elizabeth Jorgensen, Dem. Now 4/19

Elizabeth Jorgensen

Dr. kubal/soc. mov

4/19/14

Killing Nature's Defenders: Study Finds Global Surge in Murders of Environmental Activists

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/16/killing_natures_defenders_study_finds_global

New reports are finding a rise in deaths associated with environmental and land right activists since 2002. A group documented 147 deaths in 2012 as opposed to 51 documented in 2002. Concerns are growing around the little justice provided for the innocent lives lost and the lack of prosecution for killers. Activists are seen as prohibitors from success by companies, and Brazil offers one of the world's deadliest places for environmental activists with 448 deaths from 2002-2013 followed closely by Honduras. 

These forest heroes are dying while attempting to defend the environment worldwide. The death rate has risen to on average 2 deaths per week. The power that money has over those who inhibit the land is a strong struggle, ultimately contributing to the large increase in environmental activist deaths. People are dying while defending their rights to preserve and protect the land in a peaceful way. 

Was Kansas Shooting Avoidable? White Supremacist was Ex-Informant with Criminal Past & Hateful Views

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/16/was_kansas_shooting_avoidable_white_supremacist

Questions are rising whether 3 recent deaths could have been avoided by a documented White Supremacist and ex-informant with a previous criminal record. Frazier Glen Miller has been documented for his white supremacist activities for decades, and has been involved in the movement for more than 40 years. It then comes as no surprise that Frazier has since been charged with the killings of 3 people at Jewish Community sites in Kansas. One of the victims was a 14 year old and his grandpa, as well as a woman visiting her mother at a retirement community. 

Controversy surrounds the federal government's decision to aid Miller as part of a witness protection program in exchange for testifying against his comrades within the movement. Miller avoided a 30 year prison sentence for his testimonies, and was sentenced to a 3 year stay in prison. Miller has claimed to be a FBI informant in his book written after he was released from prison and in 2010 ran for U.S. senate. These deaths could absolutely have been easily avoided had we held Frazier responsible for his actions decades ago. Had he been prosecuted for his blatant hatred towards everyone back in 1986, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to continue this type of dangerous actions and 3 more innocent people would still be alive. There is no benefit for us as a society to have someone with this type of ideologies out loose in our public and the best place for this individual would be behind bars, or dead.