Cleared: Jury decides that threat of global warming justifies breaking the law
In a decision akin to a red rag to a bull, a British Jury has decided that the threat of global warming justifies breaking the law.
The threat of global warming is so great that campaigners were justified in causing more than £35,000 worth of damage to a coal-fired power station, a jury decided yesterday. In a verdict that will have shocked ministers and energy companies the jury at Maidstone Crown Court cleared six Greenpeace activists of criminal damage.
Jurors accepted defence arguments that the six had a “lawful excuse” to damage property at Kingsnorth power station in Kent to prevent even greater damage caused by climate change. The defence of “lawful excuse” under the Criminal Damage Act 1971 allows damage to be caused to property to prevent even greater damage – such as breaking down the door of a burning house to tackle a fire.
This is great news for the Climate Camp people and those kids in Newcastle, Australia who raided a coal train and delayed it for hours before being arrested and hauled off. I’m not a lawyer but I’m guessing the ramifications of this decision will be far-reaching. — DS
