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Change? Green Jobs Advocate Faces Prison for Dropping Banner While BP and Massey Go Free?
Jul 05, 2010
The climate change and clean energy debates might have reached a new
low--just ask the US Attorney General's office.
Ted Glick, a legendary nonviolent advocate, who dropped a "Green Jobs
Now" banner down the hallway of the Hart Senate Office Building last
fall, goes to trial on Tuesday, July 6th, at the Superior Court in
Washington, DC. He faces up to three years in prison.
Three years for dropping a banner that reminds Congress to pursue
green jobs and clean energy?
Yes, even a local Fox News station is flummoxed by the ridiculous
news:
Let's put this bizarre situation in its proper context. Consider
these recent environmental news events: The US Attorney General's office is still looking into
"possible" criminal activity at Massey's Energy Upper Big Branch coal
mine, despite hundreds of serious regulatory violations and 29 deaths.
And despite a preliminary Congressional investigation that
concluded BP oil intentionally sought to subvert industry guidelines and
regulations, the Justice Department is still in the early stages of
maybe pursuing a criminal investigation of the oil giant's criminal
activity.
And then there's Glick, who simply wants Congress to move along in a
time of crisis.
He's facing prison?
As policy director of the DC-area Chesapeake Climate Action Network, one of the most
respected and effective grassroots organizations dealing with climate
change, Glick has been an outspoken advocate for a just transition to
green jobs and and clean energy initiatives. He drew national attention
for his fast for climate change awareness last year. But he has two
other banner-dropping misdemeanors, hence the severity of his possible
sentence. Last May, Glick was offered a sentence of 30 days in jail,
which he refused.
"I have no regrets in any way," Glick declared. "There's no way I
would accept that anyone should go to jail for 30 days for hanging a
banner."
According to news reports, the US Attorney General's office now "has asked the
judge to triple Glick's sentence because he's a repeat offender."
Repeat offender? Give me a break.
Massey Energy has operated its underground and
massive mountaintop removal operations in a continual state of violation
for years.
Likewise, BP has operated its oil operations like repeat offenders for years.
Glick, on the other hand, is a true American hero in the climate
justice movement, whose work as a policy analyst on climate change
issues has greatly informed and advanced the nation toward a sustainable
energy policy.
Glick doesn't deserve prison time--he deserves a Medal of Honor for
his incredible work to halt climate destabilization and transition to
green jobs.
Here's an interview with Glick and Amy Goodman on Democracy Now, just
days after his banner-dropping protest last fall:
If you would like to help Glick, or attend the US Superior Court
hearing, contact CCAN here.
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Jeff Biggers
Jeff Biggers is the author of In Sardinia: An Unexpected Journey in Italy, and other works of history.
The climate change and clean energy debates might have reached a new
low--just ask the US Attorney General's office.
Ted Glick, a legendary nonviolent advocate, who dropped a "Green Jobs
Now" banner down the hallway of the Hart Senate Office Building last
fall, goes to trial on Tuesday, July 6th, at the Superior Court in
Washington, DC. He faces up to three years in prison.
Three years for dropping a banner that reminds Congress to pursue
green jobs and clean energy?
Yes, even a local Fox News station is flummoxed by the ridiculous
news:
Let's put this bizarre situation in its proper context. Consider
these recent environmental news events: The US Attorney General's office is still looking into
"possible" criminal activity at Massey's Energy Upper Big Branch coal
mine, despite hundreds of serious regulatory violations and 29 deaths.
And despite a preliminary Congressional investigation that
concluded BP oil intentionally sought to subvert industry guidelines and
regulations, the Justice Department is still in the early stages of
maybe pursuing a criminal investigation of the oil giant's criminal
activity.
And then there's Glick, who simply wants Congress to move along in a
time of crisis.
He's facing prison?
As policy director of the DC-area Chesapeake Climate Action Network, one of the most
respected and effective grassroots organizations dealing with climate
change, Glick has been an outspoken advocate for a just transition to
green jobs and and clean energy initiatives. He drew national attention
for his fast for climate change awareness last year. But he has two
other banner-dropping misdemeanors, hence the severity of his possible
sentence. Last May, Glick was offered a sentence of 30 days in jail,
which he refused.
"I have no regrets in any way," Glick declared. "There's no way I
would accept that anyone should go to jail for 30 days for hanging a
banner."
According to news reports, the US Attorney General's office now "has asked the
judge to triple Glick's sentence because he's a repeat offender."
Repeat offender? Give me a break.
Massey Energy has operated its underground and
massive mountaintop removal operations in a continual state of violation
for years.
Likewise, BP has operated its oil operations like repeat offenders for years.
Glick, on the other hand, is a true American hero in the climate
justice movement, whose work as a policy analyst on climate change
issues has greatly informed and advanced the nation toward a sustainable
energy policy.
Glick doesn't deserve prison time--he deserves a Medal of Honor for
his incredible work to halt climate destabilization and transition to
green jobs.
Here's an interview with Glick and Amy Goodman on Democracy Now, just
days after his banner-dropping protest last fall:
If you would like to help Glick, or attend the US Superior Court
hearing, contact CCAN here.
Jeff Biggers
Jeff Biggers is the author of In Sardinia: An Unexpected Journey in Italy, and other works of history.
The climate change and clean energy debates might have reached a new
low--just ask the US Attorney General's office.
Ted Glick, a legendary nonviolent advocate, who dropped a "Green Jobs
Now" banner down the hallway of the Hart Senate Office Building last
fall, goes to trial on Tuesday, July 6th, at the Superior Court in
Washington, DC. He faces up to three years in prison.
Three years for dropping a banner that reminds Congress to pursue
green jobs and clean energy?
Yes, even a local Fox News station is flummoxed by the ridiculous
news:
Let's put this bizarre situation in its proper context. Consider
these recent environmental news events: The US Attorney General's office is still looking into
"possible" criminal activity at Massey's Energy Upper Big Branch coal
mine, despite hundreds of serious regulatory violations and 29 deaths.
And despite a preliminary Congressional investigation that
concluded BP oil intentionally sought to subvert industry guidelines and
regulations, the Justice Department is still in the early stages of
maybe pursuing a criminal investigation of the oil giant's criminal
activity.
And then there's Glick, who simply wants Congress to move along in a
time of crisis.
He's facing prison?
As policy director of the DC-area Chesapeake Climate Action Network, one of the most
respected and effective grassroots organizations dealing with climate
change, Glick has been an outspoken advocate for a just transition to
green jobs and and clean energy initiatives. He drew national attention
for his fast for climate change awareness last year. But he has two
other banner-dropping misdemeanors, hence the severity of his possible
sentence. Last May, Glick was offered a sentence of 30 days in jail,
which he refused.
"I have no regrets in any way," Glick declared. "There's no way I
would accept that anyone should go to jail for 30 days for hanging a
banner."
According to news reports, the US Attorney General's office now "has asked the
judge to triple Glick's sentence because he's a repeat offender."
Repeat offender? Give me a break.
Massey Energy has operated its underground and
massive mountaintop removal operations in a continual state of violation
for years.
Likewise, BP has operated its oil operations like repeat offenders for years.
Glick, on the other hand, is a true American hero in the climate
justice movement, whose work as a policy analyst on climate change
issues has greatly informed and advanced the nation toward a sustainable
energy policy.
Glick doesn't deserve prison time--he deserves a Medal of Honor for
his incredible work to halt climate destabilization and transition to
green jobs.
Here's an interview with Glick and Amy Goodman on Democracy Now, just
days after his banner-dropping protest last fall:
If you would like to help Glick, or attend the US Superior Court
hearing, contact CCAN here.
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