In April 2002, several miles off the coast of Florida, two Greenpeace activists boarded the Jade - a ship carrying wood illegally exported from the Brazilian Amazon.

The activists made it clear by their appearance, words and actions that they were engaged in a peaceful effort. The fact that the activists had "Greenpeace" on their boats and clothing helped to reassure the crew of the Jade that the people coming on board were peaceful and safety conscious. When they boarded the ship, using a ladder hanging from its side, they brought with them a banner reading, "President Bush: Stop Illegal Logging".

US Government response

But instead of intercepting the contraband and prosecuting the smugglers, the US government is going after Greenpeace. Making this the first time in history that the US government has prosecuted an entire organisation for free speech related activities, and they are trying to do it without a jury trial.

In context

The activists off the coast of Miami were continuing a long US tradition of protest and civil disobedience. This tradition stretches back to include the civil rights movement, women's suffrage and the Boston Tea Party. Plus, they were essentially acting as whistle-blowers - publicly exposing, and trying to prevent, the importation of illegally harvested mahogany wood.

Their action was a small, but important, contribution to a global effort - which helped prompt an agreement, at an international conference that November, to give mahogany greater global protection.

For its work on this issue, Greenpeace received praise from the European Union, and the government of Brazil... And now a landmark indictment from the US government...