Weather: Climate-related issues dominating discussions - Multitudes join Berlin's 'Fridays for Future' protest
On Friday, thousands of people gathered in Berlin to participate in the Fridays for Future movement's climate strike demonstration. Estimates by the police put the number of participants at over 5,000, while the organizers claimed that more than 13,000 people attended the event. The rally took place in the afternoon, with participants meeting at the Brandenburg Gate. A tiny group of fewer than ten people also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian cause by waving their flags.
There are plans for similar protests in approximately 100 cities across Germany. Major demonstrations and rallies are also expected to take place in Hamburg and Munich.
As the European election draws nearer, on June 9, climate activists and supporters want to bring more attention to the European Union's role in addressing the climate crisis. They are demanding a complete withdrawal from the use of coal, oil, and gas by 2035, as well as a significant increase in investments in renewable energy and industries that are climate-friendly. Frieda Egeling, Fridays for Future Berlin's spokesperson, said in a statement that the new EU parliament needs to strongly advocate for climate protection and democracy.
The Green party's leader, Ricarda Lang, has expressed her support for the climate strikers. She commented, "To see so many people taking to the streets across Germany to demand more climate protection today is encouraging. There's no doubt that June 9 will be a crucial moment in European climate policy."
Lang emphasized the importance of the climate strike, stating that it has never been more significant than it is now, a week before the European election. "It's evident that June 9 will be a turning point for European climate policy. Unfortunately, there are parties within the European People's Party who want to deliberately reverse climate protection, which goes against the course of their leading candidate. This erratic approach by the EU to the Green Deal poses a risk to the climate, the German economy, and prosperity throughout Europe."
The conservative European party family's leading candidate for the upcoming election is the incumbent EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. In 2019, she announced the launch of the so-called Green Deal, a plan with the goal of making the EU climate-neutral by 2050. The strategy consists of various measures covering different sectors, including energy, transportation, industry, and agriculture.
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- In addition to Berlin, similar climate strike demonstrations are planned in over 100 cities across Europe, including Hamburg and Munich in Germany.
- The Brandenburg Gate, a prominent symbol of Europe's history and modernity, became the gathering point for the Fridays for Future movement's demonstration in Berlin.
- As the European elections approach on June 9, the climate crisis has emerged as a key issue, with activists urging the EU to step up its commitments to climate protection and democracy.
- Climate demonstrations are a populist demand across Germany, and Hamburg and Munich, two major cities, are gearing up for significant rallies.
- The Green party, with Ricarda Lang at the helm, has firmly endorsed the Fridays for Future movement and called on the upcoming European parliament to strongly advocate for climate protection and democracy.
- Protests like Fridays for Future highlight the urgency of addressing climate change and insist that the European Union accelerate its transition away from coal, oil, and gas, with a goal of becoming completely carbon-free by 2035.
- European cities, including Hamburg and Munich, will serve as bastions of climate activism during the run-up to the June 9 EU elections, with Fridays for Future rallies echoing the sentiments expressed by the Green party in cities west of Berlin.
