A Swedish climate change activist has been arrested during the UK government’s crackdown on “destructive” protests.
advertisementGreta Thunberg and four other climate change activists are due to appear in court today after being arrested during a protest outside a gathering of fossil fuel bosses in London last October.
The action is a series of sabotage efforts against carbon emissions, political influence and lobbying at the Energy Intelligence Forum by fossil fuel companies and banks lobby group Fossil Free London. It was part of.
The energy company’s annual meeting was attended by executives from the largest fossil fuel companies and politicians.
Swedish climate activist detained during demonstration along with hundreds of others protester Outside the Energy Intelligence Forum at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel in Mayfair. They attempted to block the entrance to the hotel before being taken away by police.
After her release, Thunberg returned the next day and joined hundreds of others in a protest outside the same hotel.
A demonstration in solidarity with those on trial was held outside Westminster Magistrates Court this morning. Demonstrators held placards and banners with phrases such as “Climate change protests are not a crime” and “Who is the real culprit?”.
UK ‘crackdown’ on climate change protests
Five activists, including Ms. Thunberg, were charged with failing to comply with conditions under Article 14 of the Public Security Act for failing to move at the request of police.
The two Greenpeace activists, Fossil Free London and Thunberg, both pleaded not guilty at their first trial in November last year.
The trial is expected to last two days and the activists face fines of up to 2,500 pounds (2,932 euros).
The arrest occurred amid chaos. UK government cracks down on ‘destructive’ protests This prompted the UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Activists to criticize the country’s government. “Regressive new law.”
The then Home Secretary, Suela Braverman, made controversial amendments to the Public Order and Policing Act that expanded police powers to deal with the kinds of protests favored by climate change activists.
“This disconnect is alarming. Today, Greenpeace activists are on trial for peacefully protesting Big Oil’s harmful influence on our country’s politics, while Shell executives… are happy to have made billions selling climate-destroying fossil fuels,” says Greenpeace UK activist Maja Darlington.
“The prosecution of Greta and other peaceful protesters reflects a government more concerned with increasing profits for oil companies than fighting for a livable future for us all. .
“Instead of cracking down on climate change activists, the UK government should force Shell and the rest of the oil industry to stop drilling and start paying for the damage they are doing to the planet and everyone who lives on it.”
Greta Thunberg was arrested several times last year during climate change protests across Europe.
In October she fined by Swedish court Disobeying police during a demonstration at an oil terminal in Malmö. This was the second time she had been fined for a similar offense in Sweden.
Swedish climate change activists acknowledged the facts, but denied the charges, adding that the fight against the fossil fuel industry is a form of self-defense against the perpetuation of the climate crisis and global threats.
After the verdict, she said she would continue to protest even if it “leads to further sentencing.”