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Date of Award

Winter 2024

Document Type

Masters Field Project

Department or Program Affiliation

Urban and Environmental Planning & Policy

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Environmental Studies

First Advisor

Abel, Troy D.

Second Advisor

Darby, Kate J.

Abstract

This research project utilizes the Narrative Policy Analysis framework to analyze print news media coverage of the Rights of Nature (RoN) movement in the United States. This burgeoning movement draws upon Indigenous principles of animism and interconnectedness to recognize the existence rights and legal personhood of non-human animals, plants, and ecosystems. This project highlights the legal and legislative challenges the RoN movement has faced. Including the complexities of attempting to incorporate Indigenous epistemologies into a colonialist legal system and highlighting the narrative strategies and emerging coalitions present in the U.S.-based movement.

Type

Text

Keywords

Earth Jurisprudence, Narrative Policy Analysis, News Media Analysis, Rights of Nature, Earth Law, Ecocentric legal frameworks

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1426855971

Subject – LCSH

Rights of nature--Press coverage--United States; Environmental law--United States; Environmental policy--United States; Animal rights--United States; Nature--Effect of human beings on--United States; Nature conservation--Law and legislation--United States

Geographic Coverage

United States

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Rights Statement

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NKC/1.0/

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