Why was an environmental law firm sanctioned for helping to block a toxic fracking wastewater project? This article by Justin Nobel appeared in Rolling Stone Magazine, January 10, 2018. Last Friday, a federal judge in western Pennsylvania issued sanctions on two lawyers from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, a law firm that for 15 years has [...]
Court Awards $52,000 to Oil and Gas Company and Calls for Disciplinary Action Against Attorney A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from January 5th, 2018. Today, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania issued an order imposing sanctions on two attorneys defending a Community Bill of Rights Ordinance [...]
Attorney on climate bill fracking ban: "It is my opinion the city would lose that lawsuit, swiftly." This article by Anthony Hahn was published in the Daily Camera, January 3rd, 2018. Lafayette's City Council will meet publicly with representatives of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit public interest law firm that often engages in [...]
This article by Valerie Volcovici appeared in Rueters, January 3, 2018. A company that plans to build a coal export terminal in the Pacific Northwest to ship western U.S. coal to Asian markets sued the state of Washington on Wednesday for blocking construction last year. Lighthouse Resources Inc filed a lawsuit in federal court against [...]
The sacred mountain in the North Island is the third geographic feature in the country to be granted a ‘legal personality’ This article by Eleanor Ainge Roy appeared in The Guardian, December 22nd, 2017. Mount Taranaki in New Zealand is to be granted the same legal rights as a person, becoming the third geographic feature [...]
Private landowner on Kaua’i legally recognizes nature’s rights through conservation easement A Press Release from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, from December 20, 2017. For the first time, ecosystems and natural communities on eight acres of land on the island of Kaua’i possess legal rights to exist, thrive, regenerate, and evolve. This is the first [...]
This article by Will Falk appeared in the San Diego Free Press, December 8, 2017. Our first-in-the-nation lawsuit seeking personhood for the Colorado River was dismissed. After the Colorado Attorney General filed a motion to dismiss and threatened sanctions against attorney Jason Flores-Williams for the unforgivable act of requesting rights for nature, Flores-Williams withdrew our case. [...]
This network is trying to change the fabric of Ohio’s constitution to allow for more direct democracy. This article by Sarah Horne was published in The New Political, December 7, 2017. The Ohio Community Rights Network (OHCRN), the Athens Bill of Rights Committee and the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) have been supporting an [...]
This article by Lindsay Fendt appeared in the Post Independent, December 2, 2017. Protestors spurred on by the environmental group Deep Green Resistance gathered at dusk in front of the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse in downtown Denver Friday. High above their heads, the words "Colorado River Rights of Nature" loomed, lit by a spotlight projector [...]
The initiative would change Tacoma's city charter to allow residents to set water usage limits at the port. This article by Jenna Hanchard appeared on the King 5 News's website, December 1, 2017. Community activists spoke at a state court of appeals hearing Thursday in support of an initiative that could impact industry at Tacoma’s [...]
