cycle and employment of a small army of lobbyists ” that has kept the legislature from doing enough to protect Florida ’ s waters . 15 That has led to the effort to bypass the state legislature and to seek a citizen initiative . 16
Mari Margil , Executive Director of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights , expressed her view that “ For too long , state governments have enabled developers who want to destroy Florida ’ s waterways . This amendment represents a re-programming of government to a system that protects , rather than destroys , nature . In establishing the rights of waterways , the amendment is an opportunity to protect and restore nature , following in the footsteps of countries around the world which are changing how they protect threatened ecosystems .” 17
In 2021 , New York became the first state to add a water rights amendment to its constitution . 18 Since then , Pennsylvania and Montana have also added water rights amendments or “ green amendments ” to their constitutions . 19 A similar amendment is being proposed in New Mexico . 20
If the proponents of the Florida amendment get enough signatures by November , 2023 , and the citizens vote in favor of it , then Florida will join the other states and countries recognizing legal rights for water . Mni Wichoni .
William D . Slicker served as a law clerk to the Honorable Steven H . Grimes at Florida ’ s Second District Court of Appeal and as a law clerk to the Honorable Warren H . Cobb at Florida ’ s Fifth District Court of Appeal . He has received The Florida Bar President ’ s Pro Bono Award for the Sixth Circuit , Ms . JD Incredible Men Award , the St . Petersburg Bar Foundation ’ s Heroes Among Us Award , the Community Law Program Volunteer of the Year Award , and the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence Lighting the Way Award .
1 . LPier ,“ Why is Water Sacred to Native Americans ?” The Conversation , March 21 , 2017 . https :// theconversation . com / why-is-water-sacredto-native-americans – 74732
2 . Indigenous Services Canada , Developing Laws and Regulations for First Nations Drinking Water and Wastewater Engagement 2022- 2023 , Sept . 22 , 2023 . https :// www . scaanc-cirnac . gc . ca < eng
3 . Harumi , The New Zealand river that became a legal person , March 19 , 2020 . https :// www . bbc . com / trave / article / 20200319-the-newzealand-river-that-became-a-legal-person
4 . Macpherson , Ventura , and Ospina , Constitutional Law , Ecosystems , and Indigenous Peoples in Colombia , Cambridge University Press , July 8 , 2020 https :// www . cambridge . org / core / journals / transnational-environmental-law / article / constitutional-lawecosystems-and-indigenous-peoples-in-colombia-bioculturalrights-and-legal-subjects / 43A29974BD5A3E948AB0461003627951
5 . Margil , Bangladesh Supreme Court Upholds Rights of Rivers , Aug 24 , 2020 https :// -mari-margil. medium . com / bangladesh-supreme-
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