One of my favorite experiences in teaching was “nature time,” as my students called it. Myself and a few other staff would take our students into a safe place in the woods. I would gather all the kids and say “There are two rules for the next hour. 1) Do not harm anything living. 2) You must always be able to see a staff member. Now go!”
Often, kids would sit their stunned…unsure of what to do. It would take about 10 minutes for students to realize they had time to just play, as long as they were safe about it. Sometimes kids would just chat, thankful to be able to relax. Sometimes they would build forts. One time I had a gaggle of students come covered in mud, but brimming with joy.
This freedom is the basis of Home Rule, and I think it can be used to help fight the Climate Crisis.
Photo taken by Mark Schmerling. Retrieved from State Impact.
What’s Home Rule?
“Local governments without home rule can only act where specifically authorized by state law; home rule municipalities can act anywhere except where they are specifically limited by state law.”
As stated in this document, Home Rule allows municipalities to make laws that are not in violation with state/federal laws, rather than only being able to make decisions expressly stated by state/federal levels. So if a state’s minimum wage is $7.25, a municipality could raise it to $8.
Will a rule change in one city save the world? No. But Home Rule can give communities the power they need to make meaningful changes where they are.
Fracking is a giant industry in Pennsylvania, damaging both environmental and human health. But we have state and federal laws to help with that, right?
“When it comes to fracking, Pennsylvania failed.”
In 2020, a report showed how our state’s health and environmental agencies failed to act as watchdogs. Could Home Rule have stopped this?
It greatly depends on the communities. If there is a strong community, who can work together they can create laws to outlaw fracking within their boarders.
What issue is your community facing? Fracking? Mountaintop Removal? Air Quality? Wherever you call home, there is something you can be doing to help.