Greenpeace protestors get slap on wrist

... and told "don't do it again." Equality before the law, except where climate change is concerned. If you claim that your actions are justified by the need to save the planet, it appears that the judiciary will look the other way. In this case, even though they were ordered to pay over $23,000 in restitution and fined a pretty paltry $500, no convictions were recorded. Why not? If they had caused the same damage to a public library for example, they wouldn't have been given such lenient treatment. I suppose coal-fired power stations are fair game?

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said the activists had put a heavy emphasis on the need to act on climate change in their peaceful protest.

Why on earth did the magistrate feel the need to say this? Did he allow their cause to affect his judgment? It is only a matter of time until this becomes the norm, given Al Gore's recent call to arms to the younger generation to engage in civil disobedience (see here) and the UK court's insane decision to acquit the Kingsnorth Six (see here).