In a decision that anti-coal activists say is a gamechanger, six Greenpeace protesters have been acquitted of nearly $53,000 in criminal-damage charges for painting "Gordon" on a British coal plant. The activists climbed a 650-foot coal-plant chimney last year with the intent to paint "Gordon bin it" in huge letters, aiming to pressure Prime Minister Gordon Brown to disallow new coal plants. They only got to "Gordon" before being served with a high court injunction. In court, the six used a "lawful excuse" defense, arguing that burning coal exacerbates climate change, thus putting property around the world "in immediate need of protection." Climate scientist James Hansen testified on their behalf, and the jury found in their favor. "This verdict marks a tipping point for the climate change movement," says chimney-scaler Ben Stewart. "If jurors from the heart of Middle England say it's legitimate for a direct action group to shut down a coal-fired power station because of the harm it does to our planet, then where does that leave government energy policy?"
source: Reuters, BBC News, The Times, Greenpeace
see also, in Grist:Direct-action protesters in the U.K. are focusing on climate change
‘Copenhagen Diagnosis’ offers a grim update to the IPCC’s climate science
Copenhagen talks ready for take off: 5, 4, 3…
Obama administration may (finally) offer greenhouse-gas targets
Comments
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rendertabs Posted 7:49 am
10 Sep 2008
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Jonas Posted 9:27 pm
10 Sep 2008
Reason has triumphed.
And thanks to Dr Hansen too. It's great to see him put his insights into real world concrete game-changing action.
He's really hitting the right tone too, with his continuous stress on the fact that "young people will not tolerate the destruction of the planet", "young people want a bright green and smart world", etc... - his discourse is simply perfect.
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edarnold41 Posted 3:46 am
11 Sep 2008
Note please the comment by the victorious activist: ""If jurors from the heart of Middle England say it's legitimate for a direct action group to shut down a coal-fired power station because of the harm it does to our planet, then where does that leave government energy policy?" This time it's painting a slogan on a chimney: next time it's cutting power lines, or hacking the control-room computers to cause an explosion. Still sound like something to applaud?
There's a name for a society where the only Rule is to do what you feel is right and good: Anarchy. Ask the survivors of failed societies like Somalia how well that works in practice.
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Wolverine Posted 9:10 am
12 Sep 2008
Ed,
First, you don't even know what "anarchy" is. It is taking greater personal responsibility in order to have greater personal freedoms, to the point where government is no longer needed. At this point in human evolution it is merely an unattainable goal to be striven for, not a system that has ever existed anywhere in human civilization.
Second, I see that you place artificial human constructs, like "the law," above nature, natural systems, and all other life. Aside from the pure immorality of that position, let's see how well that serves you when you have to live on your law after you've ruined the natural systems on which life depends.
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