NRDC Stands for Free Speech Rights in RICO Lawsuit Against Greenpeace
WASHINGTON – In a case with high stakes for the free speech rights of advocacy organizations, today a federal judge in San Francisco will consider a motion to dismiss a RICO lawsuit brought by Resolute, a Canadian logging company, against Greenpeace and Stand.earth. The advocacy organizations have been critical of Resolute’s forestry practices in Canada’s boreal forest, one of the world’s last great forests. Resolute has responded to those critics by suing them in a U.S. court.
The following is a statement by Anthony Swift, Director of the Canada Project for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):
“Using U.S. courts to label environmental advocacy as a criminal enterprise sets a dangerous precedent. Resolute’s lawsuit not only undermines efforts to protect Canada’s boreal forest, it threatens the free speech rights of public interest advocacy groups around the world.
“NRDC stands with Greenpeace and the other organizations embroiled in this reckless lawsuit. We also urge Resolute to drop this litigation, and instead dedicate itself to conserving the boreal forest and committing to sustainable forestry.”
Additional Resources:
- Resolute’s Suit to Stifle Public Discourse Goes to Court
- Public Interest Groups Condemn Resolute Suit in NYT Ad
- U.S. Marketplace Urged to Protect Canada’s Boreal Forest
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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.