Recently, a pipelines company had won a court case stating that three Greenpeace entities must pay 660 million dollars to a company called Energy Transfer, who was co-founded by a prominent Trump donor. With this win over the environmental group, this has led to more opportunities for other big oil and gas companies to pursue legal action over environmental protestors. The reason for this lawsuit was because they claimed Greenpeace was liable for defamation and other claims over the Dakota Access pipeline. Which is a 1,172-mile-long underground pipeline that has the ability to transport up to 750,000 barrels of light sweet crude oil per day which travels underneath North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa. The reason Greenpeace got involved in the Dakota Access protests because the tribe, the Standing Rock Sioux, asked for help, because they were afraid that the Dakota Access pipeline was going to erase Indigenous leadership from Standing Rock's history.
Brian Hauss, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU's Speech Privacy, and Technology Project, said that the lawsuit served as a "tax on speech", one that makes it too expensive to go against "litigious, deep-pocked corporations". That statement had shocked the entire climate activist community and is starting to make people feel afraid for protesting corporate malfeasance.
Luckily through all of these setbacks with Greenpeace their goals will stay the same which is the protection of the climate and preserving oceans. Raman of Energy Transfer said, "Ultimately this isn't about the money, it's really about sending a message, and it's trying to silence an organization that they feel is a thorn in their side." The oil executives and millionaires are celebrating taking down the pro climate organizations, but they are still not going to back down to them.
Unfortunately, in some states, protesting against an oil pipeline is a felony. Since the Dakota Access Pipeline conflict, 17 states have passed laws aimed at restricting protests. With this legislation it has raised penalties for trespassing, for speaking out against these organizations. I feel with these currently rules and the current administration that is in charge, there will be a lot more oil and gas companies looking to sue environmental agencies that protest or speak out about what they are doing. It is great that Greenpeace is deciding to stick around after getting sued, and still are on their mission to do good.
It is crazy to me that protesting against an oil pipeline is illegal in some states. People understand the risk to their communities that these pipeline are and also the environmental impact of the oil running through it.
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell? I find this enraging to be completely honest. The fact that protesting against oil pipelines is a felony in some states is actually insane. Thank you for sharing, I never knew about this. I’m really frustrated that I now know.
ReplyDeleteIt’s concerning how protest is being punished just for speaking up. Grateful to Greenpeace for staying strong and thanks, Noah, for shedding light on this.
ReplyDeleteIt is harrowing to me that protesting something that could harm our planet is illegal in some states. Despite these challenges, it's admirable that Greenpeace remains committed to their mission of protecting the climate and preserving natural resources.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how politicians get to pick and choose which rights we can exercise in certain places, like freedom of speech.
ReplyDeletePassing laws to restrict protests is interesting and I have not heard of that before. It probably is a close call between freedom of speech vs defamation and trespassing issues.
ReplyDeleteWow, the fact that protesting pipelines is now a felony in some states is insane to me. This severely threatens free speech and activism.
ReplyDeleteThis is horrible! We have the power of freedom of speech, and we know what the future holds if we don't enact change soon. Lawsuits and targeting attacks are some of the big oil/fossil fuel companies trying to silence the people from bringing awareness to this issue.
ReplyDeleteThis is a terrifying precedent that is being set, freedom of speech is super important and it is very concerning that it is under attack this early into Trump's presidency.
ReplyDeleteWhen you hear about protesting being illegal I personally thought of places like North Korea because people are not allowed to voice their concerns of opinions however to see that in America protest on the oil pipeline is illegal is a very sad but also scary thing to see and think about.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly unfortunate to see the judicial and legislative systems used in this way.
ReplyDeleteThis lawsuit is taking us back in time. How are we supposed to stand up to big corporations and the government if our voices aren't ever heard. We must still be talking about these things even if there are more attempts than ever to silence us.
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting. To make protesting oil companies illegal, wouldn't that be going against the first amendment? This doesn't feel right. I am glad Greenpeace stood their ground, and I hope other companies choose to do the same.
ReplyDeleteIt is insane the lengths these large companies will go to protect their business, no matter how the public feels. It is devastating that they are going as far as to take these protester's voices away, and I believe this is a sign that the oil companies feel threatened because they are well aware of the damage they are causing but are too selfish to listen.
ReplyDeleteThis trial was held before a jury of small town North Dakotans. Given the great ignorance of Americans in general about the climate crisis, and the current employment power of the fossil fuel companies in such communities perhaps the result is not a surprise. It is, as many commenters are saying a profound failure for freedom of speech and for the future of life on earth.
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