US foundation co-finances “Last Generation” – oil heirs are probably behind it
Created: 2022-12-15 04:59
By: Stephanie Munk
The actions of the "last generation" cost a lot of money, if only because of the fines.
The climate activists collect donations, but they are also supported by a powerful US fund.
Berlin/Munich - For weeks, the "Last Generation" has been drawing attention to the climate crisis with controversial disruptive actions: They stick themselves to main roads with superglue or throw mashed potatoes at works of art.
In Berlin and Munich, climate adhesive campaigns have not stopped for days, causing a great stir, but also hours of traffic jams and chaos.
Protest action of the "Last Generation": Two climate activists stuck themselves on the street in Munich on Wednesday (December 14).
© Peter Kneffel/dpa
Over 65,000 euros for fee notifications: climate stickers are dependent on donations
But the protest costs money: not only superglue, mashed potatoes and banners have to be paid for.
Apparently, the notices of fees from the police are the main factor.
"We collect 65,070 euros for adhesive costs and fines," writes the "Last Generation" during a fundraising campaign on the
GoFundMe platform.
"The chunk of fee notices issued by the Berlin police has meanwhile increased to 340."
So far, 977 donors have contributed to paying for this "batzen".
More than 73,000 euros were raised
(as of December 14, 2022)
.
The activists have also collected more than 25,000 euros for accommodation in Berlin via the
Startnext
platform .
According to the activists, these are necessary for their campaigns for a speed limit and the 9-euro ticket, “peaceful, determined disruptive actions” are planned.
US foundation in California gives money to "Last Generation" - "Only intended for permitted things"
But there is another source of money than your own fundraising: Private foundations also finance organizations like the “Last Generation”.
According to several sources, this is primarily the US Climate Energency Fund (CEF), which was founded in California just two years ago.
On its homepage it says: "We support the courageous activists who are drawing public attention to the climate emergency."
According to the
Morgenpost
, the US foundation paid four million euros to 39 international climate protection organizations in 2022.
The “Last Generation” is also one of them: the group states on its website that it finances a large part of its information and education work and the recruitment of new activists from the CEF.
At first there was no response from the activists to a request from
Merkur.de
from IPPEN.MEDIA for further details of the financing.
A spokeswoman for the “Last Generation” told the
Tagesspiegel
that the money from the US fund would not be used to pay for any specific actions, nor for penalties or court costs.
Martha Krumpeck, member of the "Last Generation Austria", is also quoted by
Der Standard
: "The money is only intended for permitted things, such as producing banners or to cover the living expenses of the members."
"Climate Energency Fund" finances "Last Generation" - who is behind it
Margaret Klein Salamon (36), the founder of CEF, believes that civil disobedience is a tried and tested means of fighting for climate protection.
"We need to support young organizations that have an ambitious vision and plan to grow fast, to build power," the New Yorker wrote in a 2016 essay.
Salamon told
Yahoo Finance
her fund makes "strategic investments in new organizations like the 'Last Generation' that want to disrupt everyday life to put massive pressure on governments."
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One of the most important financiers of the CEF is apparently Aileen Getty, who comes from a family that made its fortune with the Getty Oil company, of all things, through oil.
According to Der Standard
, the billionaire heiress
has already put a million dollars into the CEF to support the climate fight.
Civil disobedience is "one of the most important and at the same time most underfunded climate protection measures of all", Getty is quoted as saying.
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The Rockefeller and Kennedy families also support climate protests
Rory Kennedy, daughter of US politician Robert F. Kennedy, is also a prominent supporter of the climate activists.
And members of the Rockefeller family should also pay heavily for the disruptive actions of climate activists.
The Rockefellers also became billionaires in the 19th century through oil deals of all things.
In six German federal states, the actions of the "Last Generation" on Tuesday (December 13) were a case for the police and public prosecutors: There was a major raid on eleven activists who are being investigated on suspicion of forming a criminal organization.
(smu)