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Can a River Have Rights? episode artwork

May 23, 2026 29 min

Can a River Have Rights?

from Solarpunk Futures

On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson discusses local, national, and international efforts to grant legal rights to nature. Our Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmag Our Social Media Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmag TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag SOURCES AND LINKS Lane County Watersheds Bill of Rights Full ballot measure language: https://www.protectlanecountywatersheds.org/read_ordinance The ballot measure explained: https://oregonvotes.gov/voters-guide-military/Measure20-373Explanatory.html Arguments in favor: https://oregonvotes.gov/voters-guide-military/Measure20-373ArgInFavor.html Arguments opposed: https://oregonvotes.gov/voters-guide-military/Measure20-373ArgOppose.html General Rights of Nature Sources "Should Trees Have Standing" by Christopher D. Stone: https://southerncalifornialawreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Christopher-D.-Stone-Should-Trees-Have-Standing_%E2%80%94Toward-Legal-Rights-for-Natural-Objects-45-S.-CAL.-L.-REV.-450-1972..pdf Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature: https://www.garn.org/rights-of-nature Case Studies Tamaqua, Pennsylvania: https://celdf.org/2015/08/tamaqua-borough Toledo, Ohio: https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/06/lake-erie-bill-rights-federal-court-unconstitutional Orange County, Florida: https://aldf.org/article/legal-rights-recognized-for-rivers-in-florida-and-quebec Grant Township, Pennsylvania: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13062023/pennsylvania-fracking-wastewater-injection-wells https://celdf.org/2023/05/unrepentant-and-vindicated-proposed-frack-waste-injection-well-in-grant-township-to-be-plugged-and-abandoned New Zealand: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2017/7/en/latest/#DLM6831462 Columbia: https://apnews.com/article/atrato-guardians-illegal-mining-contamination-threats-choco-977ad1e171715b8f7fb20a8ac6b9e149

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Can a River Have Rights?

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