News From the Community Rights Movement

Write for CELDF

Nov 9, 2015

Eagle Times: Legislators take a stand for NH community rights

Eagle Times: Legislators take a stand for NH community rights

Representatives in the New Hampshire state legislature endorse a statewide Community Rights state constitutional amendment guaranteeing the rights of the people to democratic local self-government supersede corporate claimed “rights.”

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 7, 2015

The Medina-Gazette: NEXUS gas compressor sparks concerns

The Medina-Gazette: NEXUS gas compressor sparks concerns

Medina County, OH, residents attend a standing-room-only meeting about a proposed NEXUS pipeline that would cut through their communities. Residents declare they will continue to pursue a rights-based county charter that would include a ban on pipelines.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 4, 2015

Pittsburgh Business Times: This town hates frack waste so much it refuted a federal judge’s ruling and adopted a new charter to ban it

Pittsburgh Business Times: This town hates frack waste so much it refuted a federal judge’s ruling and adopted a new charter to ban it

Grant Township, PA, residents refuse to accept a federal judge’s ruling in favor of a fracking corporation that wants to site an injection well. Instead, they adopted their own community rights home rule charter, which includes a frack waste ban.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 4, 2015

Press Release: Youngstown Residents Just Shy of Codifying Community Rights

Press Release: Youngstown Residents Just Shy of Codifying Community Rights

Youngstown, OH, community rights supporters came within 345 votes of adopting their rights-based charter amendment banning fracking, and are ready to press forward.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Nov 4, 2015

Press Release: West Chester, PA, Voters Adopt Community Rights Charter Amendment Banning Fracking Wastewater, Pipelines, and Drilling

Press Release: West Chester, PA, Voters Adopt Community Rights Charter Amendment Banning Fracking Wastewater, Pipelines, and Drilling

The people of West Chester, PA, vote overwhelmingly to assert their community rights and ban fracking activities from their borough. They join dozens of other communities across the state – and the country – who are standing up for their rights.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Nov 4, 2015

Common Dreams: No Longer Willing to be Bullied and Fracked, How One Pennsylvania Town Fought Back

Common Dreams: No Longer Willing to be Bullied and Fracked, How One Pennsylvania Town Fought Back

Grant Township is the first community in the U.S. to draft and adopt their municipal charter based entirely on community rights. In so doing, they reinstated a fracking ban that had been overturned by a federal judge.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 3, 2015

Press Release: Despite Court Ruling, Grant Township Bans Fracking Injection Wells Again, Through Municipal Charter

Press Release: Despite Court Ruling, Grant Township Bans Fracking Injection Wells Again, Through Municipal Charter

The people of Grant Township, PA, adopt the first rights-based charter in the country banning frack wastewater injection wells, two weeks after a federal judge overturned portions of a Community Bill of Rights ordinance banning the wells.

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

Nov 3, 2015

The Vindicator: Community Bill of Rights supporters gather at lounge

The Vindicator: Community Bill of Rights supporters gather at lounge

Youngstown, OH, residents supporting a Community Bill of Rights charter amendment banning fracking, recognize that regardless of election results, their advancing of rights is building towards a movement.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 2, 2015

The World: Power in the hands of the people

The World: Power in the hands of the people

Coos County, OR, resident urges a rejection of projects with short term benefit and long term environmental and economic harm. Instead, the Coos County Sustainable Energy Future Ordinance empowers the people of Coos County to create a sustainable future through codifying their community rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 31, 2015

The Indiana Gazette: Grant Township voters to decide on home rule charter

The Indiana Gazette: Grant Township voters to decide on home rule charter

Grant Township, PA, residents will vote this week on becoming a home rule township through a rights-based charter. The charter establishes the residents’ rights to clean air, water, and local self-government, and bans frack wastewater injection wells.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 30, 2015

Common Dreams: Preempting Democracy: What’s Not Being Voted on This November Is Sinister

Common Dreams: Preempting Democracy: What’s Not Being Voted on This November Is Sinister

State preemptive action to quash local initiatives that are advancing environmental and worker rights are multiplying – and may be the catalyst for rights-based efforts to join together to confront these preemptive attacks on the right to local self-government.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 27, 2015

East Boulder County United: CELDF Building New Structure of Law

East Boulder County United: CELDF Building New Structure of Law

In our culture, sustainability is illegal. CELDF is working with communities across the country to change that.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Oct 26, 2015

In These Times: A Bill of Rights That Puts Workers Above Corporations

In These Times: A Bill of Rights That Puts Workers Above Corporations

With union and labor backing, as well as endorsements from local groups and nationally renowned Noam Chomsky, Spokane, WA’s, Worker Bill of Rights charter amendment will be voted on by residents next week. The bill of rights establishes a family wage, equal pay for equal work, and protection from unjust firings.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 26, 2015

KXLY.com: What Prop 1 means for Spokane residents, businesses

KXLY.com: What Prop 1 means for Spokane residents, businesses

Residents supporting the Worker Bill of Rights in Spokane, WA, call out fear tactics used to dissuade voters, and press forward with their efforts to raise minimum wages, assure equitable pay standards, and protect against unfair firings.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 25, 2015

The Post: Op-Ed: Ohio University professor hopes people will attend environmental speaker in November

The Post: Op-Ed: Ohio University professor hopes people will attend environmental speaker in November

The rate of climate change demands urgent action. Athens, OH, resident and professor urges community members attend a November 13th event: CELDF’s Thomas Linzey speaking on community civil disobedience to protect our health, safety, and welfare.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 21, 2015

The Southern Illinoisan: Group plans to keep pushing community bill of rights

The Southern Illinoisan: Group plans to keep pushing community bill of rights

Jackson County, IL, residents doggedly pursue a Community Bill of Rights ordinance banning fracking and protecting their rights to clean air, water, and local self-government, as their own local government attempts to avoid advancing the rights-based ordinance.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 20, 2015

DeSmog Blog: Communities Pushing For Legal Rights To Regain Power Over Fracking Companies

DeSmog Blog: Communities Pushing For Legal Rights To Regain Power Over Fracking Companies

As the fracking industry pushes into communities against the will of the people, growing numbers of communities across the U.S. are using community rights in their grassroots organizing to challenge our existing structure of law and bring democracy back to the people.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 18, 2015

Sentinel Source: Citizens can’t rely on state laws for protection

Sentinel Source: Citizens can’t rely on state laws for protection

New Hampshire resident and attorney Lorraine Hansen decries the state and federal regulatory system as a means to protect people and the environment from harmful projects. What to do? Assert your rights and support the New Hampshire Community Rights Network’s proposed state constitutional amendment.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Oct 18, 2015

TruthDig: Death by Fracking

TruthDig: Death by Fracking

Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hedges speaks to fracking as one of myriad harms destroying communities and ecosystems; the uselessness of our environmental laws; the incestuous relationship between government and industries; and the necessary resistance that must emerge from the only places it can: locally, in the places where we live.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Oct 17, 2015

Eye on Ohio: Ohio Supreme Court rules against anti-fracking ballot measures

Eye on Ohio: Ohio Supreme Court rules against anti-fracking ballot measures

Reporter Simon Davis-Cohen provides in-depth reporting on state and industry efforts to keep fracking and pipeline initiatives off the ballot in Ohio – including the state’s use of oil and gas industry law firms.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 16, 2015

State Impact: Federal court rejects township’s waste water disposal ban

State Impact: Federal court rejects township’s waste water disposal ban

While a federal judge finds in favor of the oil and gas industry to force frack wastewater into Grant Township, PA, the decision also reveals to growing numbers of people the unjust structure of law and governance ruling over communities. Grant residents are considering an appeal.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 16, 2015

Huffington Post: Epic Change — Part 1

Huffington Post: Epic Change — Part 1

Kenny Ausubel of Bioneers sees a colossal awakening happening as climate change forces human behavioral shifts. Under our current structure of law, however, sustainability is illegal. CELDF is helping communities challenge and change that structure through community rights and the state and National Community Rights Networks.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Oct 15, 2015

NCRN Press Release: National Community Rights Network Endorses the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment

NCRN Press Release: National Community Rights Network Endorses the Youngstown Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment

NCRN endorses Youngstown, OH’s Community Bill of Rights Charter Amendment. The initiative advances the rights of residents and prohibits fracking activities that would violate community rights to clean water, air, the peaceful enjoyment of their homes, and their right to be free from chemical trespass.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 15, 2015

Press Release: Grant Township, PA: The People Left Out of Court Decision

Press Release: Grant Township, PA: The People Left Out of Court Decision

A U.S. District Court finds in favor of corporations to site a frack wastewater injection well in Grant Township, PA – ignoring the will and the rights of the people who live there. Grant residents consider an appeal, while growing numbers of residents seek a state constitutional amendment to protect their rights.

Read More | Uncategorized

Oct 11, 2015

New Hampshire Union Leader: Developer says Newfound-area wind plant still on track

New Hampshire Union Leader: Developer says Newfound-area wind plant still on track

A Portuguese energy company edges forward on harmful industrial wind projects in towns in New Hampshire. Residents are determined to decide for themselves what projects site in their communities, and are working through the New Hampshire Community Rights Network to codify that right.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 10, 2015

The World: Coos County community rights group driven to ‘legalize sustainability’

The World: Coos County community rights group driven to ‘legalize sustainability’

CELDF’s Thomas Linzey spoke to Coos County, OR, residents, who are advancing a Community Bill of Rights sustainability ordinance to stop an export terminal and legalize their right to a sustainable energy future.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 8, 2015

New Hampshire Union Leader: Network finds legislative sponsor for local land rights amendment

New Hampshire Union Leader: Network finds legislative sponsor for local land rights amendment

Representative Susan Emerson in the New Hampshire legislature introduces a CELDF-drafted community rights state constitutional amendment, brought forward by the New Hampshire Community Rights Network.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 7, 2015

EcoWatch: This Pennsylvania Community Is Determined to Ban GMOs and Pesticides

EcoWatch: This Pennsylvania Community Is Determined to Ban GMOs and Pesticides

Lancaster County, PA, residents recognize it’s not enough to label GMO food. They want to ban it. Using community rights, residents are organizing to assert their right to be GMO and pesticide-free.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 7, 2015

The Calvert Recorder: LNG project opponents drafting ‘Community Bill of Rights’

The Calvert Recorder: LNG project opponents drafting ‘Community Bill of Rights’

Calvert County, MD, residents are working with CELDF to draft a Community Bill of Rights to protect themselves from future harmful corporate projects, such as the LNG export facility under construction at Dominion Cove Point.

Read More | Uncategorized

Oct 5, 2015

Jefferson Public Radio: How To Exercise “Community Rights” On The Environment

Jefferson Public Radio: How To Exercise “Community Rights” On The Environment

CELDF’s Thomas Linzey speaks to the community rights movement. Growing numbers of people are using community rights to challenge corporate claimed “rights” and state preemption, which today are leveraged to force environmental harms into the places where we live.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 5, 2015

Press Release: New Hampshire Legislature to Consider CELDF-Drafted State Constitutional Amendment

Press Release: New Hampshire Legislature to Consider CELDF-Drafted State Constitutional Amendment

A CELDF-drafted state constitutional amendment recognizing the rights of communities to govern themselves is being introduced in the New Hampshire legislature.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Oct 4, 2015

The Spokesman-Review: Election preview: Spokane Proposition 1, the Worker Bill of Rights

The Spokesman-Review: Election preview: Spokane Proposition 1, the Worker Bill of Rights

Spokane, WA’s, Worker Bill of Rights initiative places worker rights over corporate privileges. “If we are about creating …sustainability, we can’t get there without actually challenging this idea that corporate rights should be greater than the community’s rights,” says Envision Spokane’s Kai Huschke.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 3, 2015

The World: Your View: Time for people to reject corporate shackles

The World: Your View: Time for people to reject corporate shackles

Future generations in Coos County, OR, have a fundamental and unalienable right to a sustainable economy and energy future. Coos residents advance their bill of rights banning pipelines and a proposed LNG port, recognizing the need to challenge existing law that makes sustainability illegal.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 1, 2015

Boulder Weekly: Letters – Community Rights

Boulder Weekly: Letters – Community Rights

Boulder, CO, resident Rick Casey urges discussion and exploration of community rights and the community rights state ballot initiative, heading for the November 2016 ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 1, 2015

Eugene Weekly: Fighting Back Against Corporate Rights

Eugene Weekly: Fighting Back Against Corporate Rights

CELDF’s Thomas Linzey returns to Oregon on a speaking tour, addressing community rights as a challenge to corporate harms such as GMOs and coal trains. Linzey will be speaking at Lane Community College on October 7th.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 30, 2015

Statesman Journal: Salem talk starts “community rights” events

Statesman Journal: Salem talk starts “community rights” events

In Oregon and across the U.S., community rights is growing into a people’s movement. CELDF’s Thomas Linzey is on a community rights tour in Oregon, speaking to the authority of communities to make governing decisions to protect rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 28, 2015

Wisconsin Public Radio: Ho-Chunk Nation Amends Constitution To Add Environmental Protections

Wisconsin Public Radio: Ho-Chunk Nation Amends Constitution To Add Environmental Protections

Tribal members add the rights of nature to their constitution, in order to strengthen protections against corporate harms. Over the last decade, CELDF has helped the 1st communities in the U.S. to adopt laws recognizing nature’s rights.

Read More | News from the Grassroots

Sep 25, 2015

Commonweal: Pope Francis to UN: Respect the ‘Right of the Environment’

Commonweal: Pope Francis to UN: Respect the ‘Right of the Environment’

In a stunning assertion during a speech to the U.N., the Pope asserted the need to recognize the Rights of Nature. For over a decade, CELDF has been working with communities, civil organizations, and countries to codify and protect nature’s rights in law.

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

Sep 24, 2015

WKBN First News 27: Youngstown fracking amendment makes another run, group supports passage

WKBN First News 27: Youngstown fracking amendment makes another run, group supports passage

Frack Free Mahoning Valley members urge support in Youngstown for a Community Bill of Rights banning fracking, which is on the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 23, 2015

Truthout: Campaign for a “Worker Bill of Rights” Puts ALEC in Spokane’s Crosshairs

Truthout: Campaign for a “Worker Bill of Rights” Puts ALEC in Spokane’s Crosshairs

Spokane, WA’s Worker Bill of Rights asserts the right to community decision-making over corporate claimed “rights” to call the shots. And in Colorado, residents’ community rights state constitutional amendment asserts community decision-making over state claimed preemptive authority.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 21, 2015

Earth Island Journal: Government and Gas Industry Team Up Against Local Fracking Ban Initiatives in Ohio

Earth Island Journal: Government and Gas Industry Team Up Against Local Fracking Ban Initiatives in Ohio

Reporter Simon Davis-Cohen reveals how Ohio state government used tax payers’ money, hiring private oil and gas industry law firms to keep the people’s community rights initiatives off the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 19, 2015

Press Release: Ohio Supreme Court Upholds the Right of the People of Youngstown to Vote on a Citizens’ Initiative

Press Release: Ohio Supreme Court Upholds the Right of the People of Youngstown to Vote on a Citizens’ Initiative

The people of Youngstown’s constitutional right to vote on a local Bill of Rights charter amendment initiative was upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court.

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

Sep 18, 2015

Aurora Advocate: Were Supreme Court cases victors really the victors?

Aurora Advocate: Were Supreme Court cases victors really the victors?

While the Ohio Secretary of State spins a “win” in last week’s Ohio Supreme Court decision, the Justices in fact slapped his wrist for his claim to be empowered to “prejudge the legality or constitutionality of the substance of a petition,” freeing up Ohio counties to bring their measures forward next year.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 18, 2015

Vindy.com: Ohio Supreme Court orders frack ban onto Nov. ballot

Vindy.com: Ohio Supreme Court orders frack ban onto Nov. ballot

After slapping the wrist of Ohio’s Secretary of State for attempting to rule on the content of community rights initiatives in three counties, the Ohio Supreme Court does the same with the Mahoning County Board of Elections, placing the Youngtown Community Bill of Rights charter amendment back on the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 17, 2015

WFMJ: Court overrules election board on Youngstown anti-fracking amendment

WFMJ: Court overrules election board on Youngstown anti-fracking amendment

Youngstown, OH, residents’ Community Bill of Rights charter amendment banning fracking has been ordered back on the ballot by the Ohio Supreme Court.

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

Sep 16, 2015

Press Release: Ohio Supreme Court Rules Against Secretary of State

Press Release: Ohio Supreme Court Rules Against Secretary of State

The Ohio Supreme Court rules in favor of the democratic rights of citizens, and against the Ohio Secretary of State’s claimed “unfettered authority” to block the people’s right to initiative.

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

Sep 16, 2015

Chron: Ohio Supreme Court rejects fracking foes’ ballot protest

Chron: Ohio Supreme Court rejects fracking foes’ ballot protest

While three Ohio counties are unable to place their community rights charter amendments on the November ballot for a technicality, the Ohio Supreme Court makes clear to Secretary of State Husted that he may not rule on the legality of the proposed charters’ content.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 16, 2015

The Athens News: Bill of rights/charter won’t be on November ballot in Athens

The Athens News: Bill of rights/charter won’t be on November ballot in Athens

Ohio Supreme Court keeps Home Ruler charter initiatives off the November ballot in three Ohio counties; slaps Secretary of State’s wrist for attempting to keep the measures off the ballot for content.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 16, 2015

Government and Corporations Collude Against the People: Ohio Is a Corporate State

Government and Corporations Collude Against the People: Ohio Is a Corporate State

Ohio government officials, both locally and at the state level, use oil and gas industry law firms in an attempt to keep the people’s ballot initiatives impacting banning fracking off the November ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs