British activists no longer want to block roads
Has the sticking madness come to an end in Switzerland?
Extinction Rebellion has announced a halt to its spectacular blockade operations in the UK. Instead, they want to focus on a major demo planned for April. Are Swiss activists changing their tactics now?
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The climate activists from Renovate Switzerland will not change their protest tactics.
Marian NadlerEditor News
Again and again they stick themselves on the street and block the traffic. With their protest, climate activists want to make the seriousness of the situation clear and finally get politicians to rethink. But that’s the end of it in the UK. Extinction Rebellion announced it would no longer block roads. Stop the sticky campaign. They now rely on demos and are now trying to mobilize enough participants.
While the roads in Great Britain will be spared from now on, Swiss motorists cannot breathe a sigh of relief. “We are not at the point where we can stop such actions. We will continue until our demand is increased, »says Cécile Bessire (27) from Renovate Switzerland to Blick. What their colleagues do in other countries is not decisive for them. Renovate Switzerland in particular has repeatedly caused blockades throughout Switzerland in recent months.
Bridge in Bern blocked: Annoyed drivers carry away activists(00:57)
“It’s just no longer a solution not to do disruptive actions and not to exert pressure. Something has to finally happen,” Bessire explains the perspective of Renovate Switzerland. Politicians must finally take action against the climate crisis, she demanded, emphasizing that the disturbances will remain “non-violent”.
For 50 years, mild means have been used
The group calls on the Federal Council to assume its responsibility in the “climate emergency” and, among other things, to call for a “general mobilization” for the thermal renovation of buildings. However, the state government did not respond. That is why we continue with such actions.
For 50 years, the climate movement has tried in vain to force a rethink in politics with mild means such as petitions and demonstrations. The actions of Renovate Switzerland served to finally happen in politics what should have happened 50 years ago, says Bessire.
In recent months, climate activists in several countries have repeatedly glued themselves to works of art, smearing them with tomato soup and mashed potatoes, blockading buildings and taped themselves onto streets. Proponents speak of a shock tactic to raise awareness of the climate catastrophe.
For opponents, these are acts of vandalism or at least annoying hindrances in everyday life. Bessire doesn’t care. If, in the end, a rethinking takes place and climate change is stopped, such means are justified.