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Mar 19, 2019

Cleveland.com: Lake Erie – yes, the body of water – asks to be let into lawsuit over bill of rights

Cleveland.com: Lake Erie – yes, the body of water – asks to be let into lawsuit over bill of rights

The Great Lake Erie files to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the agricultural industry to overturn Toledo, Ohio’s, Lake Erie Bill of Rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 13, 2019

Media Release: First Right to Climate Law Adopted in New Hampshire

Media Release: First Right to Climate Law Adopted in New Hampshire

Yesterday, Exeter, New Hampshire, residents adopted their Right to a Healthy Climate Ordinance at Town Meeting. This is the first right-based climate law in the state.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Mar 10, 2019

The London Free Press: What an Ohio city’s bold move to protect Lake Erie tells us

The London Free Press: What an Ohio city’s bold move to protect Lake Erie tells us

“What we really need to do is look at the (lake) as a whole, as an ecosystem that has inherent rights, that transcends the political parties of the day.”

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

Mar 1, 2019

Smithsonian Magazine: Toledo, Ohio, Just Granted Lake Erie the Same Legal Rights as People

Smithsonian Magazine: Toledo, Ohio, Just Granted Lake Erie the Same Legal Rights as People

“We’ve been using the same laws for decades to try and protect Lake Erie. They’re clearly not working.” Thus, Toledo, Ohio, community members recognized the rights of Lake Erie via the ballot.

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

Feb 28, 2019

The Telegraph: US lake wins its own ‘human rights’ in landmark ruling

The Telegraph: US lake wins its own ‘human rights’ in landmark ruling

Lake Erie joins growing numbers of ecosystems around the world where people and governments are recognizing their rights to exist, flourish, and evolve.

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

Feb 28, 2019

The Hill: Ohio city votes to give Lake Erie same legal rights as a person

The Hill: Ohio city votes to give Lake Erie same legal rights as a person

Lake Erie’s legal rights are now acknowledged following Toledo, Ohio’s, special election on Tuesday.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 27, 2019

The Progressive: Toledo Residents Vote to Recognize Personhood for Lake Erie

The Progressive: Toledo Residents Vote to Recognize Personhood for Lake Erie

Lake Erie now has legally-enforceable rights, with the overwhelming majority of Toledo, Ohio, residents voting in support of their Lake Erie Bill of Rights citizen initiative.

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

Feb 27, 2019

Vox: Lake Erie just won the same legal rights as people

Vox: Lake Erie just won the same legal rights as people

A groundbreaking election in Toledo, Ohio, puts this midwestern city on the map – voters recognized the rights of Lake Erie and can take legal action to protect it.

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

Feb 26, 2019

Vox: Ohio voters are about to decide if Lake Erie has legal rights

Vox: Ohio voters are about to decide if Lake Erie has legal rights

Today, Toledo, Ohio, residents are voting on recognizing the rights of Lake Erie to exist and flourish – the next step in a changing landscape where the rights of ecosystems are expanding globally.

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

Feb 25, 2019

Mother Jones: Holy, Toledo! This Ohio City Is Voting to Give Legal Rights to a Lake

Mother Jones: Holy, Toledo! This Ohio City Is Voting to Give Legal Rights to a Lake

After decades of failed regulations to “protect” Lake Erie and several years of record-breaking algae blooms, Toledo, Ohio, residents prepare to vote on the Lake Erie Bill of Rights.

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

Feb 21, 2019

CNN: An Ohio city will vote on whether Lake Erie has the same rights as a person

CNN: An Ohio city will vote on whether Lake Erie has the same rights as a person

Government representatives, acting on behalf of industry, have failed to protect Lake Erie. Toledo, Ohio, residents advance a Lake Erie Bill of Rights ballot measure to protect the Lake, their water, and their community. They vote next Tuesday.

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

Feb 19, 2019

The Guardian: Fighting pollution: Toledo residents want personhood status for Lake Erie

The Guardian: Fighting pollution: Toledo residents want personhood status for Lake Erie

While elected officials do nothing substantive to protect Lake Erie, Toledo residents follow in the footsteps of indigenous and other communities, voting next week on a groundbreaking citizen initiative to recognize the rights of the Great Lake.

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

Feb 18, 2019

New York Times: Legal Rights for Lake Erie? Voters in Ohio City Will Decide

New York Times: Legal Rights for Lake Erie? Voters in Ohio City Will Decide

As the well-being of Lake Erie deteriorates, Toledoans are taking action, voting next week on a Lake Erie Bill of Rights citizen initiative. This is part of a growing strategy to recognize the Rights of Nature.

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

Feb 9, 2019

The Daily Sentinel: Meigs BOE among defendants in Civil Rights lawsuit

The Daily Sentinel: Meigs BOE among defendants in Civil Rights lawsuit

Meigs County, Ohio, residents join six other communities in a federal Civil Rights lawsuit. The suit alleges Ohio government officials have routinely blocked valid citizen initiatives from the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 9, 2019

StarTribune: Minnesota tribe asks: Can wild rice have its own legal rights?

StarTribune: Minnesota tribe asks: Can wild rice have its own legal rights?

Traditional indigenous legal principles view nature and people as part of a whole. Today, the White Earth Band of Ojibwe is part of a growing movement to recognize these principles in modern law.

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

Feb 6, 2019

Press Release: White Earth Band Enacts First-of-its-Kind Rights of Nature Law

Press Release: White Earth Band Enacts First-of-its-Kind Rights of Nature Law

CELDF assisted Honor the Earth to develop the first Rights of Nature law to protect a plant species, which was adopted by the White Earth Band of Ojibwe.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Feb 5, 2019

The Gazette: Boards of elections, secretary of state sued over ballot rejections

The Gazette: Boards of elections, secretary of state sued over ballot rejections

Medina County, Ohio, residents are part of a federal Civil Rights lawsuit filed to protect the rights of Ohio citizens to vote on proposed citizen initiatives. The lawsuit was filed after years of state officials blocking community members from the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 4, 2019

21WFMJ: Environmentalists from Youngstown, six counties file federal lawsuit

21WFMJ: Environmentalists from Youngstown, six counties file federal lawsuit

Ohio officials have blocked citizen initiatives advancing communities and nature’s rights since 2015. In response, citizen have filed suit against Ohio’s Secretary of State and local Boards of Elections.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 4, 2019

The Columbus Dispatch: Federal lawsuit seeks to stop elections boards from blocking ballot initiatives

The Columbus Dispatch: Federal lawsuit seeks to stop elections boards from blocking ballot initiatives

Fighting to protect Ohioans’ right to citizen initiative, seven communities partner with CELDF to file a Civil Rights lawsuit in federal court.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 4, 2019

News Release: Ohio Community Members File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit

News Release: Ohio Community Members File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit

Communities from across Ohio file a federal lawsuit against local Boards of Elections and the Ohio Secretary of State for multiple rights violations – including the right to vote.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Feb 3, 2019

The Blade: To the editor: Vote for Lake Erie Bill of Rights

The Blade: To the editor: Vote for Lake Erie Bill of Rights

An Ohio resident urges support for the Lake Erie Bill of Rights in Toledo to overcome devastating harms to the Lake’s ecosystem and communities’ drinking water.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 1, 2019

Yes! Magazine: The White Earth Band of Ojibwe Legally Recognized the Rights of Wild Rice. Here’s Why

Yes! Magazine: The White Earth Band of Ojibwe Legally Recognized the Rights of Wild Rice. Here’s Why

Winona LaDuke speaks to the White Earth band of Ojibwe passing a law formally recognizing the Rights of Manoomin, or wild rice, in December.

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

Jan 29, 2019

Cleveland.com: Toledoans to vote on Lake Erie Bill of Rights

Cleveland.com: Toledoans to vote on Lake Erie Bill of Rights

“If there’s a problem to be treated, there’s a problem to be solved.” Toledoans take steps to solve the problem of contaminated water in Lake Erie on February 26th’s special election, with their Lake Erie Bill of Rights.

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

Jan 27, 2019

Lake Erie Bill of Rights!

Lake Erie Bill of Rights!

Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR) is on the February special elections ballot. Check out news coverage and the growing support for Toledo residents’ pioneering efforts to recognize the Lake’s rights.

Read More | Community Wires, Success Story

Jan 26, 2019

Cleveland.com: The Ohio Supreme Court has rightly affirmed that Toledoans get to vote on a proposed Lake Erie Bill of Rights

Cleveland.com: The Ohio Supreme Court has rightly affirmed that Toledoans get to vote on a proposed Lake Erie Bill of Rights

Cleveland.com editorial board member cheers the Ohio Supreme Court’s recognition of Toledo residents’ right to vote on the Lake Erie Bill of Rights initiative in February.

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

Jan 24, 2019

Inforum: The Rights of Wild Rice

Inforum: The Rights of Wild Rice

In December 2018, the White Earth band of Ojibwe recognized the “Rights of Manoomin,” or the rights of wild rice. CELDF assisted tribal members to draft this first Rights of Nature law for a specific plant species.

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

Jan 23, 2019

The Bayou Brief: Red Tides, Green Lakes, Dead Zones: How a Single City Ordinance Could Change It All

The Bayou Brief: Red Tides, Green Lakes, Dead Zones: How a Single City Ordinance Could Change It All

Communities geographically far apart share similar threats to their water from red tides and green algae blooms. They also share looking at Rights of Nature to protect themselves – and Toledo, Ohio, is leading the way.

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

Jan 12, 2019

The Blade: Recognizing the rights of nature

The Blade: Recognizing the rights of nature

CELDF’s Australian partners champion the Lake Erie Bill of Rights, understanding the Great Lake – like the Great Barrier Reef – must be recognized as having the right to exist and flourish. CELDF is working with both groups to advance those rights.

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

Jan 9, 2019

National Lawyers Guild Incorporates Rights of Nature into Constitution

National Lawyers Guild Incorporates Rights of Nature into Constitution

The National Lawyers Guild overwhelmingly adopts Rights of Nature in its constitution.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Jan 4, 2019

Orcas Issues: Initiative to Protect the Salish Sea Takes Shape. Does Nature Have Rights?

Orcas Issues: Initiative to Protect the Salish Sea Takes Shape. Does Nature Have Rights?

San Juan Islands residents in Washington work to advance the rights of the Salish Sea.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 4, 2019

Press Release: New Hampshire Legislators to Consider Community Rights State Constitutional Amendment

Press Release: New Hampshire Legislators to Consider Community Rights State Constitutional Amendment

New Hampshire legislators consider the NH Community Rights state constitutional amendment, with bi-partisan support from ten co-sponsors.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Jan 2, 2019

KNKX: ‘Rights of nature’ movement expands locally to help protect endangered orcas, Salish Sea

KNKX: ‘Rights of nature’ movement expands locally to help protect endangered orcas, Salish Sea

Communities along the Salish Sea are organizing to advance the Sea’s rights to exist and flourish, free from toxic and other harms.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 2, 2019

Fosters.com: NH constitutional amendment for local self-governance backed by nonprofit

Fosters.com: NH constitutional amendment for local self-governance backed by nonprofit

In this LTE, New Hampshire resident and Community Rights advocate speaks to the NH Community Rights state constitutional amendment, proposed and supported by ten legislators.

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

Dec 26, 2018

Cleveland Scene: Citizen-Led Ballot Initiative Will Allow Toledo Residents to Vote on ‘Lake Erie Bill of Rights’

Cleveland Scene: Citizen-Led Ballot Initiative Will Allow Toledo Residents to Vote on ‘Lake Erie Bill of Rights’

Overcoming numerous hurdles, Toledo, Ohio, residents will vote on their Lake Erie Bill of Rights in February. The measure recognizes the rights of Lake Erie to exist and flourish – and the right of residents to clean water.

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

Dec 26, 2018

The Blade: Lake Erie Bill of Rights headed to Feb. 26 ballot

The Blade: Lake Erie Bill of Rights headed to Feb. 26 ballot

Toledo, OH, residents celebrate advancing their Lake Erie Bill of Rights citizen initiative to the February 2019 ballot, despite state and industry efforts to stop them.

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

Dec 17, 2018

The Press: Board hearing Thursday: Lake rights bill to be contested

The Press: Board hearing Thursday: Lake rights bill to be contested

Industry allies attempt to keep the Lake Erie Bill of Rights off the ballot, while Toledo community members rally to protect the Lake’s rights and advance the measure.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Dec 16, 2018

The Blade: To the editor: Put Lake Erie “bill of rights” on ballot

The Blade: To the editor: Put Lake Erie “bill of rights” on ballot

In this LTE, Toledo community members call out efforts to block the Lake Erie Bill of Rights from the ballot and urge the Board of Elections to let the people vote.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 29, 2018

13ABC WTVG: Lake Erie Bill of Rights backers call on Toledo City Council to include ordinance in special election

13ABC WTVG: Lake Erie Bill of Rights backers call on Toledo City Council to include ordinance in special election

Toledo, OH, residents press city council to place their Lake Erie Bill of Rights on a special elections ballot in February.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 15, 2018

The Laconia Daily Sun: What’s the point of local government when we can’t decide?

The Laconia Daily Sun: What’s the point of local government when we can’t decide?

Despite being known for local democracy, New Hampshire residents are under siege by their own state government. The people are advancing a rights-based state constitutional amendment to change that.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 26, 2018

Eugene Weekly: Alarmed Into Action

Eugene Weekly: Alarmed Into Action

Following author Chris Hedges’ visit to Lane County, OR, earlier this month as part of a Community Rights tour, community members rally to continue challenging corporate power, state preemption, and to create the communities they envision.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 24, 2018

The Blade: Supporters keep up push to put Lake Erie Bill of Rights on ballot

The Blade: Supporters keep up push to put Lake Erie Bill of Rights on ballot

Toledo, OH, community members are keeping up the pressure on their City Council as they fight to advance a Bill of Rights for Lake Erie.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots