Episode 009: What is Pennsylvania’s Green Amendment?
On our latest episode Shana with Maya K. van Rossum. Maya is the Delaware Riverkeeper and founder of the grassroots non-profit Green Amendments For the Generations. She is the leader of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, who works throughout the four states of the Delaware River watershed (NY, NJ, PA & DE) and at the national level using advocacy, science, and litigation. van Rossum, who is skilled as an author, environmental attorney, strategist, community organizer, facilitator, coalition builder, and manager, has led DRN for over 25 years.
She is the author of a book titled, The Green Amendment, Securing Our Right to a Healthy Environment. She is currently seeking to inspire and secure constitutional protection for environmental rights across the nation and since launching Green Amendments For The Generations, constitutional amendments have been proposed in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Together Shana and Maya discussed many important topics concerning the environment in Pennsylvania. They talked extensively about how the oil and gas industry has been toxic to our state in several ways, most importantly the destruction it has caused.
During their conversation, Maya and Shana talked about the grand jury report that was released by PA’s Attorney General, Josh Shapiro in late June 2020. In addition, the AG also issued indictments of several companies, and there is an ongoing investigation that could lead to criminal charges.
Most importantly Maya and Shana talked about PA’s Green Amendment, it’s history, and how it plays a critical role in investigations like the Attorney General’s grand jury report. Maya stressed the importance of Pennsylvania’s Green Amendment of how we need to learn about all our inalienable rights as Pennsylvanians including a healthy environment and climate. Maya has hope that one day soon there will be a Green Amendment in every state, not just in Pennslyvania. That is only possible if we work together and fight for a better tomorrow.
“The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people. ”
