legal rights for ecosystems – Snohomish County Community Rights

Comment in Everett Herald: “Stand up for Snohomish River by seeking legal rights”

“The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn the “Chevron deference” standard marks a significant shift in the environmental regulatory landscape. But amidst this setback, there’s an opportunity for a bolder approach; granting legal rights to nature itself.”

As of August 9, 2024, the Standing for the Snoho initiative has officially qualified for the November 5, 2024 ballot in Everett, Washington. This November, the Everett Initiative 24-03 could grant legal standing to Snohomish River and its watershed for better protection.

Everett residents: Vote YES for 24-03 on November 5th!

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Dark Waters Movie Propels Forward RON Movement

Dark Waters movie was inspired by a typical true story of Robert Billot. It stars Mark Ruffalo as the corporate environmental defense attorney who risked his life, career and family and took on the DuPont company, one of the largest chemical corporations globally, in an environmental suite.

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.

Rights of Nature Webinar by CELDF on Ecuador

“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.”

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.

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”.

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.