Several environmentalists gathered today in the heart of London in front of the Westminster Magistrates Court where Greta Thunberg appeared free this morning to face, with other activists, the first hearing of a trial before British justice for the alleged crimes of "disturbing the peace "resistance to the police.
The 21-year-old Swedish activist, busy around the world denouncing the insufficient response of politics and business to the alert on climate change, has already declared herself innocent of the contested accusations.
The story that concerns her dates back to last October 17, when she was stopped by the London police together with 26 other demonstrators on the sidelines of an attempted break-in in the entrance hall of a luxury hotel where the Energy Intelligence Forum was taking place: an organized initiative behind closed doors in the presence of the top management of various global hydrocarbon giants (including Eni), banks and other business companies;
as well as representatives of the British conservative government of Rishi Sunak, accused by many in recent months of having watered down commitments made at international level in recent years on the intermediate stages of the path towards zero CO2 emissions (net zero) by 2050.
Released after several hours of detention, the young Scandinavian militant then took part the following day in a second protest against the forum outside the hotel, with hundreds of other ecologists, however in that case she remained beyond the limits of the barriers erected by Scotland Yard.
The trial for the events of October 17 will last a couple of days, according to the scheduled timetable.
If found guilty, Greta risks a maximum fine of 2,500 pounds: equal to approximately 3,000 euros.
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