Announcing CELDF's Proposed Rights of Nature Principles
A new system of law based on respect for Nature and the…
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Issues, News, Resources, Rights of Nature
New Hampshire
Sep 23, 2021
Corporation Asks Nottingham, N.H. For Legal Fees After Suing Over Climate Ordinance
The Freedom From Chemical Trespass Rights-Based Ordinance asserted residents’ rights to a healthy climate and banned corporate activities that would interfere with those rights, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 per day.
Read More | Community Rights, Extraction & Pollution, Issues, News from the Grassroots, Water PrivitizationJun 10, 2021
Judge Rewards Corporation for Suing to Halt Implementation of Climate Ordinance, Orders Town to Pay Corporate Attorney Fees
As global carbon dioxide concentrations hit their highest level in 4 million years, a New Hampshire Judge has rewarded a local corporate actor in Nottingham for opposing a democratically adopted ordinance, the Freedom from Chemical Trespass Ordinance, that recognized a right of townspeople to a “climate system capable of sustaining human societies.”
Read More | Chemical Trespass, News, Press ReleasesApr 26, 2021
Financial Threats to Rights of Nature Lawmaking
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Michelle SanbornCommunity Environmental Legal Defense FundCommunity Organizermichelle@celdf.org603-524-2468 Corporate ‘person’ uses constitutional rights law to justify attorney fees from the Town of Nottingham, targeting people’s use of direct democracy for climate action. NOTTINGHAM, NH: Corporate personhood “rights” are once again being weaponized to financially punish and intimidate a local community that took a… Read more »
Read More | Community Rights, Press ReleasesFeb 15, 2021
For All to See: Bias of New Hampshire Judiciary Exposed in Rights of Nature, Healthy Climate Proceedings
In 2019, Nottingham residents passed a Freedom from Chemical Trespass Ordinance securing the rights of ecosystems and of townspeople to a “climate system capable of sustaining human societies.” Now New Hampshire courts have sided with corporations who infringe on those rights, revealing a pattern of bias embedded within the New Hampshire judiciary.
Read More | News, Press Releases, Rights of NatureJan 18, 2021
Newsletter: New Hampshire Pamphlet
To advance political education in the Granite State, the New Hampshire Community Rights Network (NHCRN) has compiled an in-depth pamphlet to explore a transformation of New Hampshire’s form of government.
Read More | Blogs, Community Rights, News, Water PrivitizationDec 24, 2020
‘The Courts Are a Sham’: New Hampshire Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Rights of Nature, Healthy Climate Arguments
New Hampshire Supreme Court Refuses to hear arguments on Rights of Nature and the right to a Healthy Climate. Amidst ecological catastrophe, movements for a paradigm shift in law have made global gains in 2020. Granite State judges have chosen to reject a request for a people’s defense of a municipal Rights of Nature and healthy climate law.
Read More | Chemical Trespass, Community Rights, Democratic Rights, News, Press ReleasesNov 10, 2020
Observing Revolution: New Hampshire
Building statewide momentum across New Hampshire. A 2020 organizing update featured in our fall newsletter.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsAug 26, 2020
New Hampshire Supreme Court Gives Group Chance to Defend Right to a Healthy Climate Law from Corporate Lawsuit
While local electeds refused to defend Nottingham’s Healthy Climate Law, the New Hampshire Supreme Court heard the people’s voice. Now residents are able to defend their rights and this historic law while the corporation cries discrimination.
Read More | Press Releases, Press Releases & BlogsJun 29, 2020
Thom Hartmann Program: State Law Benefits Corporations Against You – You Lose
Chad Nicholson joins Thom Hartmann to discuss how the 1% are effectively, suing the 99% for their own benefit, citing the findings of our June 2020 Report.
Read More | Corporate 'Rights', News from the Grassroots
Jun 9, 2020
New Hampshire Supreme Court: Allow People to Defend Against Corporate Lawsuits
Nottingham, New Hampshire residents appeal Supreme Court to defend their Freedom from Chemical Trespass Ordinance. Adopted in 2019, this ordinance secures the right to a climate system capable of sustaining human societies, bans all corporate activities that infringe that right, and grants residents the right to defend the law in court.
Read More | Community Wires, News, Press Releases
Apr 22, 2020
Common Dreams: Abolish Earth Day
For 50 years, environmentalists have celebrated the illusion that the law is on their side. Earth Day’s laws have systematically failed to guard against mass species die-offs, the climate crisis, deadly air pollution, the corporatization of freshwater, and the largest loss of biodiversity in human history.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsApr 20, 2020
50 Years of Earth Day – What Are We Celebrating?
This year CELDF will be hosting an online Q&A with organizers who have been engaging communities across the country in paradigm-shifting work for decades.
Read More | Community Wires, Events, News from the GrassrootsMar 17, 2020
Community Stories: Claiming the Law
Bryan Twitchell shares a guest blog about the Wet’suwet’en First Nation’s ongoing resistance to the Coastal GasLink pipeline in British Columbia, Canada.
Read More | Blogs, Community Wires, NewsFeb 5, 2020
VIDEO: ‘The Transformation from Reformist to Revolutionary’
This 6 minute short explains how, across numerous social issues—from housing, worker rights, environmental protection to gentrification—“the people in the community lack the legal authority to determine their own future, a basic tenet of democracy.”
Read More | Blogs, Community Rights, Multimedia, News from the Grassroots, Resource Links, ResourcesSep 5, 2019
Concord Monitor: My Turn: The rights of nature
This New Hampshire resident urges continued recognition of nature’s rights to end the insane ravaging of Earth’s ecosystem.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsMar 25, 2019
Fosters.com: State reps block local rights effort
The people of New Hampshire have the right to govern themselves and protect their communities from corporate harm – yet the state legislature blocks them from securing that right in the state constitution.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsMar 25, 2019
Media Release: New Hampshire Community Rights Amendment Hijacked by Party Politics
The New Hampshire Community Rights Amendment, CACR8, went before the state House of Representatives last week. It was blocked from advancing to a vote by New Hampshire citizens.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & BlogsMar 17, 2019
Media Release: 2nd Right to a Healthy Climate Law Adopted in New Hampshire
Nottingham, New Hampshire, residents adopt the second right to healthy climate law in the state at Town Meeting.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryMar 13, 2019
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 StoryJan 4, 2019
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 StoryJan 2, 2019
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 StoryNov 15, 2018
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 GrassrootsOct 11, 2018
Fosters.com: To the Editor: Where do NH’s candidates stand on local choice?
Where do New Hampshire candidates stand on the right to local community self-government? Community Rights supporters ask this question as they advance their rights-based state constitutional amendment.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsAug 26, 2018
InDepthNH.org: Opinion: Northern Pass Appeal Ignores Wishes of NH People
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 GrassrootsJul 25, 2018
CELDF is Hiring! New Hamphire General Counsel
Join CELDF in this unique opportunity to advance the emerging Community Rights movement in the United States.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsMay 21, 2018
The Remarkable Advancement of the NH Community Rights State Constitutional Amendment
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 7, 2018
Fosters.com: A rights-based ordinance for the Great Bay
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 GrassrootsMar 16, 2018
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.
Read More | Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryMar 1, 2018
The Laconia Daily Sun: Perhaps Northern Pass is falling to our fatigue, but my generation has had enough, we’re done; vote yes on CRBO in Ashland
This powerful letter-to-the-editor by an Ashland, NH, resident, is what builds a people’s movement.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsFeb 23, 2018
Fosters.com: To the Editor: Let the people vote on CACR19
With bi-partisan support, the New Hampshire House Municipal & County Government committee will vote how to recommend the Community Rights state constitutional amendment CACR19 to the full House next week.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsFeb 19, 2018
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.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryFeb 8, 2018
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.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryFeb 6, 2018
New Hampshire Public Radio: Local Governance Advocates Try Again To Amend State Constitution
New Hampshire supporters of a community rights state constitutional amendment urge the legislative committee to advance the amendment to the House.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsFeb 5, 2018
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.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryFeb 1, 2018
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 StoryJan 31, 2018
New Hampshire Rep. Ellen Read on adopting a Community Rights state constitutional amendment
As the New Hampshire Community Rights state constitutional amendment moves forward to a legislative committee, Representative Ellen Read voices her support for the amendment. Listen here.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJan 31, 2018
Union Leader: Plymouth residents take aim at Northern Pass with new ordinance
Facing a massive electrical power corridor cutting through New Hampshire, the people of Plymouth ban the project in their Town using Community Rights. Next step: a statewide amendment codifying Community Rights in the NH constitution.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots, Success StoryJan 25, 2018
The Laconia Daily Sun: Let’s not wait for the Legislature’s permission to self-govern
A former Selectperson from Ashland, NH, writes this LTE on the NH Community Rights state constitutional amendment. We are born with the inalienable right to local community self-government, and we must exercise that right.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsJan 23, 2018
Press Release: New Hampshire Community Rights Amendment Advances to Public Committee Hearing
New Hampshire residents and the NHCRN advance a Community Rights state constitutional amendment to the legislative committee hearing.
Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryDec 21, 2017
Fosters.com: We the people shall rule
People have always risen up to right the wrongs inflicted by the ruling elite. That time has come again, and the people of New Hampshire are using Community Rights to end harmful exploitation of our communities.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsNov 28, 2017
The Hartmann Report: What’s It Going to Take to Return to the Politics of Sanity?
Radio host Thom Hartmann interviews NH representative Ellen Read and CELDF’s Michelle Sanborn on the NH Community Rights state constitutional amendment. The interview begins at 31 minutes.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsNov 20, 2017
Blog: A New Hampshire Resident & Legislator Exchange Words on Community Rights
A powerful exchange between a New Hampshire legislator and a New Hampshire resident on Community Rights.
Read More | Press Releases & BlogsNov 15, 2017
Seacoastonline.com: Amendment would recognize right to self-government
Residents urge New Hampshire legislators to place a Community Rights state constitutional amendment on the ballot for voters.
Read More | Community Wires, News from the GrassrootsNov 14, 2017
Press Release: As Part of Growing Community Rights Movement, New Hampshire Legislators Consider State Constitutional Amendment
The NH Community Rights Network and residents successfully introduce a rights-based state constitutional amendment to the NH legislature with Representative Ellen Read as a sponsor.
Read More | Press Releases & Blogs, Success StoryAug 9, 2017
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 GrassrootsJun 29, 2017
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