![labourlewis's tweet photo. It is said dissent is the foundation of liberty. And yet the travesty of justice that took place today at Southwark Crown Court speaks to a democracy that is in danger of forgetting that at its peril.
We must not be numb to how extreme the sentences handed out today to peaceful protesters are, and how this marks an acceleration in Britain’s democratic decline. These are the longest ever sentences handed out for participation in peaceful, non-violent action.
These sentences have been made using the Tories’ new and draconian Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. So extreme is this law and its impact on environmental defenders, that earlier this year UN Special Rapporteur @ForstMichel "seriously question[ed] the necessity and proportionality of such conditions for persons engaging in peaceful protest" and was "distressed to see how environmental defenders are derided by some of the mainstream UK media and in the political sphere".
Following the sentencing today, @Global_Witness has said the UK is "becoming one of the most dangerous countries in the western world to speak up in defence of our planet."
The ability to peacefully protest is integral to a healthy and robust democracy. Its criminalisation speaks to a deeper malaise. One that calls into question the health of some fundamental democratic cornerstones.
The last Conservative government was one of the most authoritarian we have ever seen in this country. It changed the law to deny defendants the right to use as a defence their concern about the climate crisis and in so doing to speak truth to power.
That power is oil corporations and the big business interests that benefit from its continued extraction. Extraction that will cost us all dearly.
It is why I spoke in solidarity with the five climate protestors. And it is why I back their calls for a meeting between campaigners, scientists and the Attorney General to discuss their case and the laws which saw them imprisoned.
These laws in question should be repealed and the five wrongly imprisoned, pardoned. Our current government must not only undo the damage the last one did to our democracy, but it must also strengthen and protection our democracy with new laws and institutions that protect it in the knowledge that authoritarian governments may follow them the years to come.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GSyq8HfWYAAAA8Q.jpg)
Olivia
Online
Cordelia Murphy
@cordimurphy
London, England
Joined July 2010
713 Following
332 Followers
9.7K Posts
The Mary Wallopers, "stupid question English people ask Irish people" 😄😄
Some added context:
Important context here:
● over half UK farms are less than 49 acres (20 hectares)
● "a big farm" is 217 acres.
Now let's compare:
● Clarkson farm 1,000 acres
● Lloyd Webber farm 4,000 acres
● Viscount Rothermere 4,700 acres
● Dyson farm 36,000 acres
Still unclear to me why farmers should be treated differently to everybody else when it comes to tax…
Every time you use the River Mersey Ferry, the King profits, an investigation by Dispatches and @thetimes reveals.
The Duchy of Lancaster, which owns the coastline from Barrow to the River Mersey, charges the publicly-owned ferry a yearly fee for mooring at a pier on Duchy land.
Who to follow
Skellig Rangers GAA
@SkelligRangers
Gaelic Football Club, Portmagee, Co. Kerry, Ireland. Pease follow us if you're interested in keeping up to date with all club news and events.
South Kerry Board
@SouthKerryBoard
South Kerry GAA Board. Bring you up to date fixtures & results in South Kerry. Follow us!
St Marys GAA
@StMarysGAAclub
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Those shocking reasons why Taylor Swift was granted special security
From the new Private Eye, out now.
🚨If non-violent climate protest gets you 5 years in prison, what will an attempt to incite a full blown race riot get you?
If it’s anything less than 5 years, there will be some serious questions of this countries justice system.
🚨 URGENT: Save Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club!
📢 We have just one week to save the iconic London venue, home of queer nightlife and vital source of income for our drag and cabaret members.
Please sign and share 👇🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
https://t.co/vQj5DOI8cp
It is said dissent is the foundation of liberty. And yet the travesty of justice that took place today at Southwark Crown Court speaks to a democracy that is in danger of forgetting that at its peril.
We must not be numb to how extreme the sentences handed out today to peaceful protesters are, and how this marks an acceleration in Britain’s democratic decline. These are the longest ever sentences handed out for participation in peaceful, non-violent action.
These sentences have been made using the Tories’ new and draconian Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. So extreme is this law and its impact on environmental defenders, that earlier this year UN Special Rapporteur @ForstMichel "seriously question[ed] the necessity and proportionality of such conditions for persons engaging in peaceful protest" and was "distressed to see how environmental defenders are derided by some of the mainstream UK media and in the political sphere".
Following the sentencing today, @Global_Witness has said the UK is "becoming one of the most dangerous countries in the western world to speak up in defence of our planet."
The ability to peacefully protest is integral to a healthy and robust democracy. Its criminalisation speaks to a deeper malaise. One that calls into question the health of some fundamental democratic cornerstones.
The last Conservative government was one of the most authoritarian we have ever seen in this country. It changed the law to deny defendants the right to use as a defence their concern about the climate crisis and in so doing to speak truth to power.
That power is oil corporations and the big business interests that benefit from its continued extraction. Extraction that will cost us all dearly.
It is why I spoke in solidarity with the five climate protestors. And it is why I back their calls for a meeting between campaigners, scientists and the Attorney General to discuss their case and the laws which saw them imprisoned.
These laws in question should be repealed and the five wrongly imprisoned, pardoned. Our current government must not only undo the damage the last one did to our democracy, but it must also strengthen and protection our democracy with new laws and institutions that protect it in the knowledge that authoritarian governments may follow them the years to come.
![labourlewis's tweet photo. It is said dissent is the foundation of liberty. And yet the travesty of justice that took place today at Southwark Crown Court speaks to a democracy that is in danger of forgetting that at its peril.
We must not be numb to how extreme the sentences handed out today to peaceful protesters are, and how this marks an acceleration in Britain’s democratic decline. These are the longest ever sentences handed out for participation in peaceful, non-violent action.
These sentences have been made using the Tories’ new and draconian Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. So extreme is this law and its impact on environmental defenders, that earlier this year UN Special Rapporteur @ForstMichel "seriously question[ed] the necessity and proportionality of such conditions for persons engaging in peaceful protest" and was "distressed to see how environmental defenders are derided by some of the mainstream UK media and in the political sphere".
Following the sentencing today, @Global_Witness has said the UK is "becoming one of the most dangerous countries in the western world to speak up in defence of our planet."
The ability to peacefully protest is integral to a healthy and robust democracy. Its criminalisation speaks to a deeper malaise. One that calls into question the health of some fundamental democratic cornerstones.
The last Conservative government was one of the most authoritarian we have ever seen in this country. It changed the law to deny defendants the right to use as a defence their concern about the climate crisis and in so doing to speak truth to power.
That power is oil corporations and the big business interests that benefit from its continued extraction. Extraction that will cost us all dearly.
It is why I spoke in solidarity with the five climate protestors. And it is why I back their calls for a meeting between campaigners, scientists and the Attorney General to discuss their case and the laws which saw them imprisoned.
These laws in question should be repealed and the five wrongly imprisoned, pardoned. Our current government must not only undo the damage the last one did to our democracy, but it must also strengthen and protection our democracy with new laws and institutions that protect it in the knowledge that authoritarian governments may follow them the years to come.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GSyq9gfWAAA94vU.jpg)
Greens applying their approach to the climate emergency to a house fire:
“Help! Fire! Emergency!”
*Fire truck arrives*
“Woah that’s a very large and noisy vehicle, and that big hose might scare the cats. No we’re not saying don’t put it out, just do it by hand with buckets.”
Carol Vorderman is having a very good night. #C4BritainDecides
🚨 The deadline to register to vote is TONIGHT at 23:59
If you haven't already, register to vote here: https://t.co/zQcTb8BlJj
Brand new episode hosted by @PhilNWang with @RuthDavidsonPC and @richardosman tonight at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer
An accurate representation of being a young person in a country full of people who like to pretend they lived through WWII despite being born in 1957.
some Irish primary school kids made a tune and there is zero legitimate reason for it to go this hard holy shit
Esther McVey is in the news for banning rainbow lanyards. Here’s how the Minister for Common Sense also spends your money
In the Politics Hub team call this morning I joked that after having two children recently I had become radicalised when it comes to maternal health care
But if I’m being honest with you, it’s not really a joke– I DO feel radicalised on it
My thoughts👇
A damning critique of Laura Kuenssberg’s Time as BBC Political Editor from @BylineTimes https://t.co/6oOkPlMNCr
why aren't they at work
Jesus
Children living near Sure Start centres did better at GCSEs, study suggests https://t.co/6YM7TpLshn
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