Rights of Nature movement continues to grow in Pacific Northwest

||| FROM KRISS KEVORKIAN for LEGAL RIGHTS FOR THE SALISH SEA |||

Bainbridge Island, WA (February 14, 2023)— The Mayor and City Council Members of the City of Bainbridge Island, signed a Proclamation describing the City of Bainbridge Island’s support for action by local, state, federal and tribal governments that secure and effectuate the inherent rights of the Southern Resident Orcas. This Proclamation (included below) comes two
months after the cities of Port Townsend, Gig Harbor and Langley made history by passing similar proclamations. Then Jefferson County passed their own proclamation in January. San Juan County followed shortly thereafter.

The Southern Resident Orcas (“the Orcas”) are culturally, spiritually, and economically important to the people of Washington State and the world.

However, despite international, federal and state legal protections for nearly two decades, the population continues to decline and is critically endangered, with only 73 individuals left in the wild. There is concern that our actions to date have simply not been enough to reverse their decline, and that transformative, system, and value based change is needed.

This momentum is due to a campaign launched by Earth Law Center and Legal Rights for the Salish Sea (a community group based in Gig Harbor, Washington) where local organizing is signaling a paradigm shift in society’s relationship with Nature.

“Though nonbinding, the local proclamations are communicating what Washingtonians value and as we have seen with similar
movements, including plastic bag bans, can be a powerful catalyst in the lead to binding State action.” Michelle Bender, Ocean Campaigns Director at Earth Law Center.

“The waterways surrounding Bainbridge Island are fundamentally woven into the fabric of our community and history. How we care for the wildlife of the Salish Sea is paramount to honoring our heritage and protecting the health and wellbeing of our future. It is important to recognize the plight of the Southern Resident Orcas, honor their significance, and call out the critical need to protect their existence and way of life.” Bainbridge Island Mayor Fantroy-Johnson.

“The proclamation recognizing the rights of the Southern Resident Orcas eloquently makes clear why we must change how we treat our water, our waste, and get our energy. Why it is imperative that we restore damaged wetlands and streams. Let there be no mistake, this is hard challenging work, but we must not shirk the moral obligation we have to do it.” Joe Deets, City
of Bainbridge Island District 7, North Ward Councilmember.

Kriss Kevorkian, founder of Legal Rights for the Salish Sea (LRSS), noted, “I am so grateful that decision makers in the state of WA are supportive of our campaign. They, too, recognize how much the Southern Resident Orcas mean to all of us, and that we must do all we can to help them survive and thrive.”

Legal rights for species and their habitats is not new. Indigenous understandings of our kinship with other beings has existed since time immemorial. Hundreds of Rights of Nature laws exist in approximately 30 countries, with dozens at the local and tribal levels in the United States, including Santa Monica’s Sustainability Rights Ordinance and the Nez Perce’s resolution recognizing the rights of the Snake River. Both San Francisco and Malibu passed resolutions in 2014 protecting the rights of whales and dolphins in their coastal waters.

“Supporting the inherent rights of our beloved Southern Resident Orcas protects the Pacific Northwest environment for all living creatures.” Sharon Grace, attorney and long-time San Juan Island orca advocate.

This effort is also supported by an online change.org petition and declaration of understanding, of which over 10 organizations have signed onto. Earth Law Center created a toolkit to help advocates introduce a resolution to their local communities, share the campaign on social media and other helpful talking points. You can take action and view the toolkit here.

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PROCLAMATION

A PROCLAMATION by the City Council of the City of Bainbridge Island,
Washington, supporting the rights of Southern Resident Orcas.

WHEREAS, the Southern Resident Orcas (the “Orcas”) are culturally, spiritually,
and economically important to the people of Washington State and the
world. However, despite legal protections for nearly two decades, the
population continues to decline and is critically endangered, with only 74
individuals left in the wild; and

WHEREAS, the Orcas’ survival is dependent on healthy and functioning
ecosystems including the Salish Sea, the Fraser River Watershed, the
Columbia River Basin, and the lower Snake River Watershed; and

WHEREAS, the rights of marine mammals to exist and flourish have been
recognized internationally and locally, including through the Helsinki
Declaration (2010), the Marine Life Proclamation of the City of Malibu,
California (2014), and the City of San Francisco’s resolution guaranteeing the
Free and Safe Passage of Whales and Dolphins in San Francisco’s Coastal
Waters (2014); and

WHEREAS, in May 2018, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians of the
United States, passed a resolution (Resolution #18-32) recognizing the Orcas
(also known as Blackfish) as revered relations for which there is a sacred
obligation to ensure they are treated “in a dignified manner that reflects tribal
cultural values that have been passed down for countless generations;” and

WHEREAS, over 20 countries, dozens of local communities in the United
States, and several tribal governments have recognized that Nature has
inherent rights, and that human society has the responsibility to protect and
steward Nature in a manner consistent with our interconnected relationship;
and

WHEREAS, Nature and all living beings, including the Orcas and the
ecosystems upon which they depend, are recognized as possessing inherent
rights, including to exist, flourish, evolve, regenerate, recover, and be restored;
and

WHEREAS, the rights of the Orcas include, but are not limited to, the right to:
life, autonomy, culture, free and safe passage, adequate food supply from
naturally occurring sources, and freedom from conditions causing physical,
emotional, or mental harm, including a habitat degraded by noise, pollution
and contamination.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Brenda Fantroy-Johnson, Mayor of the City of
Bainbridge Island, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim on this
14th day of February, 2023 that the City of Bainbridge Island supports and
urges action by local, state, federal, and tribal governments that secure and
effectuate the rights of the Southern Resident Orcas and of the ecosystems
upon which they depend.

DATED this 14th day of February, 2023
Brenda Fantroy-Johnson, Mayor

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Earth Law Center (ELC) (www.earthlawcenter.org) works to transform the law to recognize and protect nature’s inherent rights to exist, thrive and evolve. ELC partners with frontline indigenous people, communities and organizations to challenge the overarching legal and economic systems that reward environmental harm, and advance governance systems that
maximize social and ecological well-being.

Legal Rights for the Salish Sea (LRSS) is a local community group based in Gig Harbor, WA, founded by Dr. Kriss Kevorkian, educating people to recognize the inherent rights of the Southern Resident Orcas. Under our current legal system humans and corporations have legal standing but animals and ecosystems don’t. We believe that animals and ecosystems should also have legal rights, not just protections that can be changed by different administrations.