12th Local Rights of Nature Tribunal: Yesah 2024

Summary

On June 1 2024, the International Rights of Nature Tribunal held its 12th local hearing at the Haw River State Park in North Carolina. The Yesah Tribunal was brought against the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) and plans for its extension into North Carolina via the MVP Southgate. The Mountain Valley Pipeline is an incomplete, underground 42-inch fracked gas transmission pipeline project that is steamrolling its way over life-giving water and land across 303 miles, from northern West Virginia to southern Virginia. Frontline communities and Water Protectors have been fighting the harmful, unnecessary pipeline for nearly 10 years, and came extremely close to canceling it.

A central focus of the Tribunal was the Haw River, a vital waterway serving numerous cities and towns in its watershed. The Tribunal gathered testimonies from 13 witnesses and experts directly affected by the MVP and its proposed extension into North Carolina, presenting scientific evidence on pipeline hazards and personal stories of living along the route of MVP.

The Judges’ final verdict recognized the inherent Rights of Rivers and their ecosystems, the inherent Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the inherent Rights of Nature. The Tribunal determined that: (1) the MVP is a violation of the Rights of Nature and should be stopped; (2) MVP Southgate extension should not be approved; (3) they recommend this case be elevated as an International Rights of Nature Tribunal; (4) they recommend this case be brought to other international bodies, including the UN; (5) they recommend this case be brought before appropriate federal, state and local agencies as a violation of existing law, including Endangered Species Act, and the Rights of Nature.

Led by the indigenous-led organization 7 Directions of Service along with partners Movement Rights and the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN), it was the first Indigenous-led tribunal of its kind in global history.