Climate activists and unjust laws

Happy Sunday!

It was Global Recycling Day on 18th March, with the theme of #RecyclingHeroes. Perhaps it inspired Coca Cola, who announced they would be rolling out new 100% recycled bottles in the US.

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♻️ This week’s sustainability news

Climate activists dealt blows in legal rulings

What happened: In England and Wales, climate activists who commit criminal damage can no longer rely on one of the last defences previously used by protesters. The court of appeal said they cannot use the defence that it was their honest belief the owner of the property would have consented to the damage had they known the full extent of climate change.

Meanwhile, two climate activists in Australia had their prison sentences nearly tripled when both they and the prosecutor had lodged appeals against their original sentence. The activists had blocked peak-hour traffic trying to cross the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne for two hours. The judge sentenced each of them to a two-month prison term. They had originally been sentenced to 21 days in prison.

Why it happened: The court held that the circumstances surrounding the damage should be taken into account. This would include when the damage was caused as part of a protest. However, the court determined that such circumstances should not include the beliefs, reasoning or wider motivation of the person who caused the damage. The court deemed these matters as being too remote from the damage caused.

The blocked traffic on the West Gate Bridge caused a pregnant woman to give birth on the side of the road. The protestors also repeatedly interfered with the actions of emergency workers responding to their protest. The judge stated that while they were well intentioned, the way the activists went about their protest “caused a significant risk and disruption to the lives of others.”

Why it’s important: Climate activists around the world are feeling unheard by mainstream political parties and are feeling fearful at the lack of concrete action in the face of increasingly alarming updates from the scientific community. The latest UN reports paint a grim picture of insufficient national climate action plans and continued production of fossil fuels which would make it impossible “to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.” It’s therefore perhaps understandable that such frustration turns into radical actions to raise awareness like recent attacks on art. But court cases such as these demonstrate there is a limit to what kind of civil disobedience will be tolerated when protesting against climate change.

The Melbourne protestors were part of the decentralised international group Extinction Rebellion. They have explicitly referenced the long history of civil disobedience that has led to real change while acknowledging that it “does not equate to disregard for the law.” But they frame this in the context of obeying just laws, not unjust ones. Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed in Birmingham where he wrote about unjust laws because he defied a state court’s injunction and led a march of black protestors without a permit. The trouble for climate activists is they don’t appear to be attracting enough people to their cause with their actions. Crucially for civil disobedience to actually work like it did in 1960s America, studies have shown the movement needs at least 3.5% of the population involved in the actions.

🤔 Another perspective: How radical should you be when you’re trying to save the planet?

Spanish city rejects tourists

What’s happening: Frustrated Málaga locals have been adorning walls and doors in the Spanish city’s centre with stickers telling visitors what they think of them. The stickers convey a range of messages from the polite “this used to be my home” (antes esta era mi casa) to the profane “go f*cking home” (a tu puta casa).

Why it’s happening: Millions of holidaymakers visit the Costa de Sol every year, and Málaga is one of its most popular destinations. The mass tourism has led to increased prices for locals and a lack of long-term accommodation, with local politicians complaining about the number of lock boxes for short-term rentals visible everywhere. The campaign was started by a local bar owner who had been turfed out of his rental property of ten years as the landlord wanted to turn it into short-term accommodation. The regulars at his bar provided the messages used on the stickers.

Why it’s important: Mass tourism is becoming more of an issue around the world. Just this month, the Kyoto council in Japan announced they would close off narrow streets in the Gion district due to the bad behaviour of tourists harassing geisha. Venice is often in the news for the actions they’re taking to battle mass tourism, most recently announcing smaller tour groups and the banning of speakers from June. This time last year, Amsterdam launched an online campaign targeting young men and warning them to stay away if they were planning a “messy night” in the Dutch city. Residents on the Spanish island of Mallorca had a novel response to the issue. They put up fake signs in English last summer advising people to stay away due to jellyfish and falling rocks.

🌐 Travel to Samoa

Our second destination was another island paradise

Idyllic beaches and welcoming locals: Samoa was called Western Samoa until its independence in 1997, and shouldn’t be confused with its neighbouring cousin American Samoa. Read our articles to see its breathtaking natural beauty and fascinating local customs.

😇 People doing great things

Climate battle at the International Court of Justice

Young people leading the way: The Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change worked with civil organisations including Greenpeace to bring the issue of climate change to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Realising the need to gain support globally, the youth-led organisation World’s Youth for Climate Justice was formed. On 29th March 2023, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the historic resolution to request an advisory opinion by the ICJ on climate change and human rights. The resolution was led by Vanuatu and co-sponsored by over 130 countries. Two days ago, more than 80 nations and UN-authorised intergovernmental organisations submitted their written responses to the obligations nations have under international law to address the adverse impacts of climate change. Further submissions may be made until the deadline of 24th June 2024. Oral proceedings will then take place in The Hague later this year before the final Advisory Opinion is prepared.

⭐️ Weekly inspiration

Celebrating World Water Day

Raising awareness about the importance of water: The UN released their annual report to celebrate the day, this year focusing on water for peace.

How Australia can lead the world on nature restoration

Halting biodiversity loss: A 2022 United Nations treaty signed by almost 200 countries provides a rare opportunity to make significant changes.

Limiting the excesses of fast fashion

France takes action: Their lower house voted for key measures including an environmental charge on low-cost items, targeting Chinese brands like Shein.

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