Declaration/Petition

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Declaration of the Rights of the Southern Resident Orcas

We, the peoples and natural communities of the Salish Sea, do DECLARE the following:

Eight million people and the survival of countless species depend on a healthy Salish Sea. Yet human-induced impacts such as climate change, ocean acidification, increased shipping traffic, dams and other fish passage barriers, as well as wastewater and sewage runoff, have contributed to the pollution and degradation of the Salish Sea.

The Southern Resident Orcas are critically endangered with only 75 remaining. Their 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.

Our legal system has proven inadequate in addressing the threats to these ecosystems and to the Southern Resident Orcas. Therefore, we need to join other communities and governments worldwide in adopting a new framework for environmental protection based upon the recognition that Nature has inherent rights and should be heard as a real party and interest in legal actions affecting her rights.

Despite being protected in the United States and Canada as endangered or at risk species, the Orcas do not have a legal right to life. As a result, human interests have outweighed protection and necessary action to recover the species, and the Orcas are not considered a party or stakeholder in policy decisions that may affect their health and life.

Because the Southern Resident Orcas do not acknowledge the border between the United States and Canada, or the difference between such governments and Tribal and First Nations, collective and collaborative action is needed to recover the species.

Therefore, we do PROCLAIM that:

Nature and all living beings have inherent rights to exist, flourish, evolve, and regenerate, and to restoration, recovery and preservation. This includes the Southern Resident Orcas and the Salish Sea.

The rights of the Southern Resident Orcas include, but are not limited to, the right to:

~Life

~Culture

~Autonomy

~Free and safe passage

~Adequate food supply from naturally occurring sources

~Freedom from conditions causing physical, emotional or mental harm, including a habitat degraded by noise, pollution and contamination.

We have a responsibility to conserve, protect and defend Nature, the Southern Residents and the Salish Sea. We need a transformational shift in our behavioral, societal, and economic relationships, as well as our governance, in order to live in harmony with Nature.

 In accordance with our connection and interdependence with the Salish Sea, we DEMAND the following:

~That national, state, provincial, and local governments and their citizens follow the Tribal and First Nations in recognizing the inherent rights of the Southern Resident Orcas and the ecosystems upon which they depend.

~The immediate creation of a stewardship board for the Salish Sea based on a Rights of Nature framework, including guardian representation for the Southern Resident Orcas.

~ Immediate actions to support the Southern Residents’ needs and address the main threats to their survival, which scientists have identified as prey availability, vessel and noise disturbance, and pollution.

Immediate actions include:

~Restoring wild Chinook salmon populations and their habitats so that the Southern Residents may enjoy their right to life and right to an adequate food supply from naturally occurring sources.

~Reducing noise and disturbance in Southern Resident Orca habitat so that they may enjoy their rights to life, to free and safe passage, to freedom from conditions causing physical, emotional or mental harm, and to autonomy.

~Decreasing the level of pollution and contaminants throughout the range of Southern Resident Orcas so that they may enjoy their right to life and right to freedom from conditions causing physical, emotional or mental harm.

The undersigned do hereby certify that the foregoing Declaration was duly adopted.

*This declaration was created collaboratively with:

Legal Rights for the Salish Sea, Gig Harbor, WA

Earth Law Center, USA

Elizabeth Dunne, Esq., Dam Sense, Port Angeles, WA

Orca Network, Freeland, WA

Toledoans for Safe Water

Boulder Rights of Nature

RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs)

Orca Protection and Rescue

Friends of Brooks Point, Pender Island, BC, Canada

Pender Ocean Defenders, Pender Island, BC, Canada

Peter Holcomb, Democracy Awakening, Bellingham, WA

Rethink Captivity, Seattle, WA

Save Our Whales, Pender Island, BC, Canada

Endangered Species Coalition

Kitsap Environmental Coalition

Green Vegans / The New Human Ecology

Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, USA

Climate Pierce County

Martha L. Schmidt, WA. National Lawyers Guild

Peggy Oki, Origami Whales Project

PLEASE HELP US GET AS MANY SIGNATURES AS POSSIBLE!

IN FACT, LET’S SHOOT FOR A MILLION, IF NOT MORE! THANK YOU!

Declaration of the Rights of the Southern Resident Orcas

Declaration of the Rights of the Southern Resident Orcas

We, the peoples and natural communities of the Salish Sea, do DECLARE the following:

Eight million people and the survival of countless species depend on a healthy Salish Sea. Yet human-induced impacts such as climate change, ocean acidification, increased shipping traffic, dams and other fish passage barriers, as well as wastewater and sewage runoff have contributed to the pollution and degradation of the Salish Sea.

The Southern Resident orcas are critically endangered with only 74 remaining at the time of this declaration (December, 2018). Their survival is dependent on healthy and functioning ecosystems, including the Salish Sea, the Columbia River Basin, and the lower Snake River Watershed.

Our legal system has proven inadequate in addressing the threats to these ecosystems and to the Southern Resident orcas.Therefore, we need to join other communities and governments worldwide in adopting a new framework for environmental protection based upon the recognition that nature has inherent rights and should be heard as a real party and interest in legal actions affecting her rights.

Because the Southern Resident orcas do not acknowledge the border between the United States and Canada, or the difference between such governments and Tribal and First Nations, collective and collaborative action is needed to recover the species.

Therefore, we do PROCLAIM that:

Nature and all living beings have inherent rights to exist, flourish, evolve, and regenerate, and to restoration, recovery and preservation. This includes the Southern Resident orcas and the Salish Sea.

The rights of the Southern Resident orcas include, but are not limited to, the right to:
life
autonomy
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.

We have a responsibility to conserve, protect and defend Nature, the Southern Residents and the Salish Sea; and we need a transformational shift in our behavioral, societal, governance and economic relationships in order to live in harmony with Nature.
In accordance with our connection and interdependence with the Salish Sea, we DEMAND the following:

~That national, state, provincial, and local governments and their citizens follow the Tribal and First Nations in recognizing the inherent rights of the Southern Resident orcas and the ecosystems upon which they depend.
~The immediate creation of a stewardship board for the Salish Sea based on a rights of nature framework, including guardian representation for the Southern Resident orcas; and
~The immediate action to support the Southern Residents’ needs, and address the main threats to survival, which scientists have identified as prey availability, vessel and noise disturbance, and pollution.

Immediate actions include:
~Restoring wild Chinook salmon populations and their habitat;
~Reducing noise and disturbance in Southern Resident orca habitat;
~Decreasing the level of pollution and contaminants throughout the range of Southern Resident orcas.

The undersigned do hereby certify that the foregoing Declaration was duly adopted.

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3,033 Ms Margy R. Victoria, BC V8X 2C8 Canada Jun 13, 2021
3,032 Ms Melissa A. Victoria, BC V9B5R4 Canada Jun 11, 2021
3,031 Mr Kenneth B. Bellingham, WA 98226 United States Jun 10, 2021
3,030 Ms Erin C. Bellingham , WA 98225 United States Jun 09, 2021
3,029 Mrs Shelley A. Fort Collins, CO 80525 United States May 26, 2021
3,028 Mr Michel V. Gold Beach, OR 97444 United States May 07, 2021
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3,026 Ms susan m. Sequim, WA 98382 United States May 01, 2021
3,025 Ms stephanie s. Portland , Or 97219 United States Apr 28, 2021
3,024 Mr Craig B. 98501 United States Apr 26, 2021
3,023 Ms Elisa D. Olympia, Wa 98501 United States Apr 25, 2021
3,022 Mrs Sarah M. Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear NE25 0SS United Kingdom Apr 23, 2021
3,021 Mr KarlosAnthony H. Portland, Oregon 97204 ?? Apr 23, 2021
3,020 Ms Sara C. Richmond, Va 23229 United States Apr 22, 2021
3,019 Ms Dona M. Palm Coast, FL 32137 United States Apr 22, 2021
3,018 Ms Isabel C. Miami, Fl 33162 United States Apr 22, 2021
3,017 Ms aundrea c. friday harbor, wa 98250 United States Apr 22, 2021
3,016 Ms Carrie O. Scottsdale, AZ 85258 ?? Apr 08, 2021
3,015 Ms Melanie O. Boston, Sao Miguel 122455 Ireland Mar 22, 2021
3,014 Ms Calli J. Everett, WA 98201 ?? Mar 18, 2021
3,013 Ms Joy H. Camano Island , Wa 98282 United States Mar 18, 2021
3,012 Ms Michelline H. Friday Harbor , WA 98250 United States Mar 18, 2021
3,011 Dr. Karen P. Friday Harbor, WA 98250 United States Mar 18, 2021
3,010 Ms Marilyn B. Seattle, WA 98125 United States Mar 18, 2021
3,009 Ms Pamela K. Everett, WA 98203 United States Mar 18, 2021
3,008 Ms Anya Z. Anacortes, WA 98221 United States Feb 23, 2021
3,007 Ms Sharon A. EASTSOUND, Washington 98245 United States Feb 19, 2021
3,006 Ms Tiffany O. Olympia, WA 98513 United States Feb 15, 2021
3,005 Ms betty g. Port St. Lucie, FL 34953 United States Feb 10, 2021
3,004 Mrs Lisa M. BROCKPORT, NY 14420-9340 United States Feb 05, 2021
3,003 Ms Vanessa D. Miami , FL 33165 United States Feb 04, 2021
3,002 Ms DELLA I. Pompano Beach, FL 33073 United States Feb 04, 2021
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3,000 Mrs Jeanne B. Edmonton, Alberta T5T 4L1 Canada Feb 04, 2021
2,999 Ms Mirna T. Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 United States Feb 04, 2021
2,998 Ms Laurie C. Boca Raton, Florida 33434 United States Feb 04, 2021
2,997 Mr Patrik H. Karlstad 65468 Sweden Feb 04, 2021
2,996 Mr Troy S. Natchitoches, LA 74057 United States Feb 04, 2021
2,995 Ms Patricia B. West Palm Beach , Florida 33403 United States Feb 04, 2021
2,994 Ms Amie C. Kannapolis, NC 28081 United States Feb 04, 2021
2,993 Ms Angela M. Roslyn, WA 98941 United States Dec 09, 2020
2,992 Ms Kalyani R. Visakhapatnam , Andhra Pradesh 530017 India Nov 21, 2020
2,991 Mr Richard H. Gold River, BC V0P1G0 Canada Nov 12, 2020
2,990 Ms Pamela K. Surrey, British Columbia V4N 5S5 Canada Nov 12, 2020
2,989 Ms Julienne B. Lopez Island, WA 98261 United States Nov 06, 2020
2,988 Ms Livia J. Arlesheim, Bundesland/Kanton auswählen 4144 Switzerland Nov 02, 2020
2,987 Ms Andrea W. Ramlinsburg, Baselland 4433 Switzerland Nov 02, 2020
2,986 Ms Stephanie W. Birsfelden, Schweiz 4127 Switzerland Nov 02, 2020
2,985 Mx. Melissa M. Canada Nov 02, 2020
2,984 Ms Barbara G. Billings, Mt 59105 ?? Oct 31, 2020
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