German climate activists face charges for 'forming a criminal organization'

Five members of the German climate group Letzte Generation have been charged with "forming a criminal organization," potentially setting a precedent for criminalizing climate protests.

Damien Gayle reports for The Guardian.

In short:

Five activists are charged under section 129 of the German criminal code for actions against oil refineries, an airport, and a museum.
The activists claim their protests were non-violent and open, arguing that such charges threaten democratic rights to peaceful protest.
Amnesty International warns that a conviction could criminalize any support for Letzte Generation, escalating the criminalization of climate protests.

Key quote:

“This charge is meant for mafia and organised crime. This charge criminalises every act of support towards the group Letzte Generation. This creates an immense chilling effect on all climate protests in Germany.”

— Mirjam Herrmann, Letzte Generation activist

Why this matters:

The charges against Letzte Generation could deter future climate activism by equating non-violent protest with organized crime. This could undermine democratic freedoms of speech and assembly, setting a troubling legal precedent.

www.theguardian.com

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.

grey wooden pathway surrounded by trees.

Credit: Jamie Hagan/Unsplash

Trump administration moves to end Army Corps’ Florida headquarters lease

The Trump administration plans to terminate the lease for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville headquarters, which plays a key role in Everglades restoration and hurricane response, leaving employees uncertain about their future.

Amy Green reports for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less

Read the Full Article on

insideclimatenews.org

German climate activists face charges for 'forming a criminal organization'

Standing up for science: Around the world, scientists protest Trump threats to their work

Trump’s EPA moves to roll back chemical safety rules

U.S. pulls out of international effort to shift major polluters from coal

Congress hears warnings that cutting renewable energy incentives could drive up costs

Trump administration moves to end Army Corps’ Florida headquarters lease

China urged to halt coal power expansion as approvals surge

Canberra proves a fossil-fuel nation can run on renewables

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Op-ed: Why funding for the environmental justice movement must be anti-racist

We must prioritize minority-serving institutions, BIPOC-led organizations and researchers to lead environmental justice efforts.

Biden finalizes long-awaited hydrogen tax credits ahead of Trump presidency

Responses to the new rules have been mixed, and environmental advocates worry that Trump could undermine them.

Op-ed: Toxic prisons teach us that environmental justice needs abolition

Prisons, jails and detention centers are placed in locations where environmental hazards such as toxic landfills, floods and extreme heat are the norm.

LISTEN: Reflections on the first five years of the Agents of Change program

The leadership team talks about what they’ve learned — and what lies ahead.

Study shows $1 billion in lost tax revenue in Houston area from industry tax breaks

Top polluters are benefiting the most from tax breaks.