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 74 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.

**your signature**

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3,111 Ms Susan P. Dana Point, CA 92629 American Samoa Oct 08, 2021
3,110 Ms Ryam H. Bellevue , WA 98008 United States Oct 06, 2021
3,109 Ms Kristi W. Bellevue, WA 98006 ?? Oct 02, 2021
3,108 Ms Amanda S. Issaquah, WA 98027 United States Oct 01, 2021
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3,101 Ms Barbara K. Port Townsend, WA 98368 United States Sep 29, 2021
3,100 Ms Barbara B. Baltimore , MD 21239 United States Sep 29, 2021
3,099 Ms Linda B. Sammamish, WA 98074 United States Sep 29, 2021
3,098 Ms Oolaa k. Bellevue, WA 98008 United States Sep 29, 2021
3,097 Mr Trevor H. Bellevue, WA 98006 United States Sep 29, 2021
3,096 Ms Carol B. Bellevue, WA 98007 United States Sep 29, 2021
3,095 Ms Jennifer H. Bellevue, Washington 98006 United States Sep 29, 2021
3,094 Ms Virginia J. ?? Aug 28, 2021
3,093 Ms Dalia G. athens 18533 Greece Aug 27, 2021
3,092 Mr Stavros S. Nicosia, Please select 2007 Cyprus Aug 23, 2021
3,091 Ms Robbie H. New York, NY 10009 United States Aug 23, 2021
3,090 Mx. Heather J. Denver, CO 80219 United States Aug 22, 2021
3,089 Ms Daniela H. Mülheim an der Ruhr, Deutschland 45473 Germany Aug 21, 2021
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3,085 Ms Petranella D. Victoria, BC v8p2w7 Canada Aug 12, 2021
3,084 Ms Julie M. Everett, WA 98201 United States Aug 10, 2021
3,083 Mr CHARLES T. Spokane, WA 99203 United States Aug 10, 2021
3,082 Ms Jennifer C. Spokane Valley, WA 99206 United States Aug 10, 2021
3,081 Dr. Marilyn M. Bellevue, WA 98008-2514 United States Aug 05, 2021
3,080 Miss Moay S. Port Coquitlam, British Columbia V3B 1R6 Canada Aug 05, 2021
3,079 Ms Bonnie P. Dublin, New Hampshire 03444 United States Aug 04, 2021
3,078 Mx. kathleen b. Victoria, BC V8N 2Y4 Canada Jul 31, 2021
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3,075 Ms TS G. Albany, OR 97321 ?? Jul 06, 2021
3,074 Ms Jackie C. Portland , OR 97266 United States Jul 06, 2021
3,073 Mr Jim B. Seattle, WA 98118 United States Jul 05, 2021
3,072 Dr. Tammi W. Lansing , Mi 48933 United States Jul 05, 2021
3,071 Dr. Carol G. Lake Forest Park, Washington 98155 United States Jul 05, 2021
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3,069 Ms Mary W. Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 United States Jul 04, 2021
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3,067 Ms Great Old Broads for Wilderness Seatte P. Renton, Washington 98058 ?? Jul 02, 2021
3,066 Ms Chris J. Junction city, Or 97448 United States Jul 02, 2021
3,065 Ms Tracy B. Seattle, WA 98118 United States Jul 01, 2021
3,064 Ms Bethany C. Phoenix, Az 85018 United States Jul 01, 2021
3,063 Ms Amy S. Seattle, WA 98106 United States Jun 30, 2021
3,062 Ms Michelle S. Burien, WA 98166 ?? Jun 30, 2021
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