Greta Thunberg ordered to pay fine after ‘disobeying’ police | World | News by StuffsEarth

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been slapped with a fine by a Swedish court.

The 21-year-old environmentalist twice blocked the country’s parliament during a sit-in, leading her to be fined £440 by Stockholm District Court, and £73 in damages.

According to a reporter from AFP, she denied the charges of two counts of civil disobedience.

Ms Thunberg told the BBC: “Once again, I think it’s painfully clear how absurd it is that it is peaceful climate protestors, like us youth, who are facing repression and are being faced with legal punishments in court for acting against this extremely deadly system, and for trying to change things.”

She went on: “We are currently heading in the wrong direction towards a very unstable and dangerous future,” and added that it “shows how our laws which are supposed to protect us don’t do that”.

She dubbed “big companies and people in power” as “the people who are the real criminals”, calling them “the people who are putting people in real danger” by their lack of care for the “rapidly escalating climate crisis”.

Thunberg’s latest fines came after she and a small band of activists blocked Swedish politicians entering their parliament building, over alleged inaction over climate change. Politicians were able to use a second entrance.

Ms Thunberg told the BBC: “In a country like Sweden where I can protest, where I can use my voice, I have the right to do that, I have a moral obligation to do that”.

The activist was asked in court why she did not comply with the law. She explained: “Because it was an emergency and it’s still an emergency. And in an emergency, we all have an obligation to act.”

Last summer, the Swede was fined after being found guilty of disobeying a police order to leave a climate demonstration in Malmo in June 2023, where she joined a team of activists blocking a road being used by oil tankers.

Ms Thunberg denied the charge and told a court: “I believe that we are in an emergency that threatens life, health and property,” adding that “countless people” were at risk.