No Skiing on a Dead Planet

   This afternoon, members of Letzte Generation Austria rushed the ski slope at the World Cup of skiing in Austria. This was to be their second disruption of the event, their first being on Oct 29th. Five supporters were successful in disrupting the competition, unfurling banners and spreading eco-friendly paint across the snow. Their last action was a roadblock, however, given the lack of action on the part of the government to appeal to their demands, the group escalated it by getting on the course, nearly 3 weeks later.

   Veronika Kurz, 22, one of the five who protested on the slopes, said, “I am sorry to all the skiers and spectators that I disrupted with this protest. We are not interrupting this World Cup for fun, but out of desperation. The climate catastrophe is absolutely life-threatening. Our government continues to pour fuel on the fire with billions in subsidies for fossil energy. The Citizens' Climate Council has unanimously called for all subsidies that are harmful to the climate and therefore future to be phased out gradually and in a socially cushioned manner. Instead, the money will be used to finance climate-friendly innovations and investments. Why hasn't this fundamentally smart proposal been cast into law long ago, Mr Chancellor?"

   Tyrolean-born Emil Baumann, 23, who also disrupted, despite being a skier himself, said, “The Climate Council has shown: we have the solutions. Nevertheless, Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor are allowing our future to melt away. I want to still be able to get on skis in 30 years and teach it to my children. We are already feeling the effects of climate breakdown today; our glaciers are melting out from under our butts. Without the permafrost, the mountains are crumbling like they did in Galtür this summer. I am not prepared to stand idly by and watch this government destroy our cultural heritage and our future. Mr. Chancellor, finally listen! Implement the 93 balanced recommendations from the Climate Citizens’ Council that have been on your desk for over a year!”

Letzte Generation are part of the A22 Network for Civil Resistance.
via Letzte Generation Austria Press

 

 

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