The protesters were sentenced today. They applied for a discharge which is disappointing as they should have accepted a conviction for trespass as badge of pride in their commitment to the rule of law and democratic equality.
PRESS RELEASE: Greenpeace Parliament Climbers Convicted of Trespass bit.ly/1DRfKMG#realclimateactionhttp://t.co/sxRokpwRNk—
Greenpeace NZ (@GreenpeaceNZ) August 13, 2015
The Greenpeace vandals who trespassed at Parliament, climbing up to put signs down the front in flagrant disregard of the most ample possible options for peaceful protest right outside at least had the integrity to plead guilty. That shows some sort of fidelity to law and an acknowledgement that what they did was a criminal offence.
John Rawls makes the point that the purpose of civil disobedience is not to impose your will upon others but through your protest to implore them to reconsider their position and change the law or policy you are disputing.
Rawls argues that civil disobedience is never covert or secretive; it is only ever committed in public, openly, and with fair notice to legal authorities. Openness and publicity, even at the cost of having one’s protest frustrated…
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Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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