While activists in Spain are carrying out the most recent pasting actions on paintings by the Spanish master Francisco de Goya, Chancellor Scholz in Germany is commenting on protest actions both in art and in road traffic. He believes the effect does not correspond to the concerns of the activists.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has strongly criticized the protests by climate activists from the Last Generation group. "I'm happy to admit that I don't think it's a good thing when works of art are somehow painted or thrown at with pulp," said Scholz at the SPD debate convention in Berlin when asked how more understanding for the activists' concerns could be created. Scholz said you have to think about what you do with actions.
In Germany and other European countries, activists taped themselves to paintings or splashed food on them before the 27th World Climate Conference in Egypt, such as in the Barberini Museum in Potsdam, where a Monet painting was thrown with mashed potatoes. None of the paintings had been damaged because they were protected by glass.
Scholz also commented on protest actions in road traffic. He believes that the opposite of their concerns will be achieved if activists stick to the street and obstruct traffic. "I think the people who are stuck in traffic don't suddenly understand the seriousness of the matter, they're just annoyed from start to finish. And that's why I think that's not a good idea," said Scholz.
Members of the "Last Generation" group have been sticking themselves to the streets for months, obstructing traffic. Recently there have been discussions about a possible hindrance to a rescue operation after a cyclist was run over by a truck and fatally injured.
This Saturday, meanwhile, climate activists taped themselves to the frames of two famous paintings by Spanish master Francisco de Goya at the Prado Museum in Madrid. On the wall between the paintings "The Naked Maja" and "The Clothed Maja" they wrote "1.5 C", as could be seen on video images. The Paris climate agreement of 2015 stipulates the goal of stopping global warming at 1.5 degrees if possible and thus preventing the worst consequences of climate change.
The two young people wore shirts with "Futuro Vegetal" (Plant Future) printed on them. According to their own statements, this group is fighting the climate crisis by advocating agriculture with only plant products.
