Climate Activists Challenge Lengthy Sentences in UK Appeals Court

Protesters rally outside the Royal Courts of Justice as judges hear appeals from 16 jailed Just Stop Oil activists sentenced for disruptive demonstrations.

• Hundreds of protesters, including public figures Chris Packham and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London to support 16 jailed climate activists appealing their sentences.
• The activists, affiliated with Just Stop Oil, received prison terms ranging from 15 months to five years for actions such as blocking the M25 motorway and throwing soup on the protective glass of a Van Gogh painting.
• Lawyers for the activists argued that the sentences were 'manifestly excessive,' violated their human rights, and failed to account for their conscientious motivations.
• Prosecutors defended the sentences, stating they were necessary for public safety and deterrence, citing the activists' repeated offenses and significant disruption caused by their actions.
• Environmental groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have intervened in the case, warning that the harsh penalties could set a troubling precedent for peaceful protest in the UK.

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