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PROTEST IS A RIGHT: VIOLENCE IS WRONG

13 Jul 2001

PRESS INVITATION
Press conference, Friday, July 13, 10:30 am
International Press Center
Rue de la Loi 155 (new location!), Brussels,
Room: Maelbeek

AFTER GOTHENBURG - BEFORE BONN:
A NEW CAMPAIGN FOR PEACEFUL PROTEST

- Protest is a Right, Violence is wrong -

Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE) today launched a new campaign to defend the public right to peaceful protest. The campaign is aimed at preventing violence at major international summits and meetings of world financial and trade bodies. FoEE says that it is laying down a challenge to the politicians and the media to listen and respond to public concern, as well as a challenge to the protest movement to campaign and demonstrate peacefully for constructive change.

FoEE has set out five principles for peaceful protest:

1. Non Government Organisations must strengthen their commitment to and demonstration of peaceful protest
2. Governments must listen to the concerns of citizens about corporate globalisation and other issues, and help to provide means for citizens to express their concerns
3. Police forces must facilitate peaceful protest and react sensitively to protest events
4. The media must report more about the real issues of concern, and not simply focus on incidents of violence or the official government statements. Poverty and environmental degradation in developing countries, for example, causes far more damage and suffering than any violent protest.
5. People who attend protests must take personal responsibility for their actions: violent behaviour is not acceptable.
6. In the center of FoE Europe's campaign will be a badge to be worn openly during peaceful demonstrations (see below).
   

An early example of peaceful protest will take place at the upcoming UN climate talks in Bonn,Germany where BUND (FoE Germany) is organising a colourful mass action called "The Lifeboat" on July 21st. (for details see: http://www.foeeurope.org/lifeboat).

FoEE is expecting thousands of peaceful protesters from all parts of the world in Bonn, including the head of UNEP, Klaus Töpfer, to express their demands for a strong and effective climate treaty(1).

FoE has also promised action to challenge any attempt to curtail the public's right to peaceful protest, in collaboration with other NGOs, and using the law as necessary.

Commenting, Duncan McLaren, Policy Director of FoE England Wales and Northern Ireland said: "All too often, Governments and international institutions do not listen to the concerns of citizens. FoE supporters want to be able to attend events like the G8 and UN climate summits,to help ensure that decisions which affect all our lives are made in open and accountable way.Violence simply gives Governments another excuse to meet in secret and ignore public opinion."

Martin Rocholl, Director of FoE Europe said: "Our lifeboat action at the Bonn climate talks will be a positive example of effective, creative and peaceful public campaigning. We urgently want and need people to exercise their right to protest - we think that's a vital part of a democratic future. We are therefore highly concerned about the growing violence around international meetings. Protest is a right - and a necessity - but violence is wrong."

(1) Timetable of Lifeboat action, July 21: 9:30-11:45, Münsterplatz, Bonn: opening speeches and construction of giant Lifeboat, 11:45-13:45: Lifeboat procession to conference center;13:45-14:30, Robert Schumann Platz: installation of Lifeboat monument and final speeches.

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