Protecting the powerful, punishing the powerless

JVL Introduction

George Monbiot is incensed; focusing mainly on the treatment and, indeed criminalisation of peaceful environmental protestors he is clear that governments are too often acting in the interests of Corporations, their lobbyists and not to protect society, let alone free speech. He notes that during the last week of January that the UN’s special rapporteur on environmental defenders, Michel Forst wrote about the UK stating that “that draconian anti-protest laws, massive sentences and court rulings forbidding protesters from explaining their motives to juries are crushing  “fundamental freedoms” here.”  Things are little different in the US and, of course, restrictions, condemnations and more have been levelled at the protest marches calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, most notably in Germany.

This has to be fought and Monbiot provides a summary of the current dire situation and many inks to further delve into the problems we face.

LL

This article was originally published by The Guardian on Fri 2 Feb 2024. Read the original here.