Sviatoslav,
I
wanted to share something deeply concerning: red‑tagging, the false
branding of peaceful climate and land defenders as communists,
terrorists or subversives. This tactic is not just online
aggression, it can lead to real-world dangers, including threats,
arrest, or even extrajudicial violence. The term is most commonly
used in the Philippines, but the threat it represents extends far
beyond.
What
you need to know:
1.
It’s both online and offline
Activists
are being publicly labelled as communists or terrorists with little
to no evidence. These damaging accusations often start online but
spill into the streets, jeopardising personal safety and branding
their work as criminal or subversive.
2.
It targets environmental defenders
Those
protecting forests, waterways, and Indigenous lands, like activists
Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, have faced abduction attempts and
were coerced into false confessions alleging terrorist links.
3.
Climate activism is under attack
Red‑tagging
isn’t just a personal attack, it’s a strategy to prevent climate
action by delegitimising those who resist polluting industries,
mining, and deforestation.
4.
Tech giants are choosing to look away
Platforms
like Meta and X have reduced safety staff and relaxed moderation
policies, which has allowed disinformation, including red‑tagging,
to thrive.
Why
this matters:
When
activists are silenced or threatened, the entire fight against
climate change is weakened. Indigenous communities, who are on the
frontlines protecting biodiversity, are being silenced. When they
can’t speak freely, the planet suffers too.
Read
the full explainer - What is red‑tagging, and how does it harm
climate action?
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