Ossigeno Legal Aid Desk helps teacher sued by ENI energy company for a YouTube video

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He teaches history and philosophy. He has been on trial for two years for criticising the oil company’s energy procurement policies

OSSIGENO, November 20, 2025 – The Ossigeno Legal Aid Desk, which works in collaboration with Media Defence to support journalists, bloggers, and others who have to defend themselves against frivolous lawsuits, SLAPPs, and other retaliatory actions, has granted Michele Giuli a financial contribution to cover the legal costs incurred defending himself from a defamation lawsuit that appears to be unfounded, related to a YouTube post. In this article, written for Ossigeno, Michele Giuli reconstructs the affair and thanks Ossigeno.  Read here the other cases handled by the Help Desk.

My name is Michele Giuli. I teach Philosophy and History in state schools. I am committed to protecting the environment. Among other things, in this capacity, I try to point out how certain sectors of the public sector, with their behaviour, contradict the desire to operate fairly and respectfully with plans to reduce pollution and climate change.

I do this selflessly, to raise awareness of the problem. Therefore, I use very unequivocal expressions, but I always stay within the limits of freedom of criticism and expression. I exercise a right that allows those who participate in public debate and want to call a spade a spade.

However, for some of these criticisms, I have been sued by Eni S.p.A. and have been on trial for two years. Now I have to defend myself. I thank Ossigeno per l’Informazione for deciding to support me by granting me a financial contribution to cover my legal costs. When one is found in my situation, it’s important to have financial support like this, in addition to the human and supportive support I receive from so many others.

What am I accused of? In a one-minute and forty-second video, I spoke about the questionable way, from my point of view, that Eni has been pursuing Italy’s energy policies for years, exploiting the resources of some African countries such as Nigeria and Mozambique. To support my criticisms, I cited only verifiable facts.

Eni took offence and responded with legal action. So now I—a teacher who expresses unequivocal but reasoned criticism—must defend myself before a judge against the accusations of an economic giant. To do so, I need a lawyer and I have to bear the costs. Fortunately, Ossigeno is helping me. This is an unequal battle, but I believe I can win. ASP