Despite the crisis confronting our planet, environmental activism has become a dangerous activity. The latest threat is lawsuits.
Despite the global environmental crisis confronting our planet, environmental activism has become a dangerous activity. In many countries, environmental defenders are harassed, attacked or even killed for speaking out and mobilizing against projects that threaten the health and livelihood of communities.
In 2017, for example, the mining company Mineral Sand Resources brought a defamation suit against two attorneys from the Centre for Environmental Rights and a local activist for statements they made during a lecture at the University of Cape Town’s Summer School concerning the company’s Tormin mineral sands mine, on the west coast of South Africa. The ongoing lawsuit seeks R1,250,000 in damages.
In Australia, Adani—India’s largest coal importer with interests in a coal mine in Central Queensland—engaged a law firm that recommended adopting an aggressive legal strategy to bankrupt opponents, silence critics and pressure the government. Governments are also enacting laws against these lawsuits to protect freedom of expression and public participation. Canada, Australia, and the Philippines have adopted legislation or procedural rules to protect against these cases. In the United States, many states have passed anti-SLAPP statutes. These statutes typically allow courts to promptly dismiss suits against actions involving public participation and may also allow defendants to recover attorneys’ fees and damages.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cattle industry blasts NYC mayor's Green New Deal plan to reduce beef purchasesNew York Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to slash meat consumption in schools and other city facilities is being criticized by the U.S. beef industry.
Read more »
The Green Bay Packers' Defense Looks Like A Top-10 UnitThe Green Bay Packers invested heavily in their defense this offseason and could have a potentially dominant unit.
Read more »
'Always a problem': Draymond Green is putting his stamp on the seriesDraymond Green went on a strict diet and started ramping up workouts on off days after the All-Star break. WindhorstESPN examines how Green regained the quickness and versatility from earlier in his career:
Read more »
How Much Fuel Does A Green Spring Add To The Fire?California’s hills have been covered in lush green plants for months. But they will turn into kindling come this year's wildfire season. scifri
Read more »
Finance’s green activists see path to climate hopeAn annual Wall Street-heavy confab on environmental risks is offering plenty to worry about. But a group of 340 investors like CalPERS and AXA is notching up wins, including against Equinor, Shell and other polluters. More concerted pressure can help slow global warming.
Read more »
In L.A.’s future, you may not need a car, insurance or a parking spaceColumnist LATstevelopez writes: In L.A.’s future, you may not need a car, insurance or a parking space.
Read more »
The Green New Deal isn’t big enoughThe Green New Deal caps American emissions, but it won’t persuade developing nations to do the same. If we want poorer countries to industrialize without carbon, we’ll need to pay them.
Read more »