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May 1, 2017

Press Release: Ohio Communities Assert Right to Propose Laws Protecting Themselves from Fracking

Press Release: Ohio Communities Assert Right to Propose Laws Protecting Themselves from Fracking

Ohio counties exercise their right to protect themselves from fracking activities using community rights. Residents begin gathering signatures for county charter initiatives, aiming for the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Apr 30, 2017

Press Release: “Free and Fair Elections” Initiative Would Ban Corporate Dollars in Local Elections

Press Release: “Free and Fair Elections” Initiative Would Ban Corporate Dollars in Local Elections

Youngstown, OH, residents launch a free and fair election bill of rights initiative for the November ballot. The measure would allow only city residents to make campaign contributions, and caps the contribution amount.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Apr 27, 2017

The Bradford Era: The joke is on Highland Township

The Bradford Era: The joke is on Highland Township

We watch as Highland residents fight to protect their water, the oil and gas industry attack, and the people’s own state government and PA Department of Environmental Protection back industry.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 25, 2017

Press Release: Oregon’s Right of Local Self-Government Vindicated

Press Release: Oregon’s Right of Local Self-Government Vindicated

Oregon court protects the people’s right to initiative, rejecting the Secretary of State’s effort to block the people’s rights-based state constitutional amendment from the ballot.

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

Apr 24, 2017

GoErie.com LTE: PA DEP suing municipalities during its ‘justice’ tour

GoErie.com LTE: PA DEP suing municipalities during its ‘justice’ tour

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection holds “listening hearings” for feedback from communities, while it sues two townships fighting the oil and gas industry.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 23, 2017

The Athens News: Athens County, OH, residents advance community rights charter initiative

The Athens News: Athens County, OH, residents advance community rights charter initiative

Athens County, OH, residents pursue third-year effort to advance community rights and ban fracking activities in the face of continued state efforts to block them.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 21, 2017

Desmog: Oregon County Faces Gas Industry Funding, Lobbyists in Battle to Halt Jordan Cove LNG Project

Desmog: Oregon County Faces Gas Industry Funding, Lobbyists in Battle to Halt Jordan Cove LNG Project

The battle against big money is on in Coos County, OR. With support for industry coming from the White House, Coos residents are up against an all out propaganda war as they fight to protect their community from an LNG export terminal.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 20, 2017

The World: Industry donates enormous funds to defeat community rights measure

The World: Industry donates enormous funds to defeat community rights measure

Oil and gas industry donates more than $300,000 to defeat Coos County, OR, residents’ Right to a Sustainable Energy Future Ordinance.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 17, 2017

The Huffington Post: They Told A Fracking Company To Go Away. 3 Years Later, They’re Still in Court.

The Huffington Post: They Told A Fracking Company To Go Away. 3 Years Later, They’re Still in Court.

The story of one small community’s fierce fight against the oil and gas industry, using community rights with CELDF and spearheading a movement.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 15, 2017

The Bradford Era: Highland’s water provider seeks to protect community water rights

The Bradford Era: Highland’s water provider seeks to protect community water rights

Highland Township, PA’s, Water Authority files to intervene in a federal lawsuit to protect the community’s right to water. Township Supervisors are attempting to give away that right and allow a frack wastewater injection well.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 10, 2017

Mint Press News: PA Dept. of Environmental Protection Sues Towns Over Fracking Ban

Mint Press News: PA Dept. of Environmental Protection Sues Towns Over Fracking Ban

Residents of Grant and Highland Townships, PA, continue the fight to protect themselves from a frack wastewater injection well. Joining the fight against them: the PA DEP, which has sued the townships for protecting themselves.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 10, 2017

The Indiana Gazette: Grant Twp, PA, residents plan local action to protect their water from injection well

The Indiana Gazette: Grant Twp, PA, residents plan local action to protect their water from injection well

Community rights advocates in Grant Township, PA, continue their stand to protect their water from a frack wastewater injection well.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 7, 2017

Pipeline foes talk protest

Pipeline foes talk protest

More than 50 people attend the Communities Rising Tour in Medina County, OH, discussing what needs to happen to protect themselves from the proposed Nexus pipeline.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 7, 2017

Grass-roots groups prepare to dig in deeper against Nexus pipeline

Grass-roots groups prepare to dig in deeper against Nexus pipeline

The OH/PA Communities Rising Tour stops in Medina County, OH, where residents face the Nexus pipeline and are organizing using Community Rights to stop it.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 4, 2017

Communities take action when their government fails them: Community Rights in PA/OH

Communities take action when their government fails them: Community Rights in PA/OH

Environmental activists, leaders, and residents are touring Pennsylvania and Ohio, sharing what they are doing in the face of the corporate state attempting to force fossil fuel harms in their communities.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Apr 3, 2017

Blog: Colorado Fracking “Win:” Redefining Victory

Blog: Colorado Fracking “Win:” Redefining Victory

Colorado youth gained a win with the recent Court of Appeals decision regarding the COGCC and fracking permits. But how far does that win go?

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Apr 2, 2017

For economic and environmental sustainability, we need to govern ourselves

For economic and environmental sustainability, we need to govern ourselves

A Coos County, OR, resident calls out local officials supporting the oil and gas industry, rather than supporting residents in building long term economic and environmental sustainability through the people’s May ballot measure.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 31, 2017

In These Times: Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection Sues Towns for Trying to Protect Their Environment

In These Times: Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection Sues Towns for Trying to Protect Their Environment

It doesn’t get any clearer than this: our own environmental regulatory agencies suing communities who dare to protect the environment by banning fracking activities. Is there any question that we live in a corporate state?

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 30, 2017

KBOO: Rights-based ban on pesticide spraying in Lincoln Co, OR, is on May ballot

KBOO: Rights-based ban on pesticide spraying in Lincoln Co, OR, is on May ballot

Seeking to elevate environmental rights over corporate “rights,” Lincoln Co, OR, residents will vote on a ban on aerial pesticide spraying in May.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 30, 2017

PennLive: Outrage and localism after state sues towns that banned frack water wells

PennLive: Outrage and localism after state sues towns that banned frack water wells

Residents of Grant and Highland Townships, PA, are outraged by the Dept. of Environmental Protection’s lawsuits against them for rights-based laws banning frack waste injections wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 29, 2017

PR: The Corporate State of Pennsylvania

PR: The Corporate State of Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection sues Townships with Community Rights Home Rule Charters to force in fracking injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Mar 28, 2017

PA Dept of Environmental Protection sues its own communities over fracking injection wells

PA Dept of Environmental Protection sues its own communities over fracking injection wells

A state agency charged with protecting the health and safety of communities and the natural environment sues Grant and Highland Townships in Pennsylvania, attempting to force in frack wastewater injection wells against the will of the people.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 23, 2017

PR: Ohio / Pennsylvania Communities Rising Tour: Defying the Corporate State

PR: Ohio / Pennsylvania Communities Rising Tour: Defying the Corporate State

Ohio and Pennsylvania residents are inundated with environmental harms, and have had enough. Join the Communities Rising tour, featuring voices from the front lines in the wave of direction action against the corporate state. Check it out here.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Mar 22, 2017

PR: First in Ohio Ballot Initiative: Right to a Healthy Climate in Bowling Green

PR: First in Ohio Ballot Initiative: Right to a Healthy Climate in Bowling Green

Bowling Green, OH, students and residents join together to advance a Community Rights Charter Amendment for the November ballot. The measure would establish a right climate – the first measure of its kind in the state.

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

Mar 17, 2017

WOUB Athens, OH – Interview with CELDF’s Tish O’Dell

WOUB Athens, OH – Interview with CELDF’s Tish O’Dell

CELDF’s Tish O’Dell interviewed on WOUB radio on Community Rights for Social Justice Workshop: Growing Roots and Rights. Myriad issues share a common root problem: a structure of law and governance that blocks our right to local community self-government. Learn here what you can do about it.

Read More | Uncategorized

Mar 10, 2017

Changing the power structures through We the People 2.0 and Community Rights

Changing the power structures through We the People 2.0 and Community Rights

Gig Harbor, WA, residents face over-development and environmental threats – and turn to the documentary We the People 2.0 and Community Rights for solutions.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Mar 9, 2017

CCBOR Media Release: Columbus Water Protectors Deliver Anti-Fracking Petitions to City Hall

CCBOR Media Release: Columbus Water Protectors Deliver Anti-Fracking Petitions to City Hall

Columbus, OH, residents to deliver more than 10,000 signatures to City Hall on Friday. Residents are working to place a Community Bill of Rights banning toxic fracking waste on the November ballot.

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

Mar 4, 2017

Voices Network: Occupy Community Rights

Voices Network: Occupy Community Rights

Co-host David Callihan interviews CELDF’s Emelyn Lybarger and OHCRN’s Tish O’Dell, discussing Community Rights to create the change necessary to transform our oppressive structure of law and governance.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Feb 22, 2017

Indiana Gazette LTE: Learning from Grant Twp, PA, on protecting our communities from fracking

Indiana Gazette LTE: Learning from Grant Twp, PA, on protecting our communities from fracking

When our government fails to protect us from fracking activities, we must do so ourselves.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 20, 2017

The World: Coos County Right to a Sustainable Energy Future Ordinance on May ballot in OR

The World: Coos County Right to a Sustainable Energy Future Ordinance on May ballot in OR

Coos County, OR, residents advance rights to stop Jordan Cove LNG export project.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 13, 2017

The Seattle Times LTE: City Council applauded – now it’s time for Community Rights

The Seattle Times LTE: City Council applauded – now it’s time for Community Rights

Seattle’s City Council withdraws financial ties with Wells Fargo over the Dakota Access Pipeline. Now it’s time for them to take the next step.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 12, 2017

Lancaster Online: No remedy to protect themselves, Lancaster Co, PA residents take direct action

Lancaster Online: No remedy to protect themselves, Lancaster Co, PA residents take direct action

Lancaster Co, PA, residents move to non-violent civil disobedience to protect their communities from the Atlantic Sunrise LNG pipeline.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 8, 2017

Daily Camera: Lafayette leaders, Standing Rock members voice support for anti-fracking proposal

Daily Camera: Lafayette leaders, Standing Rock members voice support for anti-fracking proposal

Lafayette, CO, residents and Standing Rock members call for local action as Lafayette advances a Climate Bill of Rights and Protections.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 6, 2017

The Oberlin Review: Oberlin Must Stand by Community Bill of Rights

The Oberlin Review: Oberlin Must Stand by Community Bill of Rights

The City of Oberlin, OH, has a Community Bill of Rights protecting them from unsustainable energy projects – and an Oberlin resident calls on the community to enforce it.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 1, 2017

The Spokesman-Review: Oil, coal train protesters in Spokane file federal lawsuit claiming climate change protections

The Spokesman-Review: Oil, coal train protesters in Spokane file federal lawsuit claiming climate change protections

Residents of Spokane, WA, file a federal lawsuit asserting the people’s right to a healthy climate.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 1, 2017

KREM2: ‘Raging Grannies’ and other protesters file federal lawsuit claiming climate change protections

KREM2: ‘Raging Grannies’ and other protesters file federal lawsuit claiming climate change protections

“Raging Granny” residents in Spokane, WA, file federal lawsuit for a right to a livable climate.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 31, 2017

PR: Spokane Arrestees Sue U.S. Government: Seek to Overturn Federal Preemption of Local Control Over Coal and Oil Trains

PR: Spokane Arrestees Sue U.S. Government: Seek to Overturn Federal Preemption of Local Control Over Coal and Oil Trains

CELDF files lawsuit against the federal government, asserting federal law preempting municipal control of fossil fuel rail shipments violates residents’ constitutional right to a healthy climate and local self-government.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Jan 31, 2017

PR: Spokane Arrestees Sue U.S. Government: Seek to Overturn Federal Preemption of Local Health and Safety Laws Concerning Coal and Oil Trains

PR: Spokane Arrestees Sue U.S. Government: Seek to Overturn Federal Preemption of Local Health and Safety Laws Concerning Coal and Oil Trains

CELDF files lawsuit against the federal government, asserting federal law preempting municipal control of fossil fuel rail shipments violates residents’ constitutional right to a healthy climate and local self-government.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Jan 21, 2017

Counterpunch: Get The Frack Out of Pennsylvania

Counterpunch: Get The Frack Out of Pennsylvania

Fiction mirrors reality, and author Lee Ballinger draws the parallels between a novel set in Pennsylvania describing the ravages of fracking, and the reality in Grant Township, where residents are fighting back to protect themselves and assert their rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 19, 2017

The Athens Messenger: HB 463 will not stand

The Athens Messenger: HB 463 will not stand

Ohioans recognize the state legislature’s assault on democracy through the adoption of HB 463. Presented as a foreclosure bill, legislators encroached on citizens’ right to initiative, blocking the right to local self-government.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 19, 2017

Boulder Weekly: Lafayette Council considers legalizing direct action to protect environment

Boulder Weekly: Lafayette Council considers legalizing direct action to protect environment

The state of Colorado refuses to recognize residents’ right to protect themselves from fracking. But Lafayette City Council considers a Right to Climate ordinance legalizing nonviolent direct action to protect residents – and residents came out in droves to support the local law.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 18, 2017

The Colorado Independent: Lafayette’s Climate Change Bill of Rights: A small town grapples with a big idea

The Colorado Independent: Lafayette’s Climate Change Bill of Rights: A small town grapples with a big idea

An overwhelming number of Lafayette, CO, residents attend a City Council meeting to urge support for a Climate Bill of Rights and Protections that legalizes non-violent civil disobedience.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 17, 2017

KDV1 Fox 31 Denver: Proposed ordinance sparks fracking debate in Lafayette

KDV1 Fox 31 Denver: Proposed ordinance sparks fracking debate in Lafayette

Lafayette and other Colorado residents come out in force to support a Climate Bill of Rights ordinance that bans fracking.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 16, 2017

Daily Camera: Merrily Mazza: Why we need a Lafayette Climate Bill of Rights

Daily Camera: Merrily Mazza: Why we need a Lafayette Climate Bill of Rights

Lafaytte, CO, City Councilwoman Merrily Mazza co-sponsors the Lafayette Climate Bill of Rights and Protections, calling for nonviolent civil disobedience to end unjust laws under the corporate state.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 14, 2017

Kane Republican: Motion to intervene filed in Highland Twp. case

Kane Republican: Motion to intervene filed in Highland Twp. case

While Seneca Resources tries to force a frack wastewater injection well into Highland Twp, PA, a second time, residents and the Crystal Spring Ecosystem fight back, filing for intervenor status in a federal lawsuit.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 14, 2017

Akron Beacon Journal: LTE – Right to Local Control

Akron Beacon Journal: LTE – Right to Local Control

The Ohio legislature adopted HB 463, further stripping communities of local control. Portage County residents speak out, vowing they will press forward with a county-wide rights-based charter.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 13, 2017

PR: Ecosystem and Residents File Motion to Intervene In Federal Lawsuit

PR: Ecosystem and Residents File Motion to Intervene In Federal Lawsuit

Crystal Spring Ecosystem and residents of Highland Township, PA, filed to intervene in a lawsuit today. Parties are fighting to block Seneca Resources’ plans to site a frack wastewater injection well in the Township as a violation of their Home Rule Charter.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Jan 8, 2017

Akron Beacon Journal: How lame ducks narrowed the right of Ohioans to take issues to the ballot

Akron Beacon Journal: How lame ducks narrowed the right of Ohioans to take issues to the ballot

The editorial board speaks out against the Ohio legislature’s stripping residents of their right to initiative.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 6, 2017

Kane Republican: Former water/sewer board is back in Highland

Kane Republican: Former water/sewer board is back in Highland

Highland Township Supervisors in Highland, PA, abandon their efforts to illegitimately remove the Water Authority board. Highland residents are fighting to protect themselves from an injection well, while their Supervisors ally with the fracking industry.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots