German authorities takes motion in opposition to Letzte Technology, what sort of local weather group is that?

• Joey Frankhuisen

  Berlin workplace

The place local weather activists within the Netherlands sporadically block a highway, it is a each day prevalence in Germany. The motion group Letzte Technology (Final Technology) is accountable for this. The local weather activists elevated the variety of roadblocks up to now month.

For months, the dialogue whether or not the motion group ought to be labeled as a prison group. Letzte Technology sees parliamentary democracy as unsuitable for tackling the local weather disaster and holds civil disobedience in excessive esteem.

The police raided fifteen properties of local weather activists this morning. No arrests had been made. Police are in search of folks, aged 22 to 38, suspected of elevating funds to finance crimes. Two activists are additionally suspected of sabotaging an oil pipeline in April final 12 months. The web site of the motion group has been taken down by the police.

Max Wallstein, press officer of Letzte Technology, says that every one members are very shocked by the police raids. Wallstein: “We feature out all our actions transparently and peacefully. We’re being criminalized now, however the true hazard lies with the people who find themselves nonetheless not doing sufficient to fight local weather change.”

In response to the raids, Letzte Technology introduced a number of protest marches. On their Twitter channel, the local weather activists ask when the federal government’s fossil funds shall be seized.

The raids come a month after Letzte Technology introduced that it could considerably enhance the variety of actions in Berlin. They commonly block greater than ten roads a day. The motto: we wish to cease site visitors in Berlin, to get the federal government shifting.

In concrete phrases, Letzte Technology is demanding, amongst different issues, {that a} velocity restrict of 100 kilometers per hour be launched on German motorways and that Germans could make limitless use of public transport for 9 euros a month. Additionally they need the institution of a residents’ council to develop emergency measures.

It isn’t identified precisely what number of members Letzte Technology has. The group itself says that some 1200 activists are actively taking part within the actions.

A survey reveals that Letzte Technology is just not fashionable. Three quarters of the Germans don’t assist their actions. Solely 5 % absolutely assist their actions.

In response to sociologist Dieter Rucht, who research social actions and political protests, that is as a result of approach the motion conducts motion. Rucht: “The overwhelming majority of Germans are in favor of a stricter local weather coverage, however intentionally breaking the legislation is just not nicely acquired. As well as, Germans are afraid that the actions will distract from the theme of local weather safety.”

Raphael Thelen, full-time local weather activist for Letzte Technology, says the opinion of the German folks makes no distinction to them. “The structure states that the federal government is obliged to guard the local weather. We wish to drive the federal government to conform. Folks can disagree with the actions, however a majority is just not crucial.” Earlier than Thelen absolutely devoted himself to local weather activism, he was a local weather journalist for varied magazines, together with der Spiegel and die Zeit.

In response to Rucht, it’s no coincidence that this motion originated in Germany specifically. Rucht: “One motive is that the local weather motion in Germany has been very giant for a very long time. Many local weather actions preceded Letzte Technology. The anti-nuclear power motion performed an necessary function in phasing out nuclear power and likewise intentionally broke the legislation to attain this. One more reason that the German trade emits many dangerous substances.”

Sociologist Rucht finds it tough to say whether or not the actions of Letzte Technology can actually result in change. “Many individuals in Germany are in favor of local weather safety and there are additionally many local weather actions along with the Letzte Technology,” says Rucht. “As well as, there are giant political events within the authorities that need a stricter local weather coverage. Modifications won’t solely come from a small group like Letzte Technology, however from varied components.”