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Issues, News, Resources, Rights of Nature
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Newsletters
Oct 3, 2018
Denver, CO, residents advance “Right to Survive” bill of rights for homeless people, turning in petitions for the May 2019 ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsSep 27, 2018
Community Rights and Rights of Nature are growing. Here, how Toledo residents are advancing them to protect the Great Lake Erie.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StorySep 26, 2018
Communities across Ohio are not only fighting to protect their water from corporate harms – they’re fighting for their right to vote on their own initiatives as corporate and state government encroach on fundamental human rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsSep 26, 2018
CELDF’s Ben Price reflects on the Ecuadorian people embracing Rights of Nature in their constitution ten year ago, and the growing movement since.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StorySep 24, 2018
While Ohio Supreme Court justices ignore democratic and environmental rights, Toledo residents continue to fight for them, and for the rights of Lake Erie.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsSep 21, 2018
CELDF assisted Ecuador’s Constitutional Assembly to draft Rights of Nature provisions for their Constitution. The Ecuadorian people adopted the Constitution overwhelmingly by popular vote. Now, we celebrate the 10 year anniversary, and the growing Rights of Nature movement.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StorySep 19, 2018
Bob Fitrakis and Dan Dougan with Community Radio Columbus interview CELDF’s Tish O’Dell on the upcoming Ohio Community Rights Conference – and the recent Ohio Supreme Court decision keeping Columbus residents’ rights-based citizen initiative off the ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsSep 17, 2018
The General Council of the Ho-Chunk Nation votes overwhelmingly in support of a Rights of Nature constitutional amendment.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press Releases, Success StorySep 15, 2018
The chemical industry is doing all it can to shut down communities from banning toxic chemical use. But in Oregon, CELDF partners in Lincoln and Lane Counties refuse to fold. This is their fight for their lives and their communities – and it’s growing.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StorySep 12, 2018
Toledoans for Safe Water are determined to protect Lake Erie through their citizen initiative recognizing the rights of the Lake to exist and flourish.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsSep 9, 2018
CELDF is working with communities across the U.S. and around the world to advance the Rights of Nature – and the movement is growing.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StorySep 8, 2018
Corporate lobbyist groups come out in force to argue against the people’s right to initiative in the Ohio Supreme Court. Columbus residents are unwavering in their stand to protect their community.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 31, 2018
CELDF assists Toledo, OH, residents appeal the Lucas County Board of Elections decision to block their Lake Erie Bill of Rights from the ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 31, 2018
In a LTE, a Columbus, OH, resident points out blockage of the people’s Community Bill of Rights citizen initiative banning fracking waste was led by an oil and gas ally on the Board of Elections.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 29, 2018
Toledo, OH, residents vow legal action as the Lucas County Board of Elections votes to block a Lake Erie Bill of Rights from the ballot. CELDF is representing residents denied their right to vote.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 28, 2018
Growing efforts to stifle voting rights continue in Ohio as local government blocks Toledo residents’ Lake Erie Bill of Rights from the November ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesAug 27, 2018
Listen to Dr. Michelle Maloney, founder of the Australian Centre for the Rights of Nature, on laws recognizing rights of the Great Barrier Reef to exist and flourish.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryAug 26, 2018
If you think regulatory agencies like New Hampshire’s Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) have your community’s interests at heart, think again. They exist to approve permits that meet legal requirements, regardless of communities’ wishes.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsAug 24, 2018
The Franklin County, OH, Board of Elections strips 560,000 Columbus citizens of their right to vote on a rights-based ballot measure to protect the community from fracking waste.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesAug 24, 2018
Despite Columbus, OH, residents qualifying their Community Rights citizen initiative banning frack waste, the Franklin County Board of Election blocks it from the November ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 23, 2018
An oil and gas industry ally submits a protest to block a Community Bill of Rights initiative banning fracking waste from the ballot in Columbus, OH. CELDF attorney Terry Lodge presents arguments to defend the people’s right to vote on Friday, 8/24.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 22, 2018
Mobile Bay is a heavily polluted watershed in Alabama. Let’s follow the lead of communities across the country who are adopting “ecosystem rights” laws to protect air, soil, and water, such that Mobile Bay’s right to exist and thrive is recognized and enforced.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsAug 17, 2018
Athens County, OH, residents advancing Community Rights to protect themselves from fracking through citizen initiative are denied their appeal.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press ReleasesAug 16, 2018
Human activity is devastating the Great Barrier Reef. The Australia Earth Laws Alliance works with CELDF to secure rights for the Reef, protecting it from climate change, pollution, and other threats.
Read More | Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryAug 13, 2018
Preemption is used by governments to stop communities from protecting their rights, health, safety, and welfare. It’s time to change that – and we can.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsAug 7, 2018
Toledo, OH, community members submit petitions to place a Lake Erie Bill of Rights citizen initiative on the November ballot. The measure recognizes the right of Lake Erie to exist and flourish, protecting it from major pollutors.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryAug 6, 2018
Facing radioactive fracking waste, Columbus, OH, residents qualify a Community Bill of Rights initiative banning fracking activities from within the City. The measure protects rights to clean air, water, and soil.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryAug 6, 2018
Columbus, OH, residents qualify their Community Bill of Rights banning fracking activities for the November ballot.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJul 27, 2018
Todd Township, PA, supervisors vote to defend their Community Bill of Rights ordinance banning industrial farm.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJul 25, 2018
Join CELDF in this unique opportunity to advance the emerging Community Rights movement in the United States.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJul 20, 2018
Industrial farming threatens air, water, and local economies – and Todd Township, PA, residents work with CELDF to stop it.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJul 10, 2018
Residents in Columbus, OH, successfully qualify a Community Bill of Rights initiative for the November ballot. The measure bans fracking extraction and waste from within city limits as a violation of democratic and environmental rights.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJul 10, 2018
Todd Township, PA, supervisors fulfill on their commitment to protect the health, safety, and welfare of township community members, voting to adopt a Community Bill of Rights prohibiting industrial farming.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJul 10, 2018
Todd Township, PA, adopts a Community Rights law prohibiting industrial factory farming to protect their community and preserve local farming operations.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryJul 6, 2018
Northern India Court issues ruling in growing Rights of Nature movement: “Every species has an inherent right to live and are required to be protected by law.”
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryJun 29, 2018
The more property you own, the more rights you are accorded. If you’re homeless, propertyless, imprisoned, or undocumented, your rights are almost nil. That’s not what our revolutionary ancestors intended. It’s time to do something about it.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsJun 25, 2018
CELDF attorney Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin advocates that the fight for ecosystem rights will be most effective working side by side with the fights for decolonization and for democracy.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsJun 21, 2018
Lafayette, CO, City Council attempts to move forward with legalizing fracking while residents plan next steps to protect the community.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJun 20, 2018
A right to a healthy climate is preserved in Lafayette, CO, as community members overtake a City Council meeting.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJun 20, 2018
As community members in Lafayette, CO, demand their City Council stand by the City’s Climate Bill of Rights, they force the council meeting to adjourn. Council members were attempting to legalize drilling.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJun 20, 2018
Lafayette, CO, residents shut down City Council, protecting their Climate Bill of Rights as council members attempt to legalize fracking.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryMay 24, 2018
Environmental and social justice attorney Terry Lodge receives the 2018 Johnsrud Unsung Heroes Award. Lodge partners with CELDF to advance and protect Community Rights for communities across Ohio.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryMay 23, 2018
As the recognition of Rights of Nature grows globally, we must move beyond thinking of nature as having legal personhood rights. We must recognize rights of ecosystems to existence, regeneration and restoration.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsMay 21, 2018
A landmark legislative session was held this winter in New Hampshire. It marked the first time a Community Rights state constitutional amendment was debated and voted on by a state House of Representatives.
Read More | Community WiresMay 21, 2018
PGE continues to harass Grant Township, a small community in rural Pennsylvania, by attempting to force the Township to pay attorney’s fees. Grant residents are protecting their water by fighting PGE’s proposed fracking wastewater injection well.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsMay 18, 2018
On May 16, 2018, a CELDF representative presented at the PPT on fracking as a violation of the Rights of Nature and the human right to a healthy environment.
Read More | News from the Grassroots, Success StoryMay 16, 2018
An uninformed, passive public is easy to for the 1% to lead. We must become knowledgeable – not just about what is happening, but how and why. We must take on difficult questions and challenge the status quo if we are going to create a new way of life.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsMay 14, 2018
Check out the stories being submitted as evidence this week at the international Permanent People’s Tribunal, where the PPT is considering fracking, climate change, and the violation of the rights of people and nature.
Read More | News from the GrassrootsMay 9, 2018
It was a questionable election at best for Youngstown, OH, where community members are fighting for their right to clean water in a city that is making it increasingly difficult to even vote on citizen initiatives.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsMay 7, 2018
Newmarket, Durham, and Newington, NH, residents are a part of the growing Community Rights movement building across the state as they work to protect the Lamprey Watershed from a number of corporate projects.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots