Defending the Rights of Lake Erie
Defending the Rights of Lake Erie


Latest: May 10, 2019
Corporate State Lashes Out Against Rights of Nature
While the Judge in our case denied Toledoans for Safe Water (TSW) and Lake Erie their motion to intervene in this lawsuit on Tuesday, the Ohio House of Representatives voted yesterday on HB166, which…
Read moreIn February, Toledo, Ohio, residents adopted the Lake Erie Bill of Rights with 61% of the vote – the first rights-based law in the United States that specifically acknowledges the rights of a distinct ecosystem.
It was an extraordinary win, coming after months of government and corporate interests intent on blocking citizens from voting on their own initiative. Toledo residents even overcame Houston-based BP Corporation’s outspending them 50:1 in the company’s anti-Lake Erie Bill of Rights campaign.
With the vote of Toledoans, the Lake’s rights to exist, flourish, and naturally evolve were secured in law. Less than 24 hours later, corporate agriculture filed a lawsuit to overturn it.
The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) assisted Toledo community members to draft the citizen’s initiative and overcome obstacles to placing it on the ballot. Today, we are helping them to defend and enforce it - and other Rights of Nature laws across the country.
Toxic Algae Bloom
People have sought to protect Lake Erie from pollution caused by industrial agriculture, open lake dumping, and other harms, for decades. Despite valiant efforts by concerned activists, it continues to deteriorate. Governments and regulatory agencies repeatedly fail to take meaningful action.
The cost is to the Lake, communities, and ecosystems. In 2014, over 500,000 Toledo residents had no access to water for three days because of a toxic algae bloom.
They had enough.
Taking Action
Toledo community members learned about the Rights of Nature movement growing across the United States and around the world. They partnered with CELDF to draft the Lake Erie Bill of Rights. Toledo resident Crys Jankowski stated, “Lake Erie is an ecosystem upon which we are inextricably connected. The Lake has the right to exist, flourish, and evolve. While our laws, until now, have treated Lake Erie as an object to be exploited, we recognize that the Lake is a living entity, and we will defend the Lake’s rights. Our lives depend upon it.”
Making History
This first law in the United States to recognize the rights of a distinct ecosystem reverberated around the world. From US News & World Report, CNN, and NPR, to Le Monde in France, Lifegate in Italy, and the BBC in England, the Lake Erie Bill of Rights and the work of Toledoans have captured the hearts and minds of people internationally.
There was only one response from the corporate state to this growing shift in consciousness of nature’s rights: attempting to quash the law as quickly as possible.
Legal Action
CELDF is representing Lake Erie and Toledo residents in their joint request to participate as full parties in the lawsuit filed by the agricultural industry against the City of Toledo.
If we win, this will be a groundbreaking moment in the Rights of Nature movement – beginning to transform how our legal system treats nature, from a resource to be dumped on for profit, to an entity that inherently has rights to exist and flourish.
If we lose, Lake Erie will continue to be polluted. A growing “dead zone” will continue to slowly kill the Lake. Surrounding communities will continue to face the threat of having no access to clean and safe water.
Support Our Work to Defend and Enforce the Lake Erie Bill of Rights!
Your support will help CELDF drive forward Rights of Nature cases, including LEBOR, as we litigate: conducting research, drafting briefs and motions, and covering costs for in person hearings in federal court.
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Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
May 10, 2019
Corporate State Lashes Out Against Rights of Nature
While the Judge in our case denied Toledoans for Safe Water (TSW) and Lake Erie their motion to intervene in this lawsuit on Tuesday, the Ohio House of Representatives voted yesterday on HB166, which included provisions to forbid communities from filing a lawsuit on behalf of “nature or any ecosystem.”
Not only is a judge refusing to acknowledge Rights of Nature as a legal concept and denying community members and Lake Erie access to the courtroom – state representatives are now trying to strip rights earlier in the process, prohibiting the people and nature from having access to the courts to protect and enforce rights on behalf of nature.
Immediately after the court denied Toledoans for Safe Water and Lake Erie the right to intervene, CELDF requested the judge to suspend further action in the case until they could appeal the denial of intervention.
Your continued support is crucial as we forge on, challenging and changing our current system of law and those who are attempting to crush Rights of Nature. Please donate and share today! Your support helps cover filings, briefs, and research necessary to defend and advance Rights of Nature. Thank you!

Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
May 6, 2019
Mini-Documentary by Vox on Rights of Lake Erie
In Federal Court, Northern District, the Judge has granted the State of Ohio Motion to Intervene in the case on the side of the corporate plaintiff.
Meanwhile, following motions, briefs, and responses, as we represent Toledoans and Lake Erie in their fight for rights, we are waiting for a decision from the Federal Court, Northern District on their right to intervene.
Learn more about the rights of Lake Erie and the people's fight to protect the Great Lake as they come up against corporate rights in this mini-documentary from VOX:
Your support will help us continue advancing the Rights of Lake Erie to exist, flourish, and evolve, as corporations fight for the right to pollute. Help us create a healthy Lake sustaining ecosystems and surrounding communities dependent on clean water! Please donate, please share. Thank you!

Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund
April 18, 2019
State of Ohio Acts on Behalf of Corporate Agriculture
The state of Ohio has filed a motion to intervene in this case - on behalf of corporate agriculture rather than Lake Erie and Toledo. They claim that the Lake Erie Bill of Rights will harm the state's ability to protect the Lake!
Two months ago, the people of Toledo did what their local and state representatives would not: They determined to protect the Great Lake Erie by recognizing in law the Lake’s rights to exist, flourish, and evolve.
And now, the very same state government that has failed to protect Lake Erie and Toledo residents wants to stop the people of Toledo from doing so.
Your support will help us not only to fight for Lake Erie and Toledo residents, but to continue advancing nature's rights in the Great Lakes region and beyond. Please donate to help our campaign - and spread the word to your friends and family. Every dollar and every share counts!
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Curt pledged $60Match Curt's pledge of $60This donation was collected from all 5 members of the Washburn County Community Rights Alliance.
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Someone pledged $25Match their pledge of $25Thank you for fighting for us.
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John pledged $50Match John's pledge of $50have to win this one. we knew it would come
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John pledged $50Match John's pledge of $50Not only should nature have legal rights, but corporations should be stripped of the unwarranted rights they've finagled and they should be required to be in the public interest.
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Ingrid pledged $50Match Ingrid's pledge of $50This is historic. Take advantage of this opportunity!! Give!
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Someone pledged $10Match their pledge of $10Yes, fight for it. We are not going out easily!
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Allen pledged $30Match Allen's pledge of $30Ohio and international corporate interests are destroying Lake Erie and its surrounds. The local communities have to have the power to stop them and restore health. Which side are you on?
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Joy pledged $25Match Joy's pledge of $25Thanks for defending nature and people.
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Lesandre pledged $50Match Lesandre's pledge of $50Humanity is but a species of Nature. If we don't grant Nature rights to exist, we will render ourselves extinct.
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Nancy pledged $50Match Nancy's pledge of $50Let's do this!!
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Barbara pledged $50Match Barbara's pledge of $50Thank you for continuing to fight for ALL of us, for our rights to clean air, clean water - and for the nature on which we ALL depend.
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Gary pledged $25Match Gary's pledge of $25The idea of pre-emption is what needs to be reversed. Locate power from the ground up, not the top down.
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Sara pledged $25Match Sara's pledge of $25Go Toledo!!!!!! You are leading and the country will follow!!
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Julie pledged $100Match Julie's pledge of $100Thank you for protecting our lake!
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Someone pledged $25Match their pledge of $25Go team!!!!
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Erik pledged $50Match Erik's pledge of $50Of, by, and for, but not the people anymore. Time to change that.
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Connie pledged $50Match Connie's pledge of $50Another display of government not by the people but by big money people We must fight back because government will not do this for us
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Stefania pledged $25Match Stefania's pledge of $25Continuing to fight the good fight! Rights for Nature and Lake Erie! Clean Lakes not Green Lakes! With Love From - Stefania & Mirek
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Gary pledged $25Match Gary's pledge of $25Rock ON!
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Noah pledged $7Match Noah's pledge of $7Really appreciate the work you are doing. It's inspirational and it should continue.
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