<
https://theconversation.com/climate-in-the-courtroom-all-sides-are-using-green-lawfare-and-its-good-for-democracy-234269>
"In recent weeks, the Menzies Research Centre, the Liberal party-aligned think
tank, has criticised the rise in “environmental lawfare”. National media
outlets duly took up the mantle.
With an introduction by BHP Chief Executive David Hughes and nearly all the
case studies involving the fossil fuel industry, its report tries to paint a
picture of a “cashed-up” environmental movement. By extension, the report says,
the use of the court system by environmental groups threatens democracy.
It attacked private donations, government funding, and charity status of public
interest advocacy groups (such as the Environmental Defenders Office, a body
Peter Dutton has pledged to defund). But these attacks disguise the David and
Goliath battles that occur when environmental groups challenge large industries
such as mining and fossil fuels.
Accusations that environmentalists are abusing our legal system, blocking
progress, and costing the economy are not new, but they are getting louder. In
reality, legal cases have long featured in this space because changing law is
an important goal of any social change movement.
But it’s not just green groups turning to the courts. Large corporations, too,
use the law to further their cause. Far from threatening democracy, this is
democracy in action."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
