Creative Time Summit 2024 | Eliza Evans

Summary

Eliza Evans shares her transformative journey after discovering her inherited mineral rights in Oklahoma. Confronting the complexities of the oil and gas industry, she delves into the history of mineral rights rooted in colonization. Despite the challenges posed by fracking and the limited power landowners have over their resources, Eliza takes a stand by giving away her mineral rights to 7,000 individuals, creating the Mineral Rights Action Network, and mobilizing support for climate justice. Her efforts emphasize the importance of collective action and legal empowerment for frontline communities facing environmental threats.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Eliza Evans, an artist, became an activist after discovering she inherited land in Oklahoma with valuable mineral rights.
• 📜 The *ad coelum* doctrine grants landowners rights from the heavens to the center of the Earth, including mineral rights.
• 🇺🇸 The U.S. is unique in allowing private ownership of subsurface resources, with 75% of oil and gas in private hands.
• 🏛️ The historical roots of mineral rights trace back to Roman law, highlighting the connection between these rights and colonization.
• 💰 Eliza's landman sought access to her land for oil and gas extraction, exposing the struggle between landowners and corporations.
• 👥 Eliza gave away her mineral rights to 7,000 people, creating a collective that complicates negotiations for landmen.
• 🛠️ Despite property rights, landowners may find it difficult to refuse extraction due to corporate power and influence.
• 🔗 Eliza founded 'Landman for the Planet' to connect with like-minded mineral rights owners and resist fracking.
• 📊 She created a database of mineral rights owners and is developing the Mineral Rights Action Network to advocate for climate justice.
• ⚖️ Eliza aims to support frontline communities in legal battles against extraction companies by creating a fund for legal resources.

Q & A

What event led to Eliza Evans Arman's involvement in understanding mineral rights?

In 2019, Eliza received a letter from a landman seeking access to oil and gas resources beneath three acres of land she inherited in Oklahoma. This prompted her to learn about mineral rights and fracking.

What is a 'landman' in the context of the oil and gas industry?

A landman is a professional in the oil and gas industry who negotiates with landowners to acquire mineral rights, often using aggressive or unscrupulous methods.

How does the U.S. differ from other countries when it comes to mineral rights?

The U.S. is unique in that subsurface mineral rights are privately owned, unlike most other countries where minerals are considered public property. In the U.S., 75% of oil and gas resources are privately held.

What is the 'adum doctrine,' and how does it relate to mineral rights?

The adum doctrine is a legal principle that grants landowners rights to everything from the air above their property to the center of the earth, which includes mineral rights. This principle originated in Roman law.

How does Eliza connect Roman colonization practices with the modern concept of mineral rights?

Eliza explains that the practice of privatizing mineral resources dates back to Roman times when the Romans assumed state control over mining operations in their colonies. This practice was continued and expanded by British and Spanish colonialism.

What was the significance of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and how does it relate to mineral rights?

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty declared that no state or individual could own celestial bodies. However, the U.S. amended this by stating that anyone who can reach and extract resources from space can claim ownership of them, which extends the privatization of mineral rights beyond Earth.

What action did Eliza take to resist fracking and the privatization of her mineral rights?

Eliza gave away her mineral rights to 7,000 people, including a 4-year-old, making it difficult for the landman to negotiate. This act was intended to resist fracking and the exploitation of her property.

What is the Mineral Rights Action Network, and what is its purpose?

The Mineral Rights Action Network is an organization Eliza created to resist fracking, promote the legal rights of nature, and advocate for land back protocols. It brings together mineral rights owners and environmental activists to challenge the oil industry.

What is Eliza's new initiative aimed at supporting frontline communities?

Eliza is working on a new initiative leveraging SEC regulations to create a fund that allows people from all financial backgrounds to co-invest in supporting legal actions of frontline communities fighting against corporate giants like Chevron.

How does Eliza view the broader issue of climate justice in relation to her work?

Eliza believes that climate justice requires collective action and that addressing the legal and environmental issues surrounding mineral rights and resource extraction is a key part of achieving this. She calls on others to join the fight for a shared future, regardless of the outcome.