Success Story

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Sep 21, 2018

Blog: A Decade of Legality: Rights of Nature Coming of Age

Blog: A Decade of Legality: Rights of Nature Coming of Age

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.

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Sep 17, 2018

Press Release: Ho-Chunk Nation General Council Approves Rights of Nature Constitutional Amendment

Press Release: Ho-Chunk Nation General Council Approves Rights of Nature Constitutional Amendment

The General Council of the Ho-Chunk Nation votes overwhelmingly in support of a Rights of Nature constitutional amendment.

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Sep 15, 2018

The Intercept: How a Ragtag Group of Oregon Locals Took On the Biggest Chemical Companies in World — and Won

The Intercept: How a Ragtag Group of Oregon Locals Took On the Biggest Chemical Companies in World — and Won

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.

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Aug 27, 2018

ABC Drive (North Queensland): Interview on the rights of the Great Barrier Reef

ABC Drive (North Queensland): Interview on the rights of the Great Barrier Reef

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.

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Aug 16, 2018

Press Release: Rights of the Great Barrier Reef, Campaign Launch

Press Release: Rights of the Great Barrier Reef, Campaign Launch

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.

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Aug 7, 2018

The Toledo Blade: Toledo water group collects signatures for “Lake Erie Bill of Rights” inclusion on Nov. ballot

The Toledo Blade: Toledo water group collects signatures for “Lake Erie Bill of Rights” inclusion on Nov. ballot

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.

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Aug 6, 2018

Press Release: Columbus, OH, City Council Votes to Advance Fossil Fuel Extraction Ban to Ballot

Press Release: Columbus, OH, City Council Votes to Advance Fossil Fuel Extraction Ban to Ballot

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.

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Jul 10, 2018

The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus anti-fracking initiative makes fall ballot, might not hold up legally

The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus anti-fracking initiative makes fall ballot, might not hold up legally

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.

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Jul 10, 2018

The Daily News: Residents rally to halt pig farm

The Daily News: Residents rally to halt pig farm

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.

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Jul 10, 2018

Press Release: Pennsylvania Township Bans Corporate Industrial Farming

Press Release: Pennsylvania Township Bans Corporate Industrial Farming

Todd Township, PA, adopts a Community Rights law prohibiting industrial factory farming to protect their community and preserve local farming operations.

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Jul 6, 2018

Press Release: India Court Declares Legal Rights of “Entire Animal Kingdom”

Press Release: India Court Declares Legal Rights of “Entire Animal Kingdom”

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.”

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Jun 20, 2018

Daily Camera: Anti-fracking protest forces Lafayette City Council to adjourn early, suspend vote on new drilling rules

Daily Camera: Anti-fracking protest forces Lafayette City Council to adjourn early, suspend vote on new drilling rules

Lafayette, CO, residents shut down City Council, protecting their Climate Bill of Rights as council members attempt to legalize fracking.

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May 24, 2018

Press Release: Ohio Attorney & Community Rights Advocate Receives the 2018 Johnsrud Unsung Heroes Award

Press Release: Ohio Attorney & Community Rights Advocate Receives the 2018 Johnsrud Unsung Heroes Award

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.

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May 18, 2018

CELDF at the May 2018 Permanent People’s Tribunal

CELDF at the May 2018 Permanent People’s Tribunal

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.

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Apr 30, 2018

5280 Denver’s Mile High Magazine: Colorado Sits at the Center of the Rights of Nature Debate

5280 Denver’s Mile High Magazine: Colorado Sits at the Center of the Rights of Nature Debate

Rights of Nature builds momentum in Colorado – from efforts to advance rights for the Colorado River, to rights for Boulder County’s forests and grasslands.

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Apr 5, 2018

Press Release: Colombia Supreme Court Rules that Amazon Region is “Subject of Rights”

Press Release: Colombia Supreme Court Rules that Amazon Region is “Subject of Rights”

In the growing recognition of ecosystem rights around the world, today the Colombia Supreme Court of Justice ruled that the Amazon region in Colombia possesses rights.

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Mar 19, 2018

Broadway World: Core Dance To Participate In National Water Dance

Broadway World: Core Dance To Participate In National Water Dance

Integrating art with the environmental movement, the 2018 National Water Dance will take place across the U.S. on April 14th. Core Dance is partnering with CELDF and other organizations to build alliances and protect water.

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

Mar 19, 2018

Daily Camera: Lafayette may again consider legalizing anti-fracking civil disobedience

Daily Camera: Lafayette may again consider legalizing anti-fracking civil disobedience

Community members in Lafayette, CO, rally behind an amendment to their Climate Bill of Rights that would legalize non-violent civil disobedience if necessary to stop fracking harms.

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

Mar 16, 2018

Press Release: Historic Vote on Community Rights State Constitutional Amendment in NH Legislature

Press Release: Historic Vote on Community Rights State Constitutional Amendment in NH Legislature

The New Hampshire legislature takes an historic vote on the first Community Rights state constitutional amendment considered by a state legislature.

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Feb 28, 2018

Press Release: International Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to Oregon Community Rights, Rights of Nature Advocate

Press Release: International Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to Oregon Community Rights, Rights of Nature Advocate

Community Rights supporter Carol Van Strum receives the International Lifetime Achievement Award Presented at the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference in Eugene, OR.

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Feb 19, 2018

Press Release: New Hampshire Community Rights Amendment Backed by Legislative Subcommittee

Press Release: New Hampshire Community Rights Amendment Backed by Legislative Subcommittee

The people’s Community Rights state constitutional amendment moves ahead with the support of a New Hampshire legislative subcommittee.

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Feb 13, 2018

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich supports Community Rights state constitutional amendment

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich supports Community Rights state constitutional amendment

Columbus Free Press covers Ohio’s Dennis Kucinich and his support for a Community Rights state constitutional amendment.

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Feb 8, 2018

In These Times: The Community Rights Movement to the New Hampshire House: Let the People Decide What’s Best

In These Times: The Community Rights Movement to the New Hampshire House: Let the People Decide What’s Best

Taking steps to assert decision-making authority over their own communities, New Hampshire residents work with the CELDF and NHCRN to advance a rights-based state constitutional amendment.

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Feb 5, 2018

New Hampshire Public Radio:  Plymouth Is Latest To Try Blocking Big Energy Projects With Local Ordinance

New Hampshire Public Radio: Plymouth Is Latest To Try Blocking Big Energy Projects With Local Ordinance

Plymouth, NH, residents are among the growing numbers of New Hampshire communities using Community Rights to stop projects harmful to their health, safety, and welfare.

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Feb 3, 2018

Columbus Free Press: Overturning Ohio HB 463 – Dismantling a corporate state and building something new

Columbus Free Press: Overturning Ohio HB 463 – Dismantling a corporate state and building something new

CELDF stands by Ohio residents. Together, the people succeeded in overturning unjust law, and today they are ramping up their efforts to advance democratic and environmental rights across the state.

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Feb 1, 2018

Press Release: Plymouth, NH, Voters Adopt Community Rights Sustainable Energy Future Ordinance

Press Release: Plymouth, NH, Voters Adopt Community Rights Sustainable Energy Future Ordinance

Plymouth, NH, voters overwhelmingly adopt a rights-based ordinance banning unsustainable energy projects and protecting their right to a sustainable energy future. The measure bans the Northern Pass project.

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