Inside E-LAW U.S.: UO Collaboration, Alex Hanafi

15 Years of Collaboration with the University of Oregon

UO student Solana Sawyer (left) relaxes after completing a translation of Raquel Gutierrez Njera`s public presentation on protecting Lake Chapala. The presentation was supported by the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics. Solana provides Spanish and English translation to E-LAW U.S.

In 1989, public interest lawyers from 10 countries were working together at the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference at the University of Oregon School of Law. They discovered that communities in their countries were facing similar environmental challenges and if they shared strategies, and legal and scientific information, they could protect the environment more effectively. Together, they founded the E-LAW network. Today, more than 300 grassroots lawyers and scientists collaborate through the E-LAW network.

The University of Oregon and E-LAW U.S. continue to work together through American English Institute scholarships, a Vision Grant from the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics, student volunteers, and a brand new Extern program with the Law School.

American English Institute

Since 1991, the University of Oregon’s American English Institute (AEI) has provided E-LAW advocates around the world with scholarships for its Intensive English Program. AEI has trained 42 E-LAW advocates from 21 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe.

Attorney Doris Balvin of Peru participated in AEI’s 10-week English program in 1995. She said: “When I came to Eugene, I didn’t speak a word of English. The AEI program gave me an opportunity for a new life. Learning English has helped me access environmental law and science resources that are printed only in English, and are critical to the work I do.”

Many thanks to AEI for their generous support.

Wayne Morse Vision Grant

The Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics awarded E-LAW U.S. a generous "Vision Grant" to bring public interest attorneys to the University of Oregon School of Law to speak about their work protecting the environment through law.

Wayne Morse Director Caroline Forell and her staff helped arrange and publicize two recent events. Wiwiek Awiati, Executive Director of the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), traveled to Eugene to speak about her work protecting human rights and challenging ill-advised mining and logging operations. Raquel Gutierrez Najera, founder of Mexico’s Instituto de Derecho Ambiental, spoke about her work protecting Lake Chapala and the ramifications of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Volunteers & Externs

Glenn Gillis, E-LAW U.S. Information Technology Manager, trains volunteers.

More than a dozen students from the University of Oregon volunteer their time at E-LAW U.S. every year. Law students and students majoring in environmental studies, international studies, and romance languages have researched environmental laws and corporate activities, compiled resources on the economics behind environmental impacts, reached out to environmental advocates in new countries, and translated E-LAW network messages.

In January, E-LAW U.S. launched a formal "externship" program with the Law School’s Environment and Natural Resources Program (ENR). Four law students—Damian Hermecz, Colin Barey, Emmett Soper, and Reed Yurchak—will receive academic credit for their work with E-LAW U.S. These externs and volunteers from the University of Oregon help make the high impact work of E-LAW U.S. possible.

Many thanks to ENR Director Richard Hildreth for his support.

Alex Hanafi Awarded ELP Fellowship

E-LAW’s Alex Hanafi recently received a two-year fellowship from the Environmental Leadership Program. More than 200 environmental advocates competed for this year’s ELP Fellowships. The program builds the leadership capacity of the environmental field’s most promising emerging professionals.

As an E-LAW U.S. Staff Attorney, Alex empowers public interest advocates around the world to protect the environment through law. Prior to joining E-LAW U.S., Alex worked as a Henry Luce Scholar in Thailand on a project to reform that country’s economic and environmental laws. He graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and was Editor-in-Chief of The Harvard Environmental Law Review.