April 2019
From the Executive Director
NATURE RIGHTS
Rights of Natural Forests Taking Hold in El Salvador
Dear Friends of Earth Law,
On March 30, environmental leaders in El Salvador launched a new group called Yes for the Rights of Nature (“Sí por los Derechos de la Naturaleza”). Their first campaign is to recognize El Salvador’s natural forests as living entities possessing fundamental rights. Towards this goal, they collaborated with Earth Law Center to draft a “Declaration of the Rights of Natural Forests in El Salvador.” The proposed Declaration would acknowledge that natural forests are living entities with certain inalienable rights, including rights to life, to integral health, to support native biodiversity, and to independent legal guardianship, amongst others. The proposed amendment also recognizes related human rights, including the right to a healthy and sustainable climate.
Lake Ilopango, El Salvador. Ll1324 [CC0]
The Declaration has already been presented to members of the Committee on Environment and Climate Change of the Legislative Assembly. If passed, El Salvador would become the first country in the world to specifically recognize the rights of natural forests.
Did you know that over one million gardeners have created a network of greenery for bees and butterflies? It just goes to show that there is always something we can do to protect Nature. The #TrashTag challenge is another example, where people clean up a place and post before and after pictures. The results have been astounding. Meanwhile, 18 countries have reduced their carbon emissions between 2005 and 2015, showing that it is possible for all countries. Won’t you join us and Give Green today in celebration of Earth Day? Together we can make a difference. Best, Darlene
OUR PARTNERS
Boulder Rights of Nature Earth Law Center is proud to partner with Boulder Rights of Nature (BRON) to promote the Rights of Nature in Boulder County, Colorado. Boulder Rights of Nature has existed since 2013, when a group of local citizens came together with the shared belief that recognizing Nature’s rights could provide permanent and inalienable protections for Boulder County’s natural communities. If not in Boulder County, one of the most environmentally progressive places in the United States, then where?
With frequent local events, ongoing advocacy for Rights of Nature in local plans and policies, and dedicated grassroots support, BRON is a model for communities across the United States.
April 2019
EARTH DAY
OCEAN GOVERNANCE
#GiveGreen
Robert Pittman [Public domain]
Partners in Pender Island, Save Our Whales and Pender Ocean Defenders, have filed a petition with the Pender Trust Council to support and recognize the Rights of the Southern Resident Orcas. We aim to build community support for the Salish Sea.
Rights for Reefs
Photo by Milos Prelevic on Unsplash
ELC is working with lawyers in Palau to include Rights for Reefs in a new coral reef bill currently under review! To learn more about this framework, watch our Webinar from March 29th.
EARTH LAW EBOOK ON ITUNES ELC’s First e-book Did you enjoy ELC’s first E-book on Amazon? If you have not seen it yet you can find a copy of Three Solutions to Save Planet A on Amazon and iTunes. Michelle Bender is working on creating our second on Ocean Rights, stay tuned for its availability this summer!
This year on Earth Day, Monday April 22, 2019, join ELC in our 1-day campaign to raise awareness and build support for our work. On April 22, we are asking our supporters to make a gift through ELC's website, or to act as social media ambassadors - inviting others in their networks to come on board and support our organization and the work that we do.
Please help us make the day a success! Register here to become a Social Media Ambassador. Or donate here: https://www.earthlawcenter.org/donate-to-elc
https://www.pexels.com/@madsdonald
Southern Resident Orca Rights
April 2019
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
Jordan Michelson
Textbook Project Manager My journey with the Earth Law Center has been such an exciting and rewarding adventure. The diverse challenges facing Earth Law practitioners and advocates make the field perennially interesting and the experience extremely valuable. Plus, the people are awesome.
INTERESTING READS
River Warrior – Fighting to Protect the World’s Rivers! By Gary Wockner Partner Gary Wockner collected his writing, photos, and activism over the years in the book River Warrior. Working to save rivers in Peru, Thailand, Spain, Belize, Mexico, Columbia, and Costa Rica, as well as the Colorado River, and Cache la Poudre River in the U.S., Gary continues to advocate for the rights of rivers. Read more here.
EDUCATION
Earth Law Textbook Marches Forward Work continues on the first-ever textbook on Earth Law. We have reached an agreement with a major publishing company, to be announced next week upon the final signing of the contract. Draft chapters have already been completed on guardianship for Nature, Rights of Nature in India, animal rights (from our partners at the Nonhuman Rights Project), and other topics.
A digital pre-release copy of the textbook will be available for Fall 2019, while the printed textbook will be available in 2020. The textbook will be written in a traditional law school casebook format, although it is being made available to undergraduate programs, as well. Interested in teaching the Earth Law textbook in your own law school or university? Contact Earth Law Center at info@earthlaw.org.
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