Statement by Josh Klemm and Isabella Winkler, Co-Executive Directors,
International Rivers
“Last month, a jury in North Dakota delivered a devastating ruling against Greenpeace USA, deciding that the climate justice organization must pay Energy Transfer Partners, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, $660 million in one of the most high-profile defamation judgements in recent years. International Rivers denounces the decision and all attempts to silence those who speak out against destructive development.
“We are particularly concerned about the recent rise in Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) which weaponize the judicial system to prevent people and communities from denouncing projects that undermine their rights to clean water, breathable air, and self-determination. Energy Transfer Partners’ SLAPP suit against Greenpeace is a blatant attempt to undermine Greenpeace’s work and intimidate environmental and human rights activists worldwide from engaging in their critical work to protect our planet for current and future generations. The decision has particularly chilling implications for Indigenous communities who already struggle to have their rights recognized.
“This is not just an attack on Greenpeace, it’s an assault on the movement as a whole. We cannot let corporations abuse the legal system to protect profits and buy the silence of communities fighting to protect their livelihoods, cultures, and essential resources. We call on governments worldwide to pass legislation to curb SLAPP suits and reduce the harm they impose. In the meantime, International Rivers will continue to stand with Greenpeace and other allies experiencing attacks on their work to hold companies accountable for the harms they impose on people and the planet.”
Photo by Vlad Tchompalov