GlobalWide News
The Washington Post: Greta Thunberg, a Swedish climate activist, has been charged by British police along with 25 others for participating in a protest outside an oil and gas conference in the UK. Thunberg was charged with “failing to comply with conditions imposed under section 14 of the Public Order Act.” She was released on bail and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on November 15. This is not the first time Thunberg has been detained at protests: she has faced similar situations in Sweden, Norway and Germany this year. This development is indicative of a wider trend of governments, particularly in the UK, cracking down on climate change protests. The UK has passed controversial legislation giving police greater powers to control and disperse protests, which has led to an increase in arrests at such demonstrations. If convicted, Thunberg could be fined £2,500 ($3,035), but this will not affect her ability to visit the UK unless UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman decides to restrict her entry.
Decisions by the British government, including the postponement of a ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars, are pushing more and more people to take part in direct action because they believe traditional political processes are not working. Thunberg herself has stated the need for protests due to what she sees as the fossil fuel industry engaging in “greenwashing and lies.” The situation highlights the ongoing tensions between climate activists and governments over the urgency of tackling climate change.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/18/greta-thunberg-charged-uk/
