bakgrund
Letzte Generation
Wikipedia (en)
The Last Generation (German: Letzte Generation, pronounced [ˈlɛt͡stə ˌɡeːnəʁaˈt͡sjoːn], Italian: Ultima Generazione) is a group of climate change activists using forms of direct action which is mostly active in Germany, France, Italy, UK and Poland. Protests in Germany were mainly focused on car usage and traffic policy, while those in Italy focused on cultural assets.
The civil disobedience methods of the group have met with mixed reactions from the public, including expressions of outrage and threats of violence. Conservative and far-right politicians in Germany repeatedly described the group as "criminal" and called on public prosecutors and the police to take action against them. In May 2023, a Bavarian court approved an investigation against the Last Generation because of "suspicion of criminal association". Authorities carried out a nationwide search of the activist's house, computers and the donation account was confiscated and the original homepage was shut down.
Last Generation describes itself as an "alliance" and was formed in 2021 from participants in the Hungerstreik der letzten Generation ("last generation hunger strike"). The term was chosen because they considered themselves to be the last generation before tipping points in the earth's climate system would be reached.
Since their formation in 2021, they have staged direct non-violent actions including numerous road blockades (276 in Germany over the course of 2022) and using paint to vandalise yachts, notorious paintings, buildings, restaurants and private jets.
In Rome, they threw soup at a van Gogh painting behind glass, called The Sower. In Potsdam, they threw mashed potatoes onto a Monet painting. None of the artworks they attacked were damaged.
In Germany the group has three central demands: a speed limit of 100 km/h on Autobahnen, a cheap universal ticket for nationwide public transport and a "social council" with 160 drawn members, which will make a plan to end the use of fossil fuels in Germany by 2030.
In January 2024, the group announced that it would no longer conduct road block protests. In February 2024, the group announced its intention to contest the 2024 EU Parliament elections.