“The environmental emergency that we are collectively facing, and that scientists have been documenting for decades, cannot be addressed if those raising the alarm and demanding action are criminalized for it,” says Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention.
The position paper concludes with five calls for action to States on how to make a profound change in how they respond to environmental protest:
-
First and foremost: States must address the root causes of environmental mobilization.
-
In terms of the media and political discourse: States must take immediate action to counter narratives that portray environmental defenders and their movements as criminals.
-
In terms of legislation and policy: States must not use the increase of environmental civil disobedience as a pretext to restrict the civic space and the exercise of fundamental freedoms.
-
In terms of law enforcement: States must comply with their international obligations related to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in their response to environmental protest and civil disobedience and immediately cease the use of measures designed for counterterrorism and organized crime against environmental defenders.
-
And with respect to the courts: States must ensure that the courts’ approach to disruptive protest, including any sentences imposed, does not contribute to the restriction of the civic space.
The paper can be downloaded on English (pdf) and French (pdf).
then these people would not really be doing a very good job. upping the ante will only backfire.
And what do you suggest instead if previous tactics clearly are not working?
leave Greta Thunberg at home and just go from there. and then make serious business serious business again.
ok. Lets say Greta Thunberg stays at home. What now? What are we supposed to do?
not talk about Greta Thunberg anymore and act like that never happened. why would you ask me maybe ask some groups who are actually serious about what they do. yes maybe do that.
What are these „serious“ groups and what are they doing, that makes them „serious“ in your opinion?
is that not up to you to figure that out if you want to know. if you need Greta Thunberg for this your not serious.
What are you trying to tell me with your comments?
if you need Greta Thunberg to tell you what serious issues to follow then your doing it wrong. maybe all that can be better spend in creating or looking for these serious groups. maybe some leftists should organise in some way and maybe earn some respect and copy some tactics. just don’t look like Spoiled assholes be sympathetic you know the opposite of Greta Thunberg and groups like stop oil