"Solidarity increases": Spokeswoman for the "Last Generation" explains how the disruptive actions are financed

Created: 12/16/2022, 4:48 am

By: Stephanie Munk

The actions of the "last generation" cost a lot of money, if only because of the fines.

A spokeswoman spoke to Merkur.de about the financing of the protest - a US fund is also behind it.

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

"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

.

The activists have also collected more than 25,000 euros for accommodation in Berlin via the

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.

Spokeswoman to Merkur.de: "Even the 'last generation' needs money"

Lilly Schubert, spokeswoman for the "last generation", explains to

from IPPEN.MEDIA: "Even the 'last generation' needs money to finance certain things." Crowdfunding campaigns have supported some people in the past , for example in the case of special costs such as the release of glued hands.

"We can see how the solidarity is increasing: Within one day, 14,000 euros were collected in a crowdfunding campaign," says Schubert.

The activists would try to support each other in the possible consequences of actions such as court proceedings and penalties.

Many would also bear the costs themselves.

"However, there will be hundreds of procedures and the costs involved can be unbelievably high, especially for certain actions."

"Last Generation" spokeswoman: This is what donations are used for

Many people also donate directly to the "Last Generation", according to Lilly Schubert on

, for example via the donation form on the homepage

"Depending on what they can give themselves, the contributions are sometimes smaller, sometimes higher." The group uses the donations to finance, for example, accommodation for people who would resist permanently, for example in Berlin or Munich.

"Or also materials for campaigns, such as hot-water bottles and so on in winter," says Schubert.

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According to the spokeswoman, those who can afford it themselves finance their resistance themselves.

"Most have families, jobs, study on the side." Those who have given up their jobs or have been on the street for months are supported.

US foundation in California gives money to "Last Generation" - "Only intended for permitted things"

But there is another source of money: 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

, 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.

Schubert confirms to

: "We get money from the Climate Emergency Fund for education and awareness-raising work on the climate catastrophe, which can then be used, for example, to rent rooms for lectures." Martha Krumpeck, member of the "Last Generation Austria", is also supported by

quotes: "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

that her fund makes "strategic investments in new organizations like the 'Last Generation' that want to disrupt everyday life to put massive pressure on governments."

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.

, 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.