Explore the push to criminalize environmental and climate protest, the tactics used by extractive industries and the framing of opponents as criminal threats. Learn about the redefinition of violence to include harm to property, the chilling effect on environmental activism, and the criminalization of activists opposing oil pipelines.
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Quick takeaways
Extractive industries have been pushing governments to criminalize environmental and climate protests, leading to a global trend of suppression of advocacy for climate action.
The criminalization of environmental defenders as terrorists not only silences and discredits them, but also drains resources and organizers from the broader climate and environmental movements, hindering progress towards addressing the climate crisis.
Deep dives
The Colonial Legacy of the Mounties
The Mounties, often considered heroic figures, were originally formed as a colonial militia to suppress indigenous resistance and open up land for settlers and railways. Today, they continue to employ aggressive tactics, such as using helicopters and attack dogs, to maintain control over protests against oil companies.
The Suppression of Environmental Protests
Environmental protests are often met with a different response from authorities compared to other forms of protest. The police, equipped with riot squads, have been known to employ force to break up demonstrations. This unequal response, coupled with new legislation criminalizing environmental protests, demonstrates a suppression of advocacy for climate action.
The Criminalization of Environmental Defenders
Labeling environmental defenders as terrorists is a widespread tactic used to silence and discredit them. The criminalization of activists not only has personal consequences, such as social isolation and post-traumatic stress, but it also drains resources and organizers from the broader climate and environmental movements. This issue is global, affecting activists from various backgrounds, including journalists, lawyers, and students, reinforcing systemic inequalities and hindering progress towards addressing the climate crisis.
There's a lot of discourse happening about free speech in the context of "cancel culture" these days, but precious little coverage of the push all over the world to criminalize protest...particularly environmental and climate protest. We'll be digging into this trend in detail over the next several months, but first a look at what prompted extractive industries to start agitating for governments to crack down on protest, what tactics they use, and why they've been so effective.