This pledge follows two multimillion dollar lawsuits filed by Resolute Forest Products, a Canadian company, to silence Greenpeace’s criticism of its controversial logging in the boreal forest. The lawsuits could set a dangerous precedent for free speech if they succeed in silencing public comment on corporate behaviour.
“The endings of The Handmaid's Tale, 1984 and Brave New World are written. Ours is not. This is a chance to stand up for freedom of speech, the freedom to advocate for change, and the freedom to question authority, and to strengthen their protection under law. As a society, we need a positive outcome to this story,” said Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale, which recently became Hulu’s record breaking television series and depicts a dystopian future where all but the most powerful women are forbidden to write and are denied access to books.
Authors signing the pledge committed to defend “freedom of speech as a pillar of democratic and peaceful societies, the right of individuals to organize and protest without intimidation, [and] those who peacefully protect the world’s forests.”
“Speaking as a serial blasphemer, I take freedom of speech very seriously,” said author and actor Stephen Fry, “It’s not just about the satisfaction you get from speaking your mind, it’s also about telling uncomfortable truths that need to be heard, and Greenpeace has been incredibly successful at exposing what the powers that be want to keep secret. But this case goes beyond Greenpeace to threaten every whistle-blower and watchdog with information that the rich and powerful want suppressed. I’m worried, and I think you should be too.”
On 16 May, Greenpeace published a report [2] that showed major international publishers are purchasing paper from Resolute. [3] Greenpeace is inviting these global publishers to join this call to protect freedom of speech and work with Resolute to become more sustainable.
Other notable authors who signed the pledge include Man Booker Prize winners Julian Barnes (The Sense of an Ending) and Ian McEwan (Atonement), Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Doerr (All The Light We Cannot See) MacArthur Award winner Deborah Eisenberg (Twilight of the Superheroes), Lev Grossman (The Magicians), Peter Wohlleben (The Hidden Life of Trees), Lauren Groff (Fates and Furies), William Shatner (Up Till Now), Alec Baldwin (Nevertheless), Jane Fonda (My Life So Far) and many more.
“Publishers and authors are natural allies in our fight to protect free speech. Our campaign celebrates the power of words and the incredible work that authors and publishers do every day to ensure critical thinking and the spread of ideas in our society. Now, we’re asking publishers to disavow this heavy-handed attempt by a paper company to silence dissent,” said Greenpeace USA Senior Forest Campaigner Amy Moas.
Greenpeace will be at Book Expo this week in New York, connecting with publishers and readers, and displaying an art installation called Treewhispers by artist Pamela Paulsrud, an ongoing international collaboration awakening our heartfelt connection to trees.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
[1] Click here to see the full text of the authors’ pledge and the list of signatories, or copy the following URL to your browser: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/authors-pledge
[2] Click here to access the full “Clearcutting Free Speech: How Resolute Forest Products is going to extremes to silence critics of its controversial logging practices” report, or copy the following URL to your browser: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/clearcutting-free-speech
[3] In its report, Greenpeace is asking Resolute Forest Products to:
Adopt Free, Prior and Informed Consent as the basis for engaging with Indigenous Peoples to ensure forest planning is driven by Indigenous knowledge and governance.
Suspend logging in and sourcing from High Conservation Value Forests including Intact Forest Landscapes and Woodland Caribou habitat until science-based conservation planning takes place.
Publicly support large-scale, protected areas based on this science and Indigenous knowledge.
Recommit to the FSC system and regain lost certificates.
Work with environmental organizations, unions and communities to address legitimate economic concerns and ensure jobs are sustained.
[4] Click here to learn more about Resolute’s massive legal attack against Greenpeace, or copy the following URL to your browser: http://www.greenpeace.org/resolutelawsuits/
Contacts:
Rodrigo Estrada, Greenpeace USA, rodrigo.estrada@greenpeace.org, phone: +1 202 344 9292 (in New York)
Molly Dorozenski, Greenpeace USA, molly.dorozenski@greenpeace.org, phone: +1 917 864 3724 (in New York)
Rachael Vincent, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, rachael.vincent@greenpeace.org, phone: +61 413 993 316 (in Sydney)
Greenpeace International Press Desk, pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org, phone: +31 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)