The average number of environmental defenders killed around the world every week is 4. That's 4 people. Killed. A week. For openly protecting the environment. WTF.
Photo credit: Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash
Focussing on brutal arrests of activists taking part in peaceful protests, Not1More coordindates emergency responses to issues concerning the violation of human rights and social justice. Partly due to the the rise of authoritarianism in Cambodia, and the significant impact this has had on communities in the area, Not1More is drawing attention to environmental defenders getting killed for protecting the planet.
Increasingly journalists, protestors, activists and volunteers are at risk of being hurt, arrested, and even killed in some instances for simply speaking out on issues concerning social and environmental justice, and Not1More was formed to make sure that this kind of threatening, violent and unjust behaviour does not keep happening.
There are a variety of situations and threats so Not1More try to listen and respond by helping in any way they can. This can be by providing access to emergency funding, writing applications, organising training and information on the importance of digital security to provide evidence of wrongful arrests and assaults, generally raising visibility of these kinds of events, and through increasingly international soladarity. The overall aim is to protect peaceful protesting people from abuse by those in power.
One of the Co Founders of this wonderful initiative was working as a PHD researcher in forestry when she became exposed to a group of environmental activists living in central Cambodia, one of whom was called Chut Wutty. Described as charismatic, Chut Wutty was killed in 2012 in his efforts to protect the forest and the researcher, struck by what she now realised was going on, got involved in a film that tells his story and inspired by it, organised Not1More along with others to improve and save the lives of environmental defenders. This British made film has been banned in Cambodia, but it tells the truth of what is happening every single week, so if you can find an online version, (that isn't Amazon Prime) please share it.
Here is the trailer.
Video credit: YouTube
Police brutality against activists are happening in the UK too.
N1M now supports research into human rights violations by police and other enforcement bodies in the UK. Evidence is not recorded properly and there are a significant lack of complaints made by protestors because there has been found to be little point. Most of these complaints do not get taken seriously by the police, arguably because, the complaints are about them. Despite footage, testimonials, legal observers, news reports and forms being filed, the police do not take these complaints forward, so Not1More are currently gathering data to present a report on this.
Activists are treated as though they are domestic terrorists, and the criminalisation of activitists needs to stop. These people fighting to protect the planet are being persecuted. Look at XR Rebellion and how they have been demonised for highlighting the need for action on the climate crisis, a very real threat to all of humankind.
To find out more or volunteer to help N1M please go to their website.
Frontline activism is certainly a dangerous area to get involved in so if anyone is considering getting involved in this kind of work, it's important to know the risks and understand the courage involved to be on the frontline. We shouldn't have to fear for our lives doing this kind of work, but the world we live means, we do have to inform ourselves of the very real associated dangers, risk to mental health and violence we might be subjected to.
Awareness of the issues outlined in this post are paramount if we are to ensure the protection of people in places all over the world. At the very least, donate some money, research N1M, share this post, talk about what's happening to your networks, and always, always fight for what is right.