Explore groundbreaking developments in recognizing the legal rights of nature, including efforts by Indigenous communities to draft and adopt such laws. This bold approach, treating nature as a

Explore groundbreaking developments in recognizing the legal rights of nature, including efforts by Indigenous communities to draft and adopt such laws. This bold approach, treating nature as a living entity with legal rights, offers a revolutionary path to protect the planet, enabling courts to enforce the rights of rivers, mountains, and forests.

Hear directly from communities on the front lines mobilizing to build a new environmental law system. Featuring insights from Mari Margil and Thomas Linzey of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, alongside Guy Reiter, Executive Director of Menikanaehkem – Community Rebuilders.

The Rights of Nature movement, launched in 2006, is rapidly expanding, with over three dozen U.S. communities adopting laws to protect ecosystems. This program features Native American attorneys

The Rights of Nature movement, launched in 2006, is rapidly expanding, with over three dozen U.S. communities adopting laws to protect ecosystems. This program features Native American attorneys Frank Bibeau (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe) and Samantha Skenandore (Ho-Chunk/Oneida), alongside legal leader Thomas Linzey (Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights). They discuss strategies to advance these rights.

Explore resources: Changing Everything, The Rights of Nature Movement, and Bioneers Rights of Nature Deep Dive. This episode is from the Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature series; visit the radio and podcast homepage.

Mari Margil and Thomas Linzey of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, leading figures in the global movement to recognize the legal rights of ecosystems and nature, share exciting

Mari Margil and Thomas Linzey of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, leading figures in the global movement to recognize the legal rights of ecosystems and nature, share exciting recent developments in that effort. They highlight breakthroughs in tribal nations, communities, and countries around the world. They explain how advancing the rights of nature in legal codes and constitutions can lead to a radical transformation in humankind’s relationship with the natural world.

Thomas Linzey and Mari Margil delivered this talk at the 2020 Bioneers Conference, introduced by Kenny Ausubel. Watch more conference videos at https://bioneers.org/2020talks/

Mari Margil, Executive Director of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights, leads its International Center for the Rights of Nature. Previously Associate Director of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, she assisted the first places in the world to secure the Rights of Nature in law, including Ecuador. She works internationally as well as with Indigenous peoples and tribal nations to advance Rights of Nature legal and policy frameworks. Mari is a co-author of: The Bottom Line or Public Health and Exploring Wild Law: The Philosophy of Earth Jurisprudence.



Thomas Linzey, Senior Counsel for the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER), co-founded the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund and the Daniel Pennock Democracy School (which has graduated over 5,000 lawyers, activists, and municipal officials nationally to fight to elevate the rights of their communities over corporate rights). He is the author of several books, including: Be The Change: How to Get What You Want in Your Community; On Community Civil Disobedience in the Name of Sustainability; and co-author of: We the People: Stories from the Community Rights Movement in the United States.



To learn more about Mari and Thom's work, visit https://centerforenvironmentalrights.org