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What a “Green Amendment” Can Do for Environmental Justice

September 6, 2022 by gaftg in MD, National, News, NJ, NM, NY

‘Green Amendments’ Could Help States Lock In Environmental Protections

September 6, 2022 by gaftg in MD, National, News, NJ, NM, NY

1 week ago

PRESS RELEASE:Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Hawai‘i Green Amendment In First Hearing; One Step Closer To Securing Environmental Rights in The State Bill of RightsHonolulu, Hawai‘i - On January 27, 2025, the 2025 Hawai‘i Green Amendment (SB559) had its first hearing before the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Environment and passed with 5 Ayes, 0 Noes, and 0 Excused. 23 organizations and 33 individuals submitted testimony in support of the bill, which would add a constitutional amendment to the Hawai‘i Bill of Rights, establishing the right to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate, and healthy native ecosystems and beaches for present and future generations. “Our current laws and protections aren’t working. Corporate for-profit institutions and the military have continually blocked efforts to protect our communities, putting us all at risk,” says Sherry Pollack, Co-Founder of 350Hawaii. “The right to a clean and healthful environment and climate will always be an afterthought until we place these rights within the Bill of Rights.” “Decisions we make today should result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future. That is the essence of what a Green Amendment would do and why we need to pass it,” adds Dave Mulinix, Co-founder of Greenpeace Hawaii.“The people of Hawai‘i deserve to have their inalienable rights to clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment and climate as protected as the other fundamental rights we hold dear, like free speech, freedom of religion, and property rights,” says Maya van Rossum, Mother of the Green Amendment Movement and Founder of the Green Amendments For The Generations organization which is working towards constitutional environmental rights in all 50 states. “Hawai‘i is now one step closer to becoming the fourth Green Amendment state in the nation and providing critical protections for the environment, the people, and future generations.” The other states with Green Amendments are Pennsylvania, Montana, and New York.The bill text notes how the proposed Green Amendment would strengthen other state provisions, laws, and regulations such as Article XI, Section 9 of the Hawai'i Constitution, and how such constitutional environmental protections are representative of fundamental Hawaiian values: “This proposed amendment reflects the rooted traditions and collective cultural conscience of the State's people, and exemplifies the fundamental Native Hawaiian notion of Aloha Aina, which translates to ‘love of the land’ and is central to Native Hawaiian values and beliefs.”The 2025 Hawai‘i Green Amendment was first introduced to the Senate by Senator Mike Gabbard and Senator Karl Rhoads. The bill has also been referred to the Senate Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees. In the House, the Amendment has been proposed by Representatives Poepoe, Amato, Grandinetti, Iwamoto, Kahaloa, Lamosao, Lowen, Marten and Perruso as HB597 and has been referred to the Energy & Environmental Protection, Water & Land, Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, and Finance Committees.To learn more about the Hawai‘i Green Amendment, visit ... See MoreSee Less

For the Generations – Hawaii – A Movement to Pass Green Amendments Across the Nation

www.higreenamendment.org

A Movement to Pass GreenAmendments Across the Nation Securing Our Right toa Healthy Environment by Maya K. van Rossum Learn More Advance a Green Amendmentin Hawaii Sign the Petition Act Now Environmen...

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What a “Green Amendment” Can Do for Environmental Justice

‘Green Amendments’ Could Help States Lock In Environmental Protections

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