The courts ruled that Klapstein and Johnston had the right to present the climate necessity defense before a jury — an unprecedented victory for climate activists engaging in this kind of direct action protest.
KEN WARD: We had Bill McKibben and Jim Hansen and other experts ready to testify and a team of topnotch lawyers led by Matt Pawa and Joan Fund - working at no charge - set to present a first-ever climate necessity defense.
But as the climate warms, that defense has failed catastrophically.
Government officials from several African and island nations gathered in Paris on Wednesday to discuss the implications of climate change for defense issues.
By eliciting testimony that the activists had no reasonable legal alternative to prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change, the defense team is building a depressing but compelling argument against the efficacy of American democracy and government.
During the five-country trip, which will include a meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, Mr. Bush will confront a Europe increasingly aware of -- and prepared to exercise its economic and diplomatic influence on -- matters including missile defense, climate change, the American peacekeeping role in the Balkans and the creation of a European military force to complement NATO.
In addition, left-leaning liberals view Clinton as too moderate on important issues, such as climate change and defense.
Both sides are playing down the possibility of potential agreements, but there has been an effort to get deals done on the defense and climate change fronts.
Besides, Washington and New Delhi do not see eye to eye on too many issues, including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Kashmir, as well as nuclear defense and climate change.
They have also criticized the administration's early actions on climate, the environment, antimissile defense and toxic chemicals, saying good science advice could have averted missteps.
Beyond the necessity defense, some climate activists are looking at other strategies in the US to challenge the limitations of statutory law and push for urgent governmental action to limit climate change.
