Reclaiming Democracy: How Communities are Saying "NO" to Corporate Rights

In this excerpt from a longer presentation, Shannon Biggs, of Global Exchange, describes how more than 100 communities have enacted laws that place the rights of communities and nature over the claimed "rights" of corporations. It's a radical and inspiring approach that brings decision-making back to communities. Biggs is the Local Green Economy program director with Global Exchange. The full presentation also includes Thomas Linzey of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, and is available on DVD at http://www.peakmoment.tv

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• democracy
• corporation
• corporate
• community
• local
• law
• rights

[AdonaiiisA]

I like this lady! She has real solutions!

[bizskithead]

@catbuffalo maybe some have not heard this and to the rest of what you said hogwash

[catbuffalo]

@bizskithead

Like we haven't heard this a million times before.....

True we are a representative democracy that is restrained under the rule of law. Most of us know this. However there are some representatives and their financial contributors that think that they are above the law. We see the double standard everyday. Working class folks can't organize while corporations can buy elections etc etc etc.

[lambedan]

I agree.

A lot of people hate on corporations but then don't really suggest alternatives to how groups of people can voluntarily work together to accomplish something.

There are some bad corporations that act irresponsibly and should be stopped, but I would hardly consider them a representative sample.

[jojo808]

USA inc? ? Last I looked was made up of us . What will WE allow ?

[westkan]

I hav read/viewed report some communities protected THEIR rights using local legislation. I really don't know how often USA incorporated will allow that to happen

[westkan]

Is harm that hard to define? the USA was also founded on the principal of laws(regulation) passed by representatives of the people to do the nations business. The problem, one of many, is that the corps. have rights, but the responsability that you and I share for our actions.

[spgil436]

corporations are groups of people hiding behind legal immunity and collective privilege not shared by individuals, or groups of individuals gathering as communities to govern themselves. Property "rights" trump civli, human, and natural rights. That's a real problem, and yes it is what this nation was based upon. Has nothing to do with political party.

[PowerForGood]

Harm? You should define that term. Would you have us all living back in the stone ages? Also, we are a country founded on freedom and property rights. Regulation is a restriction on both. Corporations are simply groups of people with a competitive profit driven goal (that is not bad, it is good). The real problem is lawyers and the perverted court system. Existing laws against polluting are already being circumvented by the corrupt political system. Dem party is the worst in this by the way.

[bizskithead]

democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch ,liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote ben franklin