No-toxics Spring 2023 and Community Rights

Spring is around the corner! 


You might very well know that yard and home toxics damage the health of you, your family, community and watershed. The Poison Papers have proof how the chemical industry and regulators hide toxicity information from the public. 

Beside consuming vast resources and energy, the chemical industry uses the consumer and agriculture sectors for making its highest profits at the expense of environmental and community health. This is only one part in a big complicated interconnected knot of problems in the system created by industry and corporations. 


Snohomish County Community Rights (SCCR) was created in response to the urgency of climate and ecological crises and government failure to respond to them. The mission of SCCR is to work towards connecting and empowering communities in the pursuit of local democratic self-determination in matters of their fundamental rights, their natural environment, their quality of life, health and safety.

In this system, dominated and undermined by corporations, that at the same time legally protects them on federal, state and local level, local democratic self-determination is the act of passing laws by popular vote. For municipalities, it is by citizens’ pressure in most cases.

The big question is “What will it take to connect and empower our communities in the pursuit and enforcement of laws that protect them, Community Rights Laws such as one below?”.

Communities have awesome power. We all want more grassroots democracy. Here is an opportunity. Please share your thoughts with us and use healthier alternatives to toxics for yard and home.

A Template for the Watershed Protection Law, Municipalities and Counties of Washington State
The Poison Papers 
Eco-friendly Products and Practices
Pesticide Factsheets
Kids Are the Most Sensitive to Toxics
Web Post

Water Stewards Program by NCAP

Snohomish County Community Rights (SCCR) is proud to promote a program by NCAP – Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides: Central Puget Sound Water Stewards.

This community campaign is focused on improving the health of our watersheds and keeping chemical pesticides from entering Puget Sound, by engaging community members on alternative yard care practices. We want you to talk with your neighbors and friends about using less pesticides in their yards! This campaign includes community organizations, cities, counties, watershed management organizations and watershed districts.

Water Steward is such a cool title especially for kids and young people!

You’ll get a $25 gift card for attending a Zoom meeting on October 20, and another $25 gift card if you do the additional neighbor/community outreach.

More Information

The Poison Papers

Web Post

Facebook Post

Instagram Post

NextDoor Post

If you’d like to become a water steward and are able to commit to the training and neighborhood outreach, please contact NCAP’s Healthy Wildlife & Water Program Manager, Sharalyn Peterson at speterson@pesticide.org by October 19th, 2022.
We hope to see you at this important event.

Health of people depends on the health of watersheds.

CELDF Online Democracy School 2022

On October 15, 16 and 22, 23 at 10 am-12:30 pm, Snohomish County Community Rights (SCCR) will host the 4-day Online Democracy School by Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF).

Registration

Facebook Event

Web Post

NextDoor Post

Please share this important event and information with your family, friends, neighbors and community.

Communities have awesome power!

Democracy School is a stimulating and illuminating virtual course that teaches residents and activists an empowering new approach about how to reframe exhausting and often discouraging single-issue work – such as banning pesticides, halting overdevelopment, protecting water and watersheds, and addressing climate change – in a way that we can confront corporate control and government interference on a powerful front: the people’s right of local self-governance and Nature’s rights.

Educating yourself and your community is one of the most powerful steps toward change you can make.

Your active support and engagement are critical and greatly appreciated. A brighter, healthier future for yourself, your children, community and the Earth depend on your active efforts.

Module 1: Where We Are Now – Exposing Intentional Barriers to Community Self-Determination

Saturday, October 15, 2022 10 am – 12:30 pm PT

Module 2: How Did We Get Here? The Power of Property

Sunday, October 16, 2022 10 am – 12:30 pm PT

Module 3: How We Could Make Change – Asserting Rights

Saturday, October 22, 2022 10 am – 12:30 pm PT

Module 4: Where We Could End Up – Building a Movement for Real Change

Sunday, October 23, 2022 10am – 12:30pm PST


Cost: $50 – includes all 4 modules.

Rights-of-Nature (RON) Movie Viewing and Discussion in Edmonds

On September 16 at 7 pm, please join Edmonds Community Rights (ECR) for the RON-Movie Viewing and Discussion.

We will focus on a concept of Rights of Nature, where it came from, current status, highlights, future developments and a close connection between Rights of Nature (RON) and Community Rights (CR).

Your voice is important to us. Please bring your questions and concerns.

Event Flyer

Web Post @sccr2017.org

Facebook Event @sccr2017

Instagram Post @sccr2017

NextDoor Post

Events

Online Democracy School by Community Environmental Legal Defence Fund (CELDF) – October 15, 16, 22 and 23, 10 am – 12:30 pm

Registration for the Democracy School and More Information

Topic: RON Movie Viewing and Discussion
Time: Sep 16, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9829014486?pwd=M3IycGY3T0FaUEcvNFk2QVV6YjV0UT09

Meeting ID: 982 901 4486
Passcode: 446722


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Community Rights Workshop by CELDF

On August 25 at 7 pm, Gold Bar Community Rights (GBCR) will host an online workshop by Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) “Community Rights: Why and How Communities Are Building Democracy”.

More Information

The Poison Papers, Maps of Toxic Sprays and Maps of Watersheds

CR Workshop Flyer

Web Post @sccr2017.org

Facebook Event at @sccr2017

Instagram Post @sccr2017

NextDoor Post

Events

Online Democracy School by the Community Environmental Legal Defence Fund (CELDF) – October 15, 16, 22 and 23 2022

Topic: CELDF Community Rights Workshop
Time: Aug 25, 2022 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9829014486?pwd=M3IycGY3T0FaUEcvNFk2QVV6YjV0UT09

Meeting ID: 982 901 4486
Passcode: 446722
One tap mobile
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Dial by your location
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+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
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+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
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Meeting ID: 982 901 4486
Passcode: 446722
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kuN8xnhLD

Rights of Nature Webinar by CELDF on Ecuador

On June 30, 4 pm PST Community Environmental Legal Defence Fund (CELDF) will hold a webinar “Putting Our Heads in the Clouds: Landmark Decision in Ecuador Points to Protection over Exploitation”.

Vimeo webinar recording

YouTube webinar recording

More Information

“This past November, Ecuador’s Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the Los Cedros Cloud Forest ecosystem and local communities’ rights over the rights of a foreign mining corporation. Truly a seminal case for legal rights of nature, the court addressed the regulatory permitting process, the precautionary principle, biodiversity, community input into the decision-making process, and how human rights to clean water and a healthy environment are completely tied to the rights of the ecosystem and nature.”

The Los Cedros decision by the Constitutional Court of Ecuador in English and Spanish

Excerpts of the Los Cedros decision

Legal Rights for Ecosystems Workshop and Video

Rights of Nature (RON) is a simple concept and dates at least half a century back. Including in local and national legislations the legal right to exist, flourish and regenerate is a foundation for protection of ecosystems – such as the Salish Sea and its watershed – from abuse, unlimited extraction, destruction, toxic contamination and extinction.

Human communities are parts of ecosystems. Healthier ecosystems mean healthier communities. Please share this information with your family, friends, neighbors and community.

Title of the RON Workshop by CELDF: “Emancipating Nature: Securing Legal Rights for Ecosystems”.

Facebook Recording

Zoom Recording Passcode: HazvL0@L

More information 

RON Timeline

Pesticide Spraying 2022 and Safety Workshop

Please share: On May 26 at 7 pm, Gold Bar Community Rights (GBCR) will host an online information workshop about pesticide spraying 2022 on local industrial tree plantations in the Skykomish River Watershed and safety for residents and communities.

We will discuss spraying practices, chemicals, documents, drift and what we can do to have a safer and healthier community and ecosystem.

Agenda and Resources

Web Post @sccr2017.org

Facebook Event @sccr2017

Instagram Post @sccr2017

NextDoor Post

The Poison Papers

Events

Online Democracy School by the Community Environmental Legal Defence Fund (CELDF) – October 2022

Rights of Nature (RON) Workshop by CELDF

Please share: On June 9 at 6 pm, Snohomish County Community Rights (SCCR) will host an online Rights of Nature (RON) workshop by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) “Emancipating Nature: Securing Legal Rights for Ecosystems”.

Facebook Recording

Zoom Recording Passcode: HazvL0@L

The workshop will cover the following:

  • What is rights of nature?
  • Where did it come from?
  • Current status and highlight moments
  • The good, the bad, and the ugly – the need to protect rights of nature principles
  • The horizon for rights of nature laws

More Information

Web Post @sccr2017.org

Facebook Event @sccr2017

Instagram Post @sccr2017

NextDoor Post

Events

Online Democracy School by the Community Environmental Legal Defence Fund (CELDF) – October 2022

Topic: Rights of Nature (RON) Workshop by CELDF “Emancipating Nature: Securing legal rights for ecosystems”

Time: Jun 9, 2022 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9829014486?pwd=MUNMZ25oVng0ZURDY0ZHb25DOXdUZz09

Meeting ID: 982 901 4486

Passcode: 742629

One tap mobile

+12532158782,,9829014486#,,,,*742629# US (Tacoma)

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Dial by your location

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 982 901 4486

Passcode: 742629

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kuN8xnhLD

Kids Are the Most Sensitive to Toxics

Please share: pregnant women, babies and young children are the most sensitive to toxic chemicals for home, lawn and yard care. So are pets, domestic animals and wild life. Pesticides drift in air and water contaminating entire watersheds and neighborhoods.

We encourage you to check labels and use alternative methods for healthier family, community, ecosystem and watershed.

Eco-friendly Products and Practices

Pesticide Factsheets

Rights of Nature Law and Policy

Work on including Rights of Nature in constitutions, national statutes, and local laws has been done internationally for decades. This article has a comprehensive list of events.

“Rights of Nature Law and Policy”, Harmony with Nature United Nations

“The law has seen the beginning of an evolution toward recognition of the inherent rights of Nature to exist, thrive and evolve. This evolving legal approach acknowledges that the traditional environmental regulatory systems generally described herein regard nature as property to be used for human benefit, rather than a rights-bearing partner with which humanity has co-evolved.

Rights of Nature is grounded in the recognition that humankind and Nature share a fundamental, non-anthropocentric relationship given our shared existence on this planet, and it creates guidance for actions that respect this relationship.

Legal provisions recognizing the Rights of Nature, sometimes referred to as Earth Jurisprudence, include constitutions, national statutes, and local laws. In addition, new policies, guidelines and resolutions are increasingly pointing to the need for a legal approach that recognizes the rights of the Earth to well-being. Furthermore, educational activities on the rights of Nature are on the increase in the professional and public spheres to advance Earth Jurisprudence worldwide.”

“The UN General Assembly has widely acknowledged that the world’s depletion of natural resources and rapid environmental degradation are the result of unsustainable consumption and production patterns which have led to adverse consequences for both the Earth and the health and overall well-being of humanity. The scientific community has well documented evidence that our present way of life, in particular our consumption and production patterns, has severely affected the Earth’s carrying capacity.”

Rocky the Eco-dog

This is Rocky the eco-dog. Rocky does not like animal abuse, trash and toxic chemicals.

Rocky was twice at an emergency vet clinic after toxic sprays near his home. Pesticides drift in air and water and contaminate entire watersheds and neighborhoods.

Please reduce, reuse, recycle and use alternative methods for pesticides and other home, yard and lawn chemicals.

Eco-friendly Products and Practices

For Your Yard, Garden and Home

Please share: Spring is here! For your yard, garden and home, it is best to use alternative and eco-friendly methods and products. So that you, your family, community, and watershed are more healthy.

We should be more careful and thoughtful what we use around us. Look at the labels and check ingredients. Chemicals can drift in air and water and contaminate downwind and downstream neighborhoods and watersheds.

Eco-friendly Products and Practices

The Poison Papers

Plans to mine Ecuador forest violate rights of nature, court rules

Ecuador’s highest court has ruled that plans to mine for copper and gold in a protected cloud forest are unconstitutional and violate the rights of nature.

In a landmark ruling, the constitutional court of Ecuador decided that mining permits issued in Los Cedros, a protected area in the north-west of the country, would harm the biodiversity of the forest, which is home to spectacled bears, endangered frogs, dozens of rare orchid species and the brown-headed spider monkey, one of the world’s rarest primates.

The ruling by Ecuador’s highest court, published on Wednesday, upheld the rights of nature, which are enshrined in the country’s constitution, and said they applied across the whole country, not just to protected areas.

“Plans to mine Ecuador forest violate rights of nature, court rules”, The Guardian 12-2-2021

Photo by Rifqi Ramadhan on Pexels.com

Environmental Grief, Ecocide and the Rights of Nature

On November 12, 6 pm at the SCCR quarterly meeting, Dr. Kriss Kevorkian will have a presentation “Environmental Grief, Ecocide and the Rights of Nature”.

Dr. Kevorkian will discuss how her research in environmental grief led her to discover the healing that comes with taking action to save our Mother. This unique form of grief is as much a paradigm shift in mental health as the rights of Nature are in the law.

We will broadcast this meeting live on Zoom.

Facebook Event

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/9829014486?pwd=V2lhUFVvK0hsdGxNV2NsT0svMmtIZz09

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