The DC Environmental Network invites YOU to march with us at the
53rd Palisades Fourth of July Parade in the District of Columbia.
On this day many Americans celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress that affirmed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The DC Environmental Network invites you to march with us in support of making clean water, clean air, and a healthful environment, a protected right in our city, and across the nation.
The importance of a basic human right to clean air and water and a healthful environment has not been part of the District's focus regarding constitutional protections, but recent threats to our water and air, including the existential challenge of climate change, have reminded us that we cannot take for granted that these life sustaining elements will be protected. The consequences of climate change affect everyone, but will disproportionately harm communities east of the river that already face marginalization and need the greatest protections.
The advantage of amending the District's constitution is that it will provide greater assurance of sound decision making and improve actions that would otherwise harm District residents and negatively impact air, water, and our environment. We believe this amendment would support citizen suits to enforce existing District and federal laws enacted to protect our environment.
Our federal government may have abandoned a necessary national commitment to act on climate change and environmental inequality, however we have the power and the obligation as a community to take action locally against injustices and demand responsibility from our government.
