Sierra: Thomas Linzey speaks on Rights of Nature in Orange County-2/9/2021

CDER’s Thomas Linzey is spotlighted in a recent article in Sierra, the national magazine for the Sierra Club. The article “In Florida, a River Gets Rights” by Rebecca Renner discusses just how Orange County became the largest area in the US to recognize the rights of nature, and the players behind this movement of change. Thomas Linzey used his twenty-year experience in crafting rights-of-nature legislation to help the Little Wekiva River community fight back against water pollution, algae blooms and wildlife eradication.

With his strategies, and the hard work of the water defenders, Speak Up Wekiva, environmental activists saw the right-to-clean-water measure make it on the county ballot. Using plain language, and guarded with support from local politicians such as Nicole Wilson who was running for county commissioner, the Right to Clean Water Charter Amendment saw a decisive victory. To learn more about this incredible journey and to see the impact of the Rights of nature movement within the community, this article can be found here.