"peaceful climate activists are facing trumped-up criminal and civil charges
amid mounting evidence of collusion between corporations, lawmakers and state security forces."
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/12/down-to-earth-climate-protest-new-york
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"John Mark Rozendaal, a former music instructor at Princeton University, and Alec Connon, director of the climate nonprofit group Stop the Money Pipeline, were detained for 24 hours and charged with
criminal contempt, which carries up to seven years in prison. Why? Rozendaal was playing a Bach solo on his cello while Connon sheltered him with an umbrella –
which police claimed broke the conditions of a temporary restraining order that related to another bogus charge of assault (that was later dropped)."
"the charges were without foundation, and appeared to be a punishment for participating in peaceful protests on the climate crisis and human rights."
'Rozendaal and Connon pleaded guilty to “disorderly conduct” for playing the cello and holding an umbrella.
They were among thousands of climate activists who over the summer participated in a series of nonviolent protests
calling on Citibank to stop financing the oil and gas industry and increase funding for renewables. "
Earlier this week, 15 student activists in Uganda were granted bail after spending a month in jail. The students were charged with common nuisance
while attempting to deliver a petition to parliament to stop the 900-mile transnational east African crude oil pipeline.
In the UK this June, five supporters of the Just Stop Oil climate campaign received record sentences after being found guilty of conspiracy to cause gridlock on the M25 motorway.
In fact, on Wednesday the Guardian reported Britain has the dubious honour of leading the world in
arrests of environmental protesters, at “nearly three times the global average rate”.
"In the US, Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the Dakota Access pipeline, is suing Greenpeace for $300 million related to the 2016-17 Standing Rock protests.
The case is scheduled to go to trial in North Dakota in February and, if the jury sides with the company, it could create a new legal precedent that would have
major ramifications for environmental groups organising against fossil fuels.
In Atlanta, Georgia, 61 social and climate justice activists opposed to the construction of a massive police training facility on an urban forest
have been charged with racketeering – a crime usually used to prosecute those involved in organised crime.
Meanwhile, US president-elect Donald Trump, whose cabinet nominations include several climate deniers, has vowed to quell protests and “drill, baby, drill”.
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"controversy damaged the Austin festival this year,
when 80 acts pulled out in protest
against the organiser’s partnership with the American military.
This June South by Southwest discontinued its association with the US army and the defence contractor RTX Corporation."
“After careful consideration, we are revising our sponsorship model,” said a statement on the festival’s website.
“As a result,
the US army, and companies who engage in weapons manufacturing,
will not be sponsors of SXSW 2025.”
"The London event is owned by a company called Panarise - a subsidiary of Panarae investment firm."
"The event, styled as a kind of “Olympics of the mind”, with fashion and music thrown into the mix, has come to London rather than elsewhere in Europe “because of its multicultural aspects”, Arnander says."
"the conference that will be at the centre of the week-long festival in June will feature 420 sessions,
while the wider events will spread across 29 venues, including galleries and nightclubs."
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