What occurs when a multi-billion greenback firm tries to close down Greenpeace?
In March, a North Dakota jury discovered Greenpeace entities within the US and Greenpeace Worldwide responsible for over $660 million USD in damages. They have been sued by Vitality Switch, the Texas-based fossil gasoline pipeline firm which owns the Dakota Entry Pipeline.
The response we’ve since witnessed from supporters world wide has been nothing in need of unbelievable.
“Within the face of this outrageous verdict, we’re drawing energy from the worldwide outpouring of solidarity, significantly from our Canadian allies,” states Kristin Casper, Greenpeace Worldwide’s Common Counsel.
In its lawsuit, Vitality Switch claimed that Greenpeace orchestrated the protests towards the Dakota Entry Pipeline between 2016-2017, however in actuality, this resistance at Standing Rock was Indigenous-led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, water protectors, and their allies.
The protests drew hundreds of supporters from world wide. They highlighted issues in regards to the pipeline’s potential impression on water, Indigenous rights, and tribal sovereignty. And whereas the protests didn’t stop the pipeline’s building, the battle for Standing Rock stays ongoing.
In retaliation, Vitality Switch just isn’t solely making an attempt to erase the Indigenous management of the Standing Rock motion, however they’re making an attempt to silence Greenpeace defendants by burying them in authorized charges, pushing them in direction of chapter. This can be a menace to free speech and the precise to peaceable protest.
Have we been rocked by this case? After all.
However will we falter? No probability.
The Greenpeace defendants plan to battle the case. Primarily based on errors at trial, there are quite a few, sturdy grounds for attraction, so the Greenpeace defendants plan to face off Vitality Switch in courtroom once more quickly.
© Greenpeace. Greenpeace Canada activists projected highly effective messages on the Niagara Falls, together with “Greenpeace vs. Bullies”, “Don’t Trump Canada“, “Time to Resist“, and “Greenpeace vs. Billionaires” in April, 2025. This was in solidarity with Greenpeace USA’s ongoing authorized battle with the large oil firm, Vitality Switch.
Greenpeace Canada activists projected highly effective messages on the Niagara Falls, certainly one of which said “Greenpeace vs. Bullies”, in April, 2025. This was in solidarity with Greenpeace USA’s ongoing authorized battle with the large oil firm, Vitality Switch.
As I write this, Greenpeace entities within the US and Greenpeace Worldwide are making ready authorized filings to name for this verdict to be overturned on attraction.
“The Greenpeace defendants will problem this injustice earlier than the North Dakota Supreme Courtroom, standing agency and unbowed,” says Casper. “We’re pushed ahead by the unstoppable pressure of individuals united for environmental justice.”
Greenpeace Worldwide has already filed a counter-lawsuit in a Dutch courtroom to get better all damages and prices suffered because of Vitality Switch’s baseless authorized assaults. A preliminary listening to is scheduled for July 2, 2025.
This case will possible go on for years, however the international Greenpeace community is constructed to resist this strain, and with the help of a whole bunch of hundreds of equally decided folks world wide, we’re not going to let bullies like Vitality Switch silence us.
Over 1,000 Greenpeace supporters throughout Canada donated in response to the jury verdict and tens of hundreds extra world wide have given tens of millions of {dollars} to help Greenpeace’s trigger. The story has obtained over two thousand items of media protection in additional than 20 languages. We’ve additionally seen an enormous outpouring of help from Greenpeace allies world wide — and it received’t cease right here.
However we are going to proceed pushing again for so long as it takes. As a result of we received’t be silenced because the planet is destroyed, Indigenous rights and sovereignty are steamrolled, and the precise to protest is threatened.
To study extra in regards to the subsequent steps on this case, take a look at the complete interview with Kristin Casper right here.
