Environmental defenders being killed in record numbers

[Animavore]

Exclusive Activists, wildlife rangers and indigenous leaders are dying violently at the rate of about four a week, with a growing sense around the world that ‘anyone can kill environmental defenders without repercussions’

...

Last year was the most perilous ever for people defending their community’s land, natural resources or wildlife, with new research showing that environmental defenders are being killed at the rate of almost four a week across the world.

Two hundred environmental activists, wildlife rangers and indigenous leaders trying to protect their land were killed in 2016, according to the watchdog group Global Witness – more than double the number killed five years ago.

And the frequency of killings is only increasing as 2017 ticks by, according to data provided exclusively to the Guardian, with 98 killings identified in the first five months of this year.

...

“There is now an overwhelming incentive to wreck the environment for economic reasons. The people most at risk are people who are already marginalised and excluded from politics and judicial redress, and are dependent on the environment. The countries do not respect the rule of law. Everywhere in the world, defenders are facing threats.

...

“The conflicts are happening worldwide now because of globalisation. Capitalism is violent and global corporations are looking to poor countries for access to land and resources. Poor countries are more corruptible and have weaker law enforcement. Companies and governments now work together to kill people,” he said.

In full. https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... are_btn_tw

[mistermack]

Might be that activists are more aggressive than they used to be.

[Animavore]

Wow!

[Rum]

Poachers, farmers wanting more land and having to share is with wild animals. Too many fucking people.

[cronus]

Who'll miss a few greenies? Bad enough all this climate change they are causing....

[pErvinalia]

Wow!

You surely can't be surprised by anything that comes out of MM's mouth.

[laklak]

Too many fucking people.

Too many people fucking, more like. Get them to stop all that and things will sort themselves out.