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Liviu Pop. Father of three. A defender of trees against illegal logging in Romania. Deceased -- last week.
Likely cause of death? Shooting by the local logging mafia. [1]
Liviu Pop’s death barely made headlines across Europe. This man’s silent acts of courage have gone mostly unnoticed. But the WeMove Europe community has the power to change this.
Liviu stood up for Romania’s trees, but this problem goes much further than his country's borders. He stood up for Europe’s forest, and for our European future. And now we can stand up for Liviu.
Let’s make the European Commission aware of this outrageous case by spreading the news and ensuring people far and wide know about his death. Together we can make them demand an impartial investigation in Romania. This is how we can give Liviu the justice he deserves.
Raise your voice for Liviu. Sign!
Illegal logging of virgin forests in Romania is taking its violent toll. Activists are routinely threatened and beaten for protecting the forests. Liviu Pop is the sixth person who died fighting against logging, and his is the second fatality this month! [2] Yet logging continues with the silent consent of local authorities, who have ties to the dodgy logging business.
But this week can be a game changer: the people of Romania are taking to the streets. [3] They will demand that the investigation of Liviu's death is taken over by the impartial prosecution office in Bucharest. They will protest against illegal logging and omnipresent corruption.
With a deep governmental crisis going on in Romania right now, these demands already have greater impact. [4] But we can make them even stronger by making sure Liviu's story is told across Europe, and by asking the European Commission to take a stand.
Demand justice for Liviu. Sign!
Liviu Pop was found shot with his own gun next to a logging site. The investigation of his death is in the hands of the prosecutors from Maramures County, where the incident took place. Prosecutors are looking into the theory that the forest ranger shot himself by mistake.
The main suspects were released uncharged. One of them is the nephew of the chief prosecutor in a nearby city. He is a millionaire and works for a company involved in scandals regarding illegal logging. This raises very serious questions about the impartiality of the investigation. [5] The investigation must be moved to Bucharest!
WeMove Europe has long been part of the mobilisation to protect the forests in Romania. Over 110 thousand of us signed a petition against illegal logging - the same cause Liviu was fighting for. [6] We have also stood up in solidarity with and donated to the forest defenders of Poland’s Białoweza Forest. [7] Let’s support the brave activists who risk, and too often lose, their lives in this struggle. Let's come together and demand justice for Liviu Pop!
Shocked, angry, motivated,
Marta (Warsaw), Olga (Bologna), Virginia (Madrid) and the entire WeMove Europe team
P.S. Together there are hundreds of thousands of people who are part of the WeMove Europe community. If we can achieve one thing with this campaign let it be this -- by the time we are done with this petition, signing it and sharing it far and wide, let's make sure at least 1 million people across the continent will know the name Liviu Pop.
P.P.S. After signing you can leave a message of solidarity and we will make sure it reaches the brave communities and the families of those who sacrifice to protect the nature for all of us.
References
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50094830
[2] https://facem.declic.ro/campaigns/Ucigasii-padurarului-scapa-semneaza-petitia
[3] https://www.facebook.com/events/524823934754309/
[4] https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/10/romania-government-falls-after-no-confidence-vote-in-pm and https://bbj.hu/region/romanias-new-government-to-seek-vote-of-confidence-_173257
[5] https://www.romania-insider.com/romania-ranger-murder-accident-lumber-mafia
[6] https://you.wemove.eu/campaigns/romania-save-europe-s-last-large-virgin-forests
[7] https://act.wemove.eu/campaigns/justice-forest-defenders
