Political Greenpeace Loses Charity Status in Landmark Court Ruling
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May 10 2011
Greenpeace demonstrating
against Esso.
In a landmark court ruling in New Zealand that will send tremors around the world, the once respected Greenpeace is stripped of its charity status.
High Court Judge, Justice Paul Heath made the groundbreaking decision today after overwhelming evidence was presented that proved that the organization's illegal activities were motivated by zealous political advocacy and crossed the line of what charities are permitted to do.
In a story making headlines in the New Zealand Herald (May 10, 2011) climate skeptics around the world will now be consulting lawyers in their respective countries to assess whether similar legal challenges may be made against the disgraced former charity. Dr. Tim Ball, who is currently facing court proceedings from Greenpeace supporters in Canada, urged skeptics to “pursue this globally.”
Climate Courtroom Worm Has Turned
In the U.S and Britain environmentalist activists have for decades sought to influence policymakers by a swath of unlawful protests often involving criminal damage and trespass. Several prominent UN climatologists have long aligned themselves with and been apologists for the radical and unlawful acts of these environmentalists.
As a consequence of the shock New Zealand ruling Greenpeace’s political activities mean it will be de-registered as a charity and thus lose the prestige and tax advantages associated with that status.
NASA’s problematic climatologist, James Hansen, flew to London to be an ‘expert witness’ to testify in the defense of climate activists prosecuted for such crimes.Hansen flew to the UK in the case of the "Kingsnorth Six", who had climbed up E.ON's coal plant. The six had used Greenpeace’s climate change defence – that their actions were designed to prevent immediate harm to human life and property from climate change – and were acquitted.
Judge Rules Greenpeace Acted Illegally
Justice Paul Heath’s decision was as the result of an appeal launched by Greenpeace after a 2010 ruling by the Charities Commission which found its promotion of "disarmament and peace" was political rather than educational. Greenpeace members were ruled to have acted illegally.
Justice Paul Heath pronounced:
"Non-violent, but potentially illegal activities (such as trespass), designed to put (in the eyes of Greenpeace) objectionable activities into the public spotlight were an independent object disqualifying it from registration as a charitable entity."
Davey Salmon Greenpeace's lawyer in the action was crestfallen at the failure of his argument that such political advocacy was acceptable in 21st century. Read more here.
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Comments
I can only hope this is the beginning of a trend where any group engaged in political advocacy cannot hind behind the guise of a charity or claim that their actions are "educational".
While there MAY have been a time when Greenpeace was an ethical organization that time is long since gone.
I can only hope this is the beginning of a trend where any group engaged in political advocacy cannot hide behind the guise of a charity or claim that their actions are "educational".
Considering they got their hind smacked the original typo was kind of appropriate though it didn't fit the sentence.
Let's hope there is more to come.
Looks like the alaramists are finding the courts more grey than green.
Meanfleece!
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