For the first time ever in British judicial history a mock trial will take place at the UK’s Supreme Court in London on 30th September 2011. On trial will be the proposed new international crime of Ecocide (the environmental equivalent of Genocide) as the United Nations ‘5th Crime Against Peace’.

A judge, jury and barristers will test the crime of Ecocide as if it was already law against a fictional CEO of a major corporation. The results will have major implications for the international community and environment across the globe.

“Once upon a time people did grievous harm to the environment without fully understanding the consequences of their actions. That defence is no longer available, and that sure knowledge we now have entails equally sure moral obligations. In this context, the idea of establishing the crime of ‘Ecocide’ is both timely and compelling.”
Jonathon Porritt, former Chair Sustainable Development Commission

The Trial
Michael Mansfield QC, the prosecuting barrister, and Nigel Lickley QC, the defence barrister together with supporting legal teams, will lead the case for and against a fictional Mr X, CEO of a major corporation. Before the case is heard, legal argument will be put as to whether Ecocide and the Earth Right to Life* should be applied to the charge against Mr X. Mr X will be played by an actor and has been charged with a number of ecocides - which one will be tried will be determined on the day. It could be:
* Deforestation of the Amazon
* Arctic drilling
* Fracking for shale gas in Nigeria
* Major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
* Bauxite mining of the Niyamgiri mountain
* Unconventional tar sands extraction in Canada
* Deep sea mining of the Central and Eastern Manus Basin

The trial will examine how the crime of Ecocide protects the Earth Right to Life and will be tried as though the proposed crime of Ecocide has been adopted by the UN.

What will happen is not pre-scripted; it is ultimately for the jury to determine whether the crime of Ecocide is made out and whether the Earth Right to Life is breached.

For further information and content, interviews with the participants, expert witnesses and well-known experts attending the Trial or be invited to the Press Conference, please contact:
Simon Hamilton [email protected]  +44(0) 7931 382275 

Read more about the trial at www.eradicatingecocide.com and http://www.thehamiltongroup.org.uk/common/ecocide.asp