Climate activists set traffic lights "ultimatum" until Sunday - and threaten with airport blockades

Created: 02/21/2022 05:33

By: Florian Naumann

Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is skeptical about food law - now an "ultimatum" is running © Florian Gaertner/photothek.de/www.imago-images.de

After motorways, climate activists now also want to block airports - if the traffic lights don't announce a law against food waste by Sunday evening.

Berlin - The dispute over food waste and motorway blockades by an activist group threatens to escalate: The group "uprising of the last generation" threatens to block airports and ports in the future - if the traffic light government does not issue a new food rescue plan by Sunday evening (February 20th). law promises.

Climate dispute and freeway blockades: Activists set traffic light ultimatum - "For the survival of all"

In Germany, there has been a debate about the issue for weeks, but above all about the forms of protest of the group *: Since the end of January, they have repeatedly blocked highways and roads.

Activists repeatedly taped their hands to the asphalt.

The actions met with criticism from the Union, but increasingly also from the SPD and Greens*.

At times, there seemed to be a threat of an internal cabinet dispute over the road blockades.

The Greens had previously expressed understanding for the activists.

"We wish such a step weren't necessary," said "Aufstand" spokeswoman Carla Hinrichs on Sunday at an online press conference.

If no specific date is given by when a “Essen-Retten-Gesetz” will be introduced in the Bundestag, one sees oneself forced to “stand up with civil resistance for the survival of all”.

The group calls for a "food rescue law" and an agricultural turnaround to reduce greenhouse gases from agriculture.

She criticizes that there is no concrete timetable for this.

In its proposal, the initiative refers to France, where such a law already exists.

The aim is to prevent food being thrown away and allow so-called containers to be used.

Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir recently expressed skepticism about such a law.

Green Minister in focus: Union warns Özdemir against concessions - and against "blackmail"

The Union faction in the Bundestag warned Özdemir against concessions at the weekend.

"Food policy in Germany cannot be blackmailed," Özdemir must "make it clear publicly," demanded agricultural expert Albert Stegemann (CDU) on Saturday.

There should be "no false sympathy and activism-romanticism at the traffic light".

He also spoke out against a law based on the French model.

The argument of the CDU politician: In Germany, more food is already being donated than in France - unlike in the neighboring country, most of the food waste is generated in private households.

Stegemann therefore called for a strengthening of "nutritional education in all age groups".

Traffic light coalition receives "ultimatum": Activists threaten blockades at airports and ports

The "rebellion of the last generation" had given Chancellor Olaf Scholz* (SPD) and the traffic light coalition an ultimatum until Sunday evening in an open letter on Wednesday.

In an interview with the

, group spokeswoman Sonja Manderbach announced a willingness to make sacrifices over the weekend - and made it clear that the group's concern goes beyond the issue of food waste.

"We are prepared for further repression if we become even more disruptive and ready to take it," she said.

The traffic light accused Manderbach of "massive greenwashing".

Their measures are “at best suitable to calm a few people who are afraid of climate change.

But the pace is absolutely not enough to even come close to reaching the CO2 emission targets.” Airports and ports are now being considered because they stand for a fossil “business as usual”.

According to the activists, there have been 60 actions so far, and activists have been taken into custody 210 times.

The group has received harsh criticism for its actions, not only from drivers, but also from politics, because traffic and people could be endangered.

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