"Then we are actually the last generation": Ziemiak wants to plant trees - and only gets ridicule

Created: 2022-12-06 2:33 p.m

By: Felix Durach

CDU politician Paul Ziemiak caused a stir with a photo on Twitter.

© Christoph Hardt/imago-images

The CDU politician Paul Ziemiak caused a stir with a post on Twitter.

The 37-year-old was ridiculed for a photo of planting a tree.

Munich — The protest actions of the so-called "last generation" are polarizing.

At the beginning of the new week, activists from the organization caused a stir with street blockades in Munich, among other places.

As is typical for the "Last Generation", they had glued themselves to the road, thus blocking traffic.

Even if all parties in the Bundestag reject the form of protest of the climate activists, the Union uses the clearest language.

In the past, Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) warned of the emergence of a “climate RAF”.

“Are not the last generation”: Ziemiak causes ridicule and malice with a spade image

The former CDU general secretary Paul Ziemiak does not shy away from criticism of the "last generation".

However, a dig at the activists published on Twitter at the weekend turned out to be an own goal.

The 37-year-old shared a photo on Saturday that showed him wearing work gloves and a spade in a snow-covered area.

“We are not the last generation!

That's why we as CDU Iserlohn are planting 1,000 new trees in the city forest," Ziemiak wrote about the picture.

The criticism in the comment column was not long in coming.

Users accuse the CDU politician of not having understood the statements of the "last generation".

"We are not the last generation to inhabit the earth — but the last to avoid reaching tipping points," wrote one user.

And for that you have to do more than just plant trees.

Symbolic Politics and Greenwashing?

Ziemiak defends himself against allegations

Other users accuse Ziemiak of symbolic politics and are bothered by the circumstances of the picture.

"And why exactly don't you wait until the frost is over?" wonders a Twitter user looking at the snow-covered ground around the CDU politician.

Another user believes that the 37-year-old is holding the spade the wrong way round.

There are almost 2,500 comments under the post — an above-average number compared to Ziemiak’s usual reach.

And Ziemiak?

He reacts calmly to the criticism.

"We planted the trees with professional foresters, the weather was suitable for planting, the ground wasn't frozen either, just covered with snow," the CDU politician justified the action to RTL.

"I was very surprised that many have never seen a plant spade or heard for the first time that you can also plant in winter," he countered.

Ziemiak reaps spot: "Then we are actually the last generation"

Ziemiak explained that he had started a discussion about the reforestation of the forests with his post.

However, this “discussion” was primarily aimed at the 37-year-old.

Several users also accused Ziemiak of greenwashing and relativizing the consequences of climate change.

“Unfortunately, the climate catastrophe will not be stopped by a few trees.

We seriously need more drastic measures,” demanded one user.

Another wrote: "If a tree is supposed to be the solution in your eyes, then we are actually the last generation."