Grant Wilson
Grant Wilson, Executive Director of Earth Law Center (ELC), was given a grant from CAF for “The Animals’ Lawsuit Against Humanity,” which will be performed at New York Climate Week 2025.
The Animals’ Lawsuit Against Humanity: A Global Campaign combines creative arts and legal advocacy to elevate animal rights and the rights of Nature. Anchored by a live play or reading of a thousand-year-old eco-fable, the aim is to build awareness, inspire action, and mobilize global audiences to advocate for legal recognition of animals’ intrinsic value. This will be a second—and larger—rendition of the live reading that premiered at Climate Week NYC 2024. This reading engaged a broad audience about this story in which animals sue humans for their poor treatment in court.
By combining the arts with legal advocacy, the campaign will engage new audiences, build bridges between environmentalism and cultural storytelling, and spotlight ELC campaigns such as securing rights for Southern Resident orcas. With rights of Nature now recognized in 20+ countries worldwide (both national and subnational), it is the perfect time to elevate this movement through the arts—especially theater. Grant believes that having an expanded production of this tale at Climate Week NYC will spark other similar performances around the world.