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REDD monitor & Chris Lang Sued For Defamation

ByAlki David

Mar 19, 2024

According the Farmers Antigua Trust a charitable organisation based in Antigua & Barbuda, Chris Lang, known for his work with REDD Monitor, a platform focusing on issues related to Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), has been embroiled in controversy with a defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit implicates Lang, Verra, and Diann Blacklane, an official from the Antigua Ministry of Environment, in alleged attempts to conceal fraudulent activities by attacking a well-known local leader in green economy policy called Alki David, Green Economy Ambassador for the current Gaston Browne Government.

Background:

  • REDD Monitor: Chris Lang is the founder of REDD Monitor, a prominent platform providing analysis and critique of REDD+ projects and related initiatives worldwide.
  • Verra: Verra, formerly known as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), is an organization that sets standards for carbon emission verification and mitigation projects. It has been recognized for its role in promoting environmental integrity and sustainable development.
  • Diann Blacklane: Blacklane is described as a bureaucrat associated with the Antigua Ministry of Environment, allegedly involved in fraudulent practices.

Details of the Lawsuit:

The defamation lawsuit alleges that Lang, in collaboration with Verra and Blacklane, attempted to conceal fraudulent activities. Verra, once respected for its verification standards, is now under legal scrutiny and facing criminal sanctions due to accusations of fraud. The suit accuses Lang and Blacklane of being complicit in covering up these fraudulent practices within Verra and the Antigua Ministry of Environment.

Allegations Against Chris Lang:

  • Collaboration with Verra: Lang is accused of collaborating with Verra in attempts to cover up fraudulent activities within the organization.
  • Accusations of Misinformation: Lang, through REDD Monitor, is alleged to have disseminated misinformation or failed to report accurately on the issues related to Verra’s alleged fraudulent practices.
  • Involvement with Diann Blacklane: The lawsuit suggests that Lang worked in conjunction with Blacklane, a rogue bureaucrat from the Antigua Ministry of Environment, to conceal fraudulent activities.

Implications:

  • Reputation Damage: The lawsuit has the potential to tarnish the reputation of Chris Lang and REDD Monitor, particularly if the allegations are proven true.
  • Legal Ramifications: If substantiated, the allegations could have significant legal consequences for Lang, Verra, and any other parties involved.
  • Impact on Environmental Initiatives: The controversy surrounding Verra’s alleged fraudulent practices may undermine confidence in carbon emission verification standards, potentially affecting environmental initiatives and sustainability efforts worldwide.

Conclusion:

The defamation lawsuit against Chris Lang, involving allegations of collaboration with Verra and Diann Blacklane to conceal fraudulent activities, raises serious concerns about integrity within environmental verification systems. The outcome of this legal battle will not only affect the reputations of the individuals and organizations involved but also have broader implications for environmental initiatives and the credibility of carbon emission verification standards.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.