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Greta Thunberg statue in front of the University of Winchester: "Proud to honor this inspiring woman"
Photo: HANNAH MCKAY / REUTERS
Despite criticism from students, a university in England this week unveiled a statue of climate protection activist Greta Thunberg.
The bronze sculpture shows her with long braided hair and an outstretched hand.
According to the University of Winchester, it is the world's first life-size statue of the now 18-year-old Swede.
"Greta is a young woman who, despite the difficulties in her life, has become one of the world's leading environmental activists," said a statement from the university.
"As a university for sustainability, we are proud to honor this inspiring woman in this way."
The student organization University and College Union criticized the initiative as a purely prestige project.
However, the criticism is expressly not directed against Thunberg, who is supported in their role in the fight against climate change, it said in a statement published on Twitter.
The £ 24,000 cost should have been better used to prevent cuts and job cuts, argued the students.
The university disagreed: The money came from one pot to finance buildings and could not have been used for other purposes anyway.
him / dpa
