Rafa Cancel-Vazquez

< PREV NEXT >

2008

Rafa Cancel-Vazquez

Asociacion Nacional de Derecho Ambiental (National Environmental Law Association)

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Environment, Legal Advocacy

The Bold Idea:

Building the first environmental law center in Puerto Rico that will bridge the environmental justice gap, triggering community participation for a healthy environment and sustainable development.

Environmental justice is a developing concept in Puerto Rico. Most environmental litigation involves communities against powerful interests, such as corporations and the government. Without resources to obtain legal representation or equitable enforcement of current policies, communities struggle to reach justice through governmental proceedings. Existing environmental organizations in Puerto Rico do not provide legal counseling or representation.

Asociación Nacional de Derecho Ambiental (ANDA) will be the first environmental law firm on the island. ANDA will develop a network of relationships with communities and organizations in order to empower the citizens of Puerto Rico to tackle the root of environmental injustice. ANDA will also conduct regularly scheduled workshops on environmental law, train grassroots leaders in participatory democracy, open dialogue with those most vulnerable to environmental abuses, and offer free legal representation before the judicial and administrative forums.

Biography:

Rafael Cancel-Vázquez, a former Truman Scholar (2003), has actively participated in numerous environmental groups, working directly with communities facing environmental problems. An active student leader, he served as President of his law school's student body, and his work with ANDA helped earn them the Judy Weightman Memorial Public Interest Award from the American Bar Association (2007). In May 2008, he received his JD from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.

Moment of Obligation: What experiences led to the desire to start your own organization?
Two main experiences showed me the need for accessible environmental legal services: participating in a grassroots movement to end the U.S. Navy’s bombing of Vieques, and my involvement in a community group against the cutting of 300 trees in an urban area. In Vieques, I realized that a legal strategy is essential in producing social change. Despite Vieques’ environmental problems receiving international attention, the legal aspects of public health and safety, endangered species and land use required legal expertise that proved difficult to obtain with limited resources. In my other experience, I saw the countless barriers for citizens who seek justice through environmental claims.

Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to dream big and take on deeply entrenched social and difficult problems? (Such as experiences, skills, events, etc.)
1) Inspiration from my parents, who act daily in pursuance of their ideals. 2) Advice from professors and colleagues, who constantly offer support and suggestions with practical ways of achieving what I have set out to accomplish. 3) The imagination of the citizens that ANDA will serve, since they continuously challenge traditional legal solutions and help us to forge out-of-the-box dreams. 4) The dedication of a group of students that came together with the common vision of putting our legal skills at the service of environmental causes in Puerto Rico.

New and Untested: What's innovative about your new idea for social change?
ANDA will be the first environmental law firm on the Island. We stand by a process-based approach, so that in the long term communities are empowered to solve environmental problems through developing the tools for achieving greater access to justice. ANDA’s emphasis on community education and participation clearly distinguishes us from contemporary organizations. Unlike a purely courts based approach, our model is based on giving affected communities the right tools to solving their environmental issues. By seeking to empower, we will not only provide legal representation for poor communities, but also help organize and integrate them with scientists, planners, and public policymakers.

Seeing Possibilities: What are the most important qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur?
Passion. Empathy. Vision. Confidence. Initiative. Optimism. Persistence. Patience. Persistence. Diligence. Delegation. Persistence. Love.

Which musical artists/albums get you going and keep you inspired?
To start the day: Cultura Profética (any of their albums; great reggae with strong social messages and political critiques). Early afternoon: Mima (her first album Mima is a must! It is a fusion of jazz, lounge, and Brazilian rhythms. It´s my favorite album, mimamusica.com). Late afternoon: some Mikey Rivera, Robi Draco Rosa, Fiel a la Vega, Los Cafres, Lauryn Hill, or Manu Chao. Then at nighttime: SALSA! I´m always in the mood for some good Hip Hop, R & B, Bossa Nova, Latin Jazz, but get me some Salsa music and the dancing starts automatically.

What books do you recommend (pleasure, work and anything in between)?
Pedagogy Of The Oppressed by Paulo Freire, How To Change The World by David Bornstein, No Logo by Naomi Klein, and Why We Buy by Paco Underhill. A fun and practical one is Body Language: How to Read Others’ Thoughts By Their Gestures by Allan Pease. In regards to nonprofit organizations, if you are thinking about starting one, I would recommend the American Bar Association’s ABCs of Nonprofits by Lisa Runquist.

Which websites do you visit often (work and/or personal)?

• endi.com
• vocero.com
• claridadpuertorico.com (local newspapers)
• nytimes.com
• news.bbc.co.uk
• google.com
• facebook.com

What advice or quote do you keep close to your heart as a social change leader?
“Let’s be realistic and do the impossible.” - Ernesto “Che” Guevara

“You must be the change that you want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi