Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Russia: Greenpeace Activists Charged With Piracy

MOSCOW - Greenpeace said Wednesday that five of its activists who were detained after protesting at a Russian oil platform have been charged with piracy and could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.

The environmental group said in a statement that activists from Brazil, Britain, Finland and Sweden as well as a British videographer have been formally charged with piracy.

The Russian Coast Guard seized a Greenpeace ship and all 30 people from 18 countries, including two from Canada, on board the Arctic Sunrise following the Sept. 18 protest at an offshore platform in the Arctic owned by Russian state-controlled energy giant Gazprom.

Paul Ruzycki of Port Colborne, Ont., was serving as the ship's chief mate and Montrealer Alexandre Paul was also on board.

Greenpeace said in a statement that more activists are expected to be formally charged on Thursday.

The investigators said the ship had violated the 500-metre security zone around the platform and that it was carrying equipment whose purpose was still unclear.

Greenpeace has said its ship stayed out of this zone but its inflatable boats used by activists to reach the platform and then scale it posed no danger.

The activists have been in custody in the northern city of Murmansk since last week.

Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.ca
Author: CP  |  By The Associated Press 

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