U.S. uses 1800s law to target Greenpeace

[CatWoman]

Jan. 20, 2004 | MIAMI (AP) -- When prosecutors brought charges against Greenpeace for protesting a shipment of Amazon mahogany, they dusted off a 19th century federal law enacted to stop pimps from clambering aboard ships entering port.

Environmentalists call the charges a heavy-handed attempt to stifle free speech and say the government is retaliating against Greenpeace for previous in-your-face protests against the Bush administration.

The federal government has never successfully prosecuted an entire activist organization on criminal charges over its protest methods -- not Operation Rescue, not the NAACP, not even the Ku Klux Klan.

"It's an incredible abuse of power, and this is nothing short of political retribution," said Sierra Club spokesman Eric Antebi. "We think this sets a horrible precedent for political intimidation of public interest groups."

http://salon.com/news/wire/2004/01/20/greenpeace/index.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. i sent greenpeace $50 to help with this bogus trial.

they need help.


aww... did you run out of grecian formula, dubya?

[Frances]

2. It seems as though the Bush administrtatIon is going after

environmental organizations in a big way. They are doing an unusually thorough audit of the Nature Conservancy. Some far-out group is trying to take over the Sierra Club and now this.

[northzax]

5. yeah, but the Nature Conservancy deserves it

and interestingly, the activists involved in this GP action are rumoured to be being granted immunity, and being forced to testify against GP.

[NeoConsSuck]

3. I donate every month to Greenpeace

through automatic credit card debits. If they are putting a bug up this administration's ass, I know my money is going for a good cause.

[SlainteMhath]

4. Greenpeace and Sierra Club should combine and join forces

In fact, all the splinter environmental groups should create on big untouchable group. As it is now they are wasting too much mone on overhead because every one of them has CEOs and other wasteful positions.

Join them into one big bad ass eco-warrior tribe!

[northzax]

6. um, they all have completely different missions

and funding sources and the like. not a good idea to make one solid target.

[xchrom]

7. then they become a corporate

non-profit.
it's getting more americans to join the environmental group of their choice that will help.
i do think they could more loudly and aggressively get each others back.

[Lorien]

8. Some fundie co-workers of mine

WANT the * administration to destroy the environment; they believe it will help return Jesus to earth and bring about the rapture. :eyes:

[northzax]

9. right. and God's is gonna be thrilled

at their stewardship of the earth while he was gone, right? God created the Earth, last time I checked, and I, for one, wouldn't be happy if I spent all week on something, left it in someone's care, and watched them trash it. I'd be pissed, actually.