions
Threatened with industrial wind farms, communities in New Hampshire use Community Bills of Rights to ban the harmful practices. The Town of Alexandria votes this Tuesday at Town Meeting on a second rights-based ordinance to strengthen their ban on unsustainable energy practices.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsMar 2, 2015
Tiny Township Faces Injection Well Lawsuit
Highland Township, PA, residents and Supervisors determine they are protecting their water through their Community Bill of Rights banning fracking injection wells – regardless of any lawsuits.
Read More | Community WiresFeb 23, 2015
Press Release: Oregon Files Constitutional Amendment to Secure Right to Local, Community Self-Government
ORCRN files a proposed state constitutional amendment to secure citizens’ right to local, community self-government, thereby enabling the people to protect themselves from harmful corporate activities, and move towards sustainability.
Read More | Community WiresFeb 18, 2015
BlogTalkRadio: Soldiers for Peace International: CELDF and Local Democracy with Kai Huschke
While corporations are granted growing numbers of “rights” by the courts, local communities are asserting community rights to local self-government, and to clean air, soil, and water – and banning corporate activities that violate those rights. Listen to Rick Staggenborg’s interview with CELDF’s Kai Huschke.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsFeb 17, 2015
OHCRN: Kent Law Director Proposes Charter Amendment Granting Him Veto Power over Citizens’ Proposed Initiatives
Kent, OH, law director attempts to preempt citizens’ right to initiative by changing the city’s Charter – giving him the authority to veto proposed initiatives at his discretion.
Read More | Community WiresFeb 8, 2015
Foster’s Daily Democrat: Barrington citizens add resource protection item to March ballot
Barrington, NH, residents bring a Community Bill of Rights initiative to direct democracy at Town Meeting in March. The Barrington community is threatened by water, gravel, and mineral extraction, and is using Community Rights to protect themselves and local ecosystems.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsFeb 3, 2015
CELDF Statement: Spokane Initiative Appellate Court Decision
In the face of corporations and government joining together to suppress the democratic rights of the people of Spokane, WA, to vote on a Community Bill of Rights, last week the Washington Court of Appeals overturned an earlier ruling and ordered the initiative be placed back on the ballot for a vote of the people.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsJan 30, 2015
The Spokesman-Review: Court orders initiative vote
The Washington State Appellate Court ruled in favor of a Community Rights initiative that had been kept off the ballot by local corporate and government interests, finding that the right of initiative by the people is protected.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJan 28, 2015
Huffington Post: ‘Supreme Court Five’ Unleash Government Of, By and For the Oligarchs
The Supreme Court makes decisions that are benefiting corporations and harming democracy, while communities are working to adopt Community Bills of Rights that codify people’s rights to local self-governance and sustainable communities – banning those corporate activities that violate those rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJan 25, 2015
Truthout: ALEC Forces the Question: Will Labor Really Go Local?
While ALEC and other pro-corporate entities attempt to decrease worker rights,CELDF partners in Colorado and Spokane, WA, begin working on Community Bills of Rights to protect workers’ rights, building on the “floor” of rights established at the state and federal levels.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJan 25, 2015
Truthout: ALEC Forces the Question: Will Labor Really Go Local?
While ALEC and other pro-corporate entities attempt to decrease worker rights,CELDF partners in Colorado and Spokane, WA, begin working on Community Bills of Rights to protect workers’ rights, building on the “floor” of rights established at the state and federal levels.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJan 7, 2015
E&E Publishing: Speaking for the trees, lawyer pushes unconventional doctrine
While the oil & gas industry protests, CELDF & allies bring forward the Rights of Nature as the basis to give ecosystems legal standing to protect itself. The Little Mahoning Watershed in Grant Township, PA, filed to intervene in a case against Grant’s Community Bill of Rights banning frack wastewater injection wells.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsDec 19, 2014
WTAE Pittsburgh: Chronicle: Drilling Down (Part 6: “Whose Land is It?”)
Residents of western Pennsylvania determine to protect their community, families, and the land by banning fracking through Community Bills of Rights, and Rights of Nature conservation easement.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsDec 16, 2014
Monadnock Ledger-Transcript: Pipeline meeting draws big crowd
Southern New Hampshire communities unite in opposition to a gas pipeline project threatening their Towns, and learn about Community Rights as a means to protect residents and local ecosystems.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsDec 13, 2014
Sentinel & Enterprise: Pipeline no more popular in N.H.
Mason, NH, residents gather to oppose a gas pipeline threatening their community, and learn about CELDF-drafted Community Bills of Rights to stop harmful corporate activities as a violation of Community Rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsNov 19, 2014
Daily Camera: Letter-to-the-Editor: Let the revolution begin
The idea that advancing and enforcing people’s fundamental rights, while directly challenging the power of corporations and the state to override community rights, is somehow an act of government overthrow says more about our current political/legal system than it does about the Colorado Community Rights Network.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsNov 19, 2014
Truthout: Amending Colorado’s Constitution: Do Communities Have Right to Clean Air and Water?
As voters last week banned fracking in regions from Ohio to Texas to California, Colorado citizens are meanwhile attempting to reclaim their own right to a safe, healthy environment by enacting the Colorado Community Rights amendment to the Colorado Constitution.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsNov 18, 2014
Press Release: First-in-the-Nation Action – Ecosystem Files for Intervention in Lawsuit to Defend Own Legal Rights to Exist and Flourish
Today, for the first time, an ecosystem in the United States filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit to defend its own right to exist and flourish. The Little Mahoning Watershed and Grant Township, PA, residents come up against the Pennsylvania General Energy Corporation.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryNov 13, 2014
Fort Bragg Advocate-News: Fracking ban success surprises supporters
Mendocino County, CA, residents voting to use Community Rights to ban fracking by an overwhelming majority in the November election, welcome the broader conversation about the recognition of community rights within the county.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsNov 10, 2014
Punishing Democracy
Denton, TX, joins a growing number of communities being sued by their own government and corporate entities, to punish communities for democratically enacting bans on fracking.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsNov 6, 2014
EagleFordTexas.com: Mendocino County voters ban fracking
Mendocino County, CA’s, Community Bill of Rights banning fracking protects residents and local ecosystems, and challenges existing law that denies communities the right to local decision-making, the right to clean air and water, and the right to create sustainable communities.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsNov 5, 2014
YES! Magazine: 6 Ways Americans Voted Against Corporate Power in the Most Expensive Midterm Elections Ever
CELDF-drafted Community Bills of Rights banning fracking and challenging corporate claimed “rights” in Ohio and California take center stage.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryNov 5, 2014
Press Release: Athens, OH, Bans Fracking and Frack Waste Water Disposal as a Violation of Rights
Athens, OH, residents overwhelmingly adopt a Community Bill of Rights banning fracking wastewater disposal, as a violation of their rights to clean air, water, and the right to local self-government.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsSep 26, 2014
CentralMaine.com: East-west corridor remains a danger
Dover-Foxcroft, ME, resident urges communities to assert their rights to protect themselves from harmful corporate projects, such as the East-West Corridor, through Community Bills of Rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsSep 1, 2014
Spokane
In 2007, after a series of Democracy Schools held in Spokane, Washington, a group of citizens led by local school teacher Brad Read built a coalition to support a Community Bill of Rights for City residents.
Read More | Community WiresAug 21, 2014
The Colorado Statesman: How Congressman Jared Polis and Food and Water Watch sold out Colorado
CELDF’s Thomas Linzey calls out the blatant sellout of Coloradans by a Congressman who had claimed to support communities banning fracking, and a non-profit’s abandonment of helping protect Coloradans from fracking.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsAug 21, 2014
EcoWatch: Colorado Town Sues State, Gov. Hickenlooper and COGA to Protect Right to Ban Fracking
Lafayette, CO, residents file a preliminary injunction to protect their Community Bill of Rights banning fracking.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 21, 2014
Daily Camera: Lafayette group files motion to block oil and gas industry’s lawsuit, enforce local fracking ban
With 60% of Lafayette, CO, residents adopting a Community Bill of Rights banning fracking last November, residents file a motion for a preliminary injunction against the State and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) to enforce their ban.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 19, 2014
Press Release: Lafayette, CO, Residents Seek Injunction Against State & Oil and Gas Industry for Violating the Right of Local Self-Government
Lafayette, CO, residents seek a preliminary injunction against the State of Colorado, the Governor, and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association to enforce their Community Bill of Rights banning fracking – adopted overwhelmingly by residents last November.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsAug 12, 2014
Daily Camera: Opinion – Home Rule — On the ‘rights’ side of history
Boulder County, CO, resident urges support for advancing communities’ rights over corporate claimed “rights” through Home Rule local self-governance.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 4, 2014
Longmont Daily Times Call: Boulder County home-rule charter proponents haven’t yet turned in petitions
The Boulder County Community Rights Network in Colorado has gathered more than 10,000 signatures to place a home rule charter question on the ballot for May 2015. Residents are considering a home rule form of government to advance Community Rights and protect themselves from fracking.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots