The German power corporation E.ON [3] has suffered a humiliating defeat in its attempt to have six Greenpeace [4] protesters convicted of criminal damage for painting a slogan on the coal-fired Kingsnorth Power Station [5] in the United Kingdom. The six argued that they had a "lawful excuse" for their action in trying to prevent further damage to the global climate. The defendants called evidence [6] from the world's leading climate scientist, James Hansen [7], who argued that there should be a moratorium [8] on new coal-fired power stations and a phase out of existing coal-fired power stations in the absence of carbon capture and storage [9] of emissions. E.ON currently has plans for thirteen new coal-fired power stations across Europe. In April, PR Week reported [10] that E.ON UK [11] had hired the PR firm Edelman [12] to "counter opposition from green campaigners." In response to the jury's verdict E.ON UK stated [13] that they were "surprised and disappointed" at the decision.