New reports shows murder of environmentalists is on the rise

June 22, 2012 – EARTH – A new report from Global Witness reveals that the killing of environmentalists is on the rise. The report, which defines environmentalists as activists, journalists and community members who defend rights to land and forests, says that more than 700 environmentalists have been murdered in the last ten years. The report notes that in 2011 the number of killings was 106 people, a figure that has nearly doubled over the past three years. CBS News illustrates the growing problem with the case of Chut Wutty. Mr. Wutty was a Cambodian activist who tried to fight illegal deforestation. The environmentalist lost his battle, however, when he was shot by a military policeman in April as he investigated logging operations in the country’s abundant forests. CBS News also brings up the case of Nisio Gomes. Mr. Gomes, the chief of a Brazilian tribe, was killed by masked gun men in November. The chief was killed trying to protect his land from ranchers. “This trend points to the increasingly fierce global battle for resources, and represents the sharpest of wake-up calls for delegates in Rio. Over one person a week is being murdered for defending rights to forests and land,” said Billy Kyte, a campaigner at Global Witness, in a press release. Global Witness says that environmentalists are being killed at the rate of one per week. –Bunsen Burner