Nonprofit Standing for Washington has launched a campaign in Olympia and Tumwater to advocate for the rights of the Deschutes Watershed.
The non-profit began gathering signatures on Friday, April 19, and could eventually file separate citizen-led initiatives in the two cities once it has collected the required number of signatures.
The initiative is based on an emerging legal concept that nature, like humans, has its rights. The JOLT reported in June 2023 of a similar effort here by another group (see related story).
The proposed ordinance contained in the initiative seeks to establish certain rights for the portion of the Deschutes Watershed within the boundaries of the two jurisdictions.
According to the provision, the watershed would have the right to exist, regenerate, and flourish. More specifically, these rights include the right to naturally recharge, the right to naturally flow, the right to water quality sufficient to provide wildlife habitat, the right to clean water, the right to restoration, and the right to be free from activities that violate these rights.
If passed into law, any individual may file enforcement actions against violators on behalf of the watershed.
The proposed ordinance states that damages shall be determined based on the cost of restoring the status of the watershed before the violation is committed. Damages shall be paid to the city where the lawsuit was filed so the city can use the money to restore the watershed.
The organization would need signatures equal to 15% of the total registered voters during the last general election.
Standing for Washington urges those looking to support the initiative to print the petition and the ordinance so they can convince others to sign. The organization's website provides a template of the petition and a copy of the ordinance.
Standing for Washington has also launched an initiative for the rights of Snohomish River in Everett. As the organization is planning to expand to other parts of the state, the organization is open to assisting those who want to launch a similar initiative in their jurisdiction.
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JJmama
Excellent!
Let's sign the petition and get this done :-)
Friday, April 26 Report this
chumfu
Yes! You can only observe the river from a safe distance, no walking, hiking, fishing, disturbing the river please. Lets protect nature!
Friday, April 26 Report this
ejpoleii
Only humans have rights. This is an underhanded, sneaky way to try to get the equivalent of "standing" for property so that multiple (100s, 1000s, ...) of people can sue over and over again. It's a trap!
Friday, April 26 Report this
Boatyarddog
With exception to Jjmama,
Thinking Conservation enforcement is Underhanded or Unfair...
In the light of an ever increasing population that consumes and destroys ecosystems Yearly is poorly thought out by, unwilling to pitch in to the Cause type of capitalists.
Olympias ecosystems are critical to Budd Bays Regeneration.
Ecosystems MUST Be Inhanced.
Let's get the petitions rolling!
Saturday, April 27 Report this
FirstOtter
Saying "only humans have rights'' is specious and hubristic. What so called "right" gives us as a species to destroy the planet through exploitation, extraction, pollution, overpopulation, and all the things that we've done to bring us to the brink of ecological disaster? One person's so called 'right' to, for instance, pour pesticides into a river destroys another person's right to have clean water.
IF it is trap, as one poster shrieks, maybe it's the trap for the yob who insists he has rights and an ecosystem does not.
If god exists, when she returns, she's going to be awfully pee'ed off at how we've destroyed her planet. Cry for your rights then, yob.
Saturday, April 27 Report this