Tired of constantly battling to protect nature, Abi Ludwig, cofounder of the Olympia group Rights of Nature Initiative (RONI) said they’re “going on the offense.”
“We’re at that point where nature has to fight back and we’re ready to take that on from the community level,” said Rachel Kurtz, president and cofounder of RONI.
Kurtz and Ludwig are part of a growing movement to establish rights for nature to exist and thrive.
The idea has picked up support around the state where local governments including Jefferson County, San Juan County and the cities of Burien, Port Townsend and Gig Harbor have issued proclamations recognizing the Southern Resident killer whale population’s right to exist, thrive and flourish. A resolution to acknowledge the rights of Southern Resident orca whales is on the July 11 Whatcom County Council agenda.
Read the article at Using ‘rights of nature’ to correct environmental wrongs, by Clifford Heberden, Salish Current, July 7, 2023.