News From the Community Rights Movement - Page 7 of 30

Mar 13, 2020

BREAKING: Repressive Tactics Used to Attack Rights of Nature

Press Release: Corporate plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit against LEBOR show total disregard for global COVID-19 pandemic as they demand $293,750 from the City of Toledo for defending the Lake Erie Bill of Rights.

The Indiana Gazette: Court sides with Grant Township on injection well

As the Pennsylvania DEP attempts to block Grant Township’s defense of their ban on fracking injection wells, the court rules that the case can move forward. Grant argues they have the right to local governing authority to protect against corporate harm.

Mar 4, 2020

Press Release: Grant Township Injection Well Ban Stands, Court Denies ‘Collateral Attack’ from DEP

A decision fro a judge in Grant Township argues that local governing authority is necessary to protect the community’s constitutional rights in the face of harmful state oil and gas policies.

Press Release: Judge Refuses to Acknowledge Lake Erie’s Rights

In Toledo, OH, a federal judge joined a long list of enablers complicit in the destruction of the natural world by invalidating the democratically enacted Lake Erie Bill of Rights charter amendment.

Read More | Community Wires, News, Press Releases

Feb 26, 2020

Breaking the Spell of Misguided Obedience

Toledo organizer Markie Miller drafted this letter to Lake Erie the night before the federal hearing. In honor of this moment in history, we share her letter here.

Read More | Blogs, Community Wires, News

Feb 22, 2020

Securing #MeToo

The #MeToo movement will prove only to be a passing moment in history unless women are the ones making governing decisions that impact them.

PRESS RELEASE: LAKE ERIE BILL OF RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF NATURE ARGUED IN US FEDERAL COURT

A post-court update of the Lake Erie Bill of Rights. Get an in-depth look at the arguments made in federal court as the Corporate State defends its constitutional right to pollute. The City of Toledo is triumphant in defending Rights of Nature.

Rights of Nature Podcast: Kai Huschke

Check out this interview with CELDF’s Hawaii and Northwest organizer, Kai Huschke, on CELDF’s partnerships with communities across the U.S. who have spearheaded the Rights of Nature movement.

Feb 6, 2020

Rights of Nature: Ohio Organizer Tish O’Dell on Top of Mind with Julie Rose

If corporations have individual rights under US law – like freedom of speech – why not a grant a lake or forest or river the same status? Ohio organizer Tish O’Dell talks about Toledo’s groundbreaking law – the Lake Erie Bill of Rights – and the Rights of Nature Movement!

Feb 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.”

Feb 3, 2020

Lake Erie Bill of Rights Court Update

Read the first-hand accounts from attendees at the historic Lake Erie Bill of Rights hearing that took place in Toledo, Ohio last week.

Feb 3, 2020

Who Speaks for Lake Erie?

Toledoans are tired of waiting for action out of Columbus. State and federal authorities — who are supposed to protect the lake, and the people who rely on it for drinking water, recreation and more — should step up to their responsibilities.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Feb 3, 2020

Blog: Crisis Calls for More Democracy, Not Less

Financial and environmental crises call for more democracy – not less. Yet we see these crises used by U.S. and state governments to suspend democracy. It’s time to stop it.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs

Jan 27, 2020

Press Release: Lake Erie’s Day in Court

Organizations, activists, government officials, and hundreds of others from around the world support the Lake Erie Bill of Rights as oral arguments in federal court are held tomorrow.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Jan 25, 2020

The Blade: More at stake than water with Lake Erie Bill of Rights court decision

Can a corporation 40 miles from Toledo interfere with the rights of Toledoans to amend their charter and protect Lake Erie?

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 21, 2020

Lake Erie Bill of Rights Heads to Federal Court

Oral arguments in the federal case brought by a corporation to overturn the Lake Erie Bill of Rights are coming up. The world stands with Toledoans.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 20, 2020

Wink News: Push by Florida lawmakers to block bill giving ‘legal rights’ to nature

Florida state representatives endeavor to stop Rights of Nature as growing numbers of communities across the state advance local laws recognizing such rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 19, 2020

The Blade: Lake Erie’s fate

The Lake Erie Bill of Rights is part of a growing movement, and people are joining. What will the courts do?

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 19, 2020

NBC 24News: Toledoans For Safe Water screen “Invisible Hand” ahead of the state’s lawsuit against city

Toledoans grow support for the Lake Erie Bill of Rights as their day in court approaches.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Jan 9, 2020

Blog: Dillon’s Rule Under Scrutiny in Virginia

Progressives may find Democratic wins favorable. But as long as Dillon’s Rule (legalized state preemption) stops local community self-government from heightening environmental and economic protections, no political party is going to help.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs

Dec 19, 2019

Susquehanna: 2019: A Historic Year, and We Are Just Getting Started

2019 has been a remarkable year for CELDF and our partner communities. Check out what we are celebrating!

Dec 17, 2019

Sierra: Nevertheless, they persisted

The epic story of Grant Township, Pennsylvania, fighting for their community’s water in the face of PGE’s proposed fracking wastewater injection well.

Dec 10, 2019

Guest Blog: A Conversation with The Guardian

LEBOR activists exchanged views with The Guardian on Rights of Nature and human rights. Here, they make clear the need to recognize that it is not nature’s rights vs human rights, but those combined against corporate claimed rights.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Dec 5, 2019

Blog: A Fundamentally Humanizing Agenda

The current administration wants a crackdown on people experiencing homelessness. It’s time, instead, for a humanizing agenda, such as that advanced by Denver residents this year.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs

Nov 25, 2019

Media Release: First Rights of Nature legislation introduced in Australia

The first Rights of Nature legislation is introduced in Australia, into the Western Australia Parliament. CELDF’s International Center for the Rights of Nature assisted in drafting the law.

Nov 13, 2019

Scalawag: Progressive wins in Virginia are limited as long as “Dillon’s Rule” is on the books

Regardless of political gains by Democrats in Virginia, residents still do not have authority to govern themselves in their own communities. Here’s why – and what communities can do about it.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Nov 11, 2019

Media Statement: Settlement Announced with Oil and Gas Industry Seeking Monetary Award: Ban Against Injection Wells Continues

Following settlement of one of the lawsuits against Grant Township, PA, for daring to protect its water from a frack wastewater injection well, the township continues to stand up to the oil and gas industry.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Nov 4, 2019

Press Release: Election 2019: Corporations Are Determining What Gets Voted On

Efforts are growing to not only determine how people vote, but what gets voted on. Your ballot measures are not yours to democratically determine.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs

Oct 23, 2019

In Plain Sight

Since its inception, a state-wide movement in Ohio has faced a state and corporate attack that amounts to concerted opposition from all branches of state government, corporate lobbies, private law firms, and both political parties. The entire repressive apparatus has revealed itself in 2019, for all to see.

High Country News: In Oregon, the fight for local control upends Western norms

Lincoln County residents continue their fight to protect themselves and ecosystems from aerial sprayed pesticides, and spark not only hope, but tangible strategies for advancing rights.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 16, 2019

Press Release: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Attacks 4-Year-Old Community Water Protection Law

The people’s own Department of Environmental Protection in Pennsylvania sues Grant Township to overturn a democratically enacted Home Rule charter that includes a ban on fracking wastewater injection wells. This was their day in court.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Oct 14, 2019

Cleveland.com: Letter To The Editor: Talk to the people of Toledo about the increasingly poor health of Lake Erie

An Ohio resident makes clear that it is state government itself that is driving forward polluting Lake Erie. The state is even joining a lawsuit to overturn the Lake Erie Bill of Rights while permitting four factory farms.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 14, 2019

Oregon Coast Today: A life of politics and peace

Meet Maria Sause, and her life and commitment to Community Rights in Lincoln County, where residents are fighting a recent court decision to overturn their rights-based ban on aerial pesticide spraying.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 10, 2019

Media Statement: Constitutional Amendment Introduced in Pennsylvania

Community Rights advances to the state level as a Pennsylvania legislator introduces the “Local Self-Government Amendment,” elevating people and communities over corporations.

Oct 10, 2019

Common Dreams: The Rights of Nature

“The Rights of Nature movement…is about ushering humanity back onto a living planet.”

Media Release: Rights of Nature Constitutional Amendment Introduced in Sweden’s Parliament

A representative in Sweden’s Parliament introduces Rights of Nature legislation – the first time a European national government considers the rights of ecosystems.

Oct 5, 2019

The Indiana Gazette: Hellbenders have their day in court

Grant Township, Pennsylvania, argued for their environmental rights in court as they defend themselves against their own Department of Protection to stop a fracking injection well.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Oct 2, 2019

Media Statement: Court Issues Decision on Two Year Aerial Pesticides Ban in Lincoln County, Oregon

Lincoln County, Oregon, community members prepare to appeal judge’s denial of their right to protect themselves from aerial sprayed pesticides.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Oct 1, 2019

The Blade: Lake Fed Up

This Toledoan calls out Ohio government officials: actions speak louder than words, and promises to protect Lake Erie ring hollow when the state approves factory farm permits.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 30, 2019

Press Release: Ohio Courts Continue Attack on Local Democracy and Rights of Nature, Petitioners Seek Federal Remedies

Williams County, Ohio, residents submit request to join a multi-plaintiff federal civil rights lawsuit against state of Ohio as they continue to be blocked from the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, Press Releases & Blogs

Sep 29, 2019

Mother Jones: Some Indigenous Communities Have a New Way to Fight Climate Change: Give Personhood Rights to Nature

The Yurok Tribe recognizes the rights of the Klamath River this summer as part of the growing Rights of Nature movement.

Sep 19, 2019

Blog: We Stand With the Youth Climate Strike

CELDF stands with Youth Climate Strike as they demand systemic change, including legal Rights of Nature.

Read More | Press Releases & Blogs, Success Story

Sep 16, 2019

WINK News: Clean water advocates work to get Caloosahatchee amendment on 2020 ballot

Lee County, Florida, residents advance a bill of rights for the Caloosahatchee River, joining five other Florida counties advancing similar measures.

Sep 14, 2019

Truthout: Legislators’ Secretive Maneuvers Undermine Rights of Nature in Ohio

The unsurprising truth behind legislation adopted by the Ohio Assembly in an effort to undermine the Rights of Nature movement.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 11, 2019

Farm and Dairy: Emails show LEBOR was target of last-minute change in law

Corporate control runs deep in the Ohio legislature as the big business writes language to stop Rights of Nature enforcement.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 10, 2019

My Plainview: How giving legal rights to nature could help reduce toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie

An analysis of Rights of Nature laws as a path forward to protecting ecosystems in the face of continuing environmental harms.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 10, 2019

The Toledo Blade: Back off ballot-measure limits

The Editorial Board of the Toledo Blade speaks out against the legislature’s proposed bill making it more difficult for citizens to place initiatives on the ballot.

Read More | Community Wires, News from the Grassroots

Sep 7, 2019

Thom Hartmann Book Club: How Wealth Rules the World

Thom Hartmann Book Club covers CELDF’s Ben G. Price’s book, How Wealth Rules the World. Check out this interview!

Blog: It’s Time: Rights of Nature in the UK.

As we begin a sixth mass extinction, we must act now to change our trajectory. In this guest blog, Susan Shaw urges the UK to embrace Rights of Nature to propel us forward.

Read More | Blogs, Press Releases & Blogs, Rights of Nature

Sep 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 Grassroots

Announcing CELDF's Proposed Rights of Nature Principles

Sneak Peek! -- End of Year Newsletter 2022: We are Nature

Book: ‘Death by Democracy’

BREAKING: Repressive Tactics Used to Attack Rights of Nature

The Indiana Gazette: Court sides with Grant Township on injection well

Press Release: Grant Township Injection Well Ban Stands, Court Denies ‘Collateral Attack’ from DEP

Press Release: Judge Refuses to Acknowledge Lake Erie’s Rights

Breaking the Spell of Misguided Obedience

Securing #MeToo

PRESS RELEASE: LAKE ERIE BILL OF RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF NATURE ARGUED IN US FEDERAL COURT

Rights of Nature Podcast: Kai Huschke

Rights of Nature: Ohio Organizer Tish O’Dell on Top of Mind with Julie Rose

VIDEO: ‘The Transformation from Reformist to Revolutionary’

Lake Erie Bill of Rights Court Update

Who Speaks for Lake Erie?

Blog: Crisis Calls for More Democracy, Not Less

Press Release: Lake Erie’s Day in Court

The Blade: More at stake than water with Lake Erie Bill of Rights court decision

Lake Erie Bill of Rights Heads to Federal Court

Wink News: Push by Florida lawmakers to block bill giving ‘legal rights’ to nature

The Blade: Lake Erie’s fate

NBC 24News: Toledoans For Safe Water screen “Invisible Hand” ahead of the state’s lawsuit against city

Blog: Dillon’s Rule Under Scrutiny in Virginia

Susquehanna: 2019: A Historic Year, and We Are Just Getting Started

Sierra: Nevertheless, they persisted

Guest Blog: A Conversation with The Guardian

Blog: A Fundamentally Humanizing Agenda

Media Release: First Rights of Nature legislation introduced in Australia

Scalawag: Progressive wins in Virginia are limited as long as “Dillon’s Rule” is on the books

Media Statement: Settlement Announced with Oil and Gas Industry Seeking Monetary Award: Ban Against Injection Wells Continues

Press Release: Election 2019: Corporations Are Determining What Gets Voted On

In Plain Sight

High Country News: In Oregon, the fight for local control upends Western norms

Press Release: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Attacks 4-Year-Old Community Water Protection Law

Cleveland.com: Letter To The Editor: Talk to the people of Toledo about the increasingly poor health of Lake Erie

Oregon Coast Today: A life of politics and peace

Media Statement: Constitutional Amendment Introduced in Pennsylvania

Common Dreams: The Rights of Nature

Media Release: Rights of Nature Constitutional Amendment Introduced in Sweden’s Parliament

The Indiana Gazette: Hellbenders have their day in court

Media Statement: Court Issues Decision on Two Year Aerial Pesticides Ban in Lincoln County, Oregon

The Blade: Lake Fed Up

Press Release: Ohio Courts Continue Attack on Local Democracy and Rights of Nature, Petitioners Seek Federal Remedies

Mother Jones: Some Indigenous Communities Have a New Way to Fight Climate Change: Give Personhood Rights to Nature

Blog: We Stand With the Youth Climate Strike

WINK News: Clean water advocates work to get Caloosahatchee amendment on 2020 ballot

Truthout: Legislators’ Secretive Maneuvers Undermine Rights of Nature in Ohio

Farm and Dairy: Emails show LEBOR was target of last-minute change in law

My Plainview: How giving legal rights to nature could help reduce toxic algae blooms in Lake Erie

The Toledo Blade: Back off ballot-measure limits

Thom Hartmann Book Club: How Wealth Rules the World

Blog: It’s Time: Rights of Nature in the UK.

Concord Monitor: My Turn: The rights of nature

Support just, fair, and sustainable communities