Greta Thunberg detained by police AGAIN after protesting against wind farms in Norway

Greta Thunberg being carried away by police

Greta Thunberg was detained against following a demonstration in Norway

REUTERS
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 01/03/2023

- 10:07

The climate activist was among protesters demanding the removal of wind turbines from reindeer pastures

Environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg has been detained in Norway following a demonstration in Oslo.

Demonstrators including Thunberg have been obstructing access to government buildings over recent days in protest over wind turbines near reindeer pastures in Norway.


Activists blocked one of the doors to the Norwegian finance ministry before they were lifted up by police and carried away from the area.

The wind turbines are built on land traditionally used by Indigenous Sami reindeer herders.

Greta Thunberg protesting outside government building

Greta Thunberg was protesting against the use if wind turbines near reindeer pastures

REUTERS


Thunberg has warned that the transition to green energy should not come at the expense of Indigenous rights.

In 2021, Norway's supreme court ruled that two wind farms built at Fosen violated Sami rights under international conventions.

However, the turbines remain in operation more than 16 months later.

The court's verdict did not say what should happen next to the 151 turbines, which can power some 100,000 Norwegian homes, or what should happen to the dozens of miles of roads built to facilitate the construction.

Over the past five years, Thunberg has led a number of climate change protests to push for more green energy sources.

Earlier this week, she chained herself to other demonstrators as she said: "Indigenous rights, human rights, must go hand-in-hand with climate protection and climate action.

"That can't happen at the expense of some people. Then it is not climate justice."

Accusing Norway go "green colonialism", she told the crowd: "The Norwegian government cannot close its eyes any more to the human rights violations that are taking place.

"The colonisation of Sami people must stop."

Reindeer herders claim that the sight and sound of the wind power machinery frightens their animals while disrupting age-old traditions.

Norway's minister of energy and petroleum, Terje Aasland, said the government "understand that this case is a burden for the reindeer herders".

He added: "The ministry will do what it can to contribute to resolving this case and that it will not take longer than necessary."

Many protesters gathered outside government building

Protesters blocked the entrance to government buildings in Norway

REUTERS

Campaigners were also removed from the side entrance of a government building complex housing the energy ministry.

Some protesters were carried away and detained by police before being released later.

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