Pursuing a Green Amendment in New Mexico
- This “Why We Need a Green Amendment” handout helps make the case for pursuing a Green Amendment in New Mexico. Use it as a resource to help inform and engage others.
- Answers to some of your pressing questions can be found on our FAQ.
- Use these top talking points as a starting place for educating others.
An Emmy Nominated Show
Here’s The Story, an Emmy nominated show that premiered in 2011 and is produced by acclaimed journalist Steve Rogers, is now featuring a two part show featuring the Green Amendment movement. The show joins Maya as she explores the history of the Green Amendment movement and meets with environmental, political and legal leaders key to the movements past, present and future. Among those interviewed is NJ Governor Phil Murphy, PA Senator Franklin Kury who originally conceived of the idea for PA, and the chief justice who wrote the iconic opinion that helped launch the movement.
You can watch the show, see Facebook live chats with some of the key players, and see the full interviews that were conducted as part of the show here: Here’s the Story: The Green Amendment.
Article XX Section 21 ≠ a New Mexico Green Amendment
People often assert that the current language in Article XX Section 21 of the New Mexico Constitution is the same thing as a Green Amendment but that is definitely not the case. Learn how and why a New Mexico Green Amendment will provide superior protection to current Article XX Section 21.
New Mexico: A Resource or Sacrifice State? Recording now available
A webinar hosted by Indivisible Nob Hill and Green Amendments For The Generations to discuss NM’s most pressing environmental issues and how a Green Amendment could help provide a solution.
- Nuclear issues in New Mexico, in particular waste storage plans in Lea County by Holtec International, presented by Leona Morgan and Eileen Shaughnessy
- Health impacts of methane pollution, presented by Mario Atencio
- A Green Amendment as a solution, presented by Green Amendments For the Generations founder Maya van Rossum.
Watch the recording of this Zoominar – use the password: 5L@Zv5=$ to access.
Support Green Amendments For the Generations!
Learn More Below
Information Guides / Materials
Understanding and Implementing a Green Amendment in New Mexico
- Art XX Sect 21 Is Not a New Mexico Green Amendment: Combined Checklist & Discussion
- New Mexico Green Amendment Talking Points
- New Mexico FAQs
- The Green Amendment, Securing Our Rights to a Healthy Environment—The Book
- Fact Sheet: What is a Green Amendment
- Frequently Asked Questions about the New Mexico Green Amendment
- Why we need a New Mexico Green Amendment Quick Sheet: English Version
- Why we need a New Mexico Green Amendment Quick Sheet: Spanish Version
- New Mexico Printable Green Amendment Petition: English Version
- New Mexico Printable Green Amendment Petition: Spanish Version
- New Mexico Green Amendment Petition QR code
- Reflections on Stories from New Mexico: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3
- Amending the NM Constitution
- Radio Show: Maya K. Van Rossum on the Richard Eeds Show, KTRC Santa Fe
- Green Amendment Frequently Asked Questions & Their Answers
- Fact Sheet: Demanding and Defending Your Rights to Clean Air, Clean Water, & a Healthy Environment
- Fact Sheet: How To Implement & Apply a Green Amendment
- Fact Sheet: Protections Offered with Trust Language in a Green Amendment
- Fact Sheet: Using Green Amendments to Strengthen Environmental Justice
- Factsheet: Green Amendment Checklist: Essential Elements of an Effective Environmental Rights Amendment
- Factsheet: Benefits of a Constitutional Provision Protecting Environmental Rights
- Webinar: The Impact of Pennsylvania Green Amendments on Decisionmaking in Pennsylvania
- Webinar: Pennsylvania's Environmental Rights Amendment in Practice
- Guide of Decisions Using PA Green Amendment Since Dec 2013 Revival
- For The Generations Brochure
- Green Amendments, Properly Placed and Written, Are A Restraint On Governmental Authority - Article By Team of Attorneys that Successfully Argued PA Case
- The Green Amendment: An Idea Whose Time It Has Always Been, by Gerald J. Williams, Esq.
- Videos
Resources for Teachers/Educators
- Green Amendment Teacher Guide (Print | Screen)
- Student Guide and more available
- Virtual Canoe Race - Online educational adventure game that teaches Geography, History, and Science in a trivia contest format
- Article: How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change — & Why You Have To
Good Models To Help Guide Your Green Amendment Effort
How Green Amendments Are Helping In PA & MT
- Robinson Twp, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, et. al. v. Commonwealth - pro-fracking law defeated as unconstitutional.
- PEDF v. Commonwealth - misappropriation of environmental funds secured through fracking leases on public lands a constitutional concern.
- Delaware Riverkeeper Network v. PADEP -- failure of state to act to address decades of high level site contamination is a constitutional concern.
- Marple Township Commissioners rely on Article 1 Section 27 to reject damaging development that would have devastated treasured woodland, the Don Guanella Woods.
- Center Coalfield Justice v. PADEP - longwall coal mining permit revision unlawful as constitutional violation.
- Friends of Lackawanna v. PADEP - landfill renewal permit ordered modified to address historic groundwater contamination.
- PA Attorney General empanels Grand Jury to investigate systemic failures of government regards to the environmental and community impacts fracking.
- PA's Attorney General is routinely relying on the PA Green Amendment to help advance environmental protection.
- PA Gov Wolf Vetoes law that prohibited communities from instituting plastic ban protections.
- MEIC v. Montana DEQ -- industrial gold mining permit rescinded for failure to consider and protect natural resources.
- Cape France Enterprises v. Estate of Peed - court rejected ordering specific performance of a drilling contract that could have contaminated groundwater supply.
- Park Cty Envtl Council & Greater Yellowstone Coalition v. MT DEQ & Lucky Minerals - gold mining exploration license vacated and state law deemed unconstitutional for exempting activities from essential environmental reviews.
Legal Opinions
- Robinson Township, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, et al v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania., Dec. 19, 2013 – PA Sup Ct Plurality Opinion
- Montana Environmental Info Ctr V. Dept of Envtl Quality, 1999 -- MT Sup Ct. Opinion
- PEDF v. Commonwealth, June 20, 2017 -- PA Sup Ct Opinion
- Robinson Township, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, et al v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania., Sept 28, 2016 -- PA Sup Ct Opinion
- Park County Envtl Comm'n & Yellowstone Coalition v. MT DEQ & Lucky Minerals, Dec. 8, 2020 -- MT Sup Ct Opinion