Press Releases from Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund

Media Release: Ohio Legislature Bans Rights of Nature Enforcement

Following a Daily Show profile of the Lake Erie Bill of Rights, the Ohio legislature has agreed on a new state budget that bans Rights of Nature enforcement. This media release was published by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund on July 18th, 2019. COLUMBUS, OH: Yesterday, the Ohio Senate and House agreed on a new state budget [...]

Media Release: Rights of Michindoh Aquifer Encounter First Hurdle

Board of Elections refuses to certify signatures, deems county charter unconstitutional The media release was published by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund on July 11th, 2019. BRYAN, OH: On Monday, the Williams County Board of Elections (BOE) attempted to block a proposed county charter initiative brought forward by residents seeking to protect the Michindoh Aquifer [...]

Press Release: Major Developments for Lake Erie Bill of Rights

A pending state ban on Rights of Nature. Anonymous legislators. A lawsuit to enforce the lake’s rights. A new county petition… This press release was published by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund on July 1st, 2019. COLUMBUS, OH:  The Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR) made history when 61 percent of Toledo, Ohio, voters approved [...]

Press Release: Anti-Rights of Nature Language Snuck into Ohio State Budget Bill

Both the House and Senate have approved language to ban Rights of Nature enforcement. A press release published by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund on June 27th, 2019. COLUMBUS, OH:  This Sunday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is scheduled to sign off on a new state budget for 2020-2021. Hidden within the 3,000+ page document are [...]

Press Release: Citizens Recognize the Lake Erie Bill of Rights as the Will of the People

This press release was published by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund on June 27th, 2019. Today, citizens of Toledo, Ohio will be filing a Pro Se Complaint to validate the Lake Erie Bill of Rights at the Lucas County Courthouse, 10 a.m. As citizens of the City of Toledo, Michael Ferner, Bryan Twitchell, and [...]

Media Release: Tacoma, WA, Group Files First Amendment SCOTUS Petition to Protect Local Ballot Access

The group is fighting for resident-oversight of industrial water projects.   A press release issued by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund on June 6th, 2019. TACOMA, WA: On June 4, 2019, a grassroots community group in Tacoma, Washington, filed a First Amendment petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to challenge Washington state courts’ continued denial [...]

Press Release: Multi-Prong Attack by State of Ohio Against Rights of Nature

Attorney General files complaint against the Lake Erie Bill of Rights protecting polluters This press release was published by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund on May 28th, 2019. COLUMBUS, OH: On Friday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a legal complaint to have the Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR) overturned. The AG’s filing comes less than [...]

Press Release: How Wealth Rules the World – and What Communities Are Doing About It

This press release was released by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund on May 21, 2019. Crackdowns on local democracy are accelerating, as corporate and state interests continue efforts to repress social movements. In this well-timed book, How Wealth Rules the World, Ben Price presciently reveals structures of power and law that facilitate blatant corporate supremacy in [...]

Press Release: The First State in U.S. History Has Mentioned Legal Rights of Nature

But it’s not for the reasons you would hope A press release by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund published on May 9th, 2019. COLUMBUS, OH:  Today, the Ohio House of Representatives adopted its 2020-2021 budget with provisions that prohibit anyone, including local governments, from enforcing recognized legal rights for ecosystems. The political maneuver is [...]

Press Release: Judge Denies Toledoans and Lake Erie Access to Court

Denies People their Right to Defend Local Law Recognizing Rights of Lake Erie A press release posted by the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund on May 8th, 2019. Toledo, OH: Yesterday, Toledoans for Safe Water (TSW) and the Lake Erie Ecosystem were denied their motion to intervene in the lawsuit brought by Drewes Farm Partnership of Wood County [...]

Go to Top