Episode Four: The Tree Branch

This episode, the celebration of an anniversary — sort of. The anniversary of a dream. An alternate history: imagining what the world might be like if, fifty years ago, in 1972, Americans had ratified an Environmental Rights Amendment. An amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting not only protection–but representation–to the natural world. For a transcript of this episode, click here.

KEY SOURCES

• “Should Trees Have Standing? — Toward Legal Rights For Natural Objects” by Christopher Stone (1972)

• “Climate Change: A Threat to Human Wellbeing and Health of the Planet” by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2022.

• “Sierra Club v. Morton, 405 U.S. 727” Opinions. (1972)

• “Cuyahoga River Fire.” Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.

• “The Conservation Governor: Redefining Environmentalism” from Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day.

• CBS News’ Earth Day Coverage.

• Rachel Carson’s Congressional Testimony, June 4, 1963.