ZTwo “Last Generation” climate activists missed a court date because they flew to Thailand. Well, you could say that the court date is a stupid thing. But all sorts of people go on vacation, business people and do-gooders, so it’s only fair that climate protectors get to do it too. Everyone should be able to separate a person’s political engagement from their private life.
To that I have to say: It depends. In the end, the public decides whether it can be separated. Former defense minister Rudolf Scharping also got into the pool as a private, and when he came out it wasn’t long before he lost his position. The citizens were outraged that the minister let his soldiers go like this before the upcoming missions. In addition, to polish his image.
It’s different for activists. They didn’t want anyone to know about their flight. Nevertheless, no one should be surprised that they are now being accused of hypocrisy. They use their language to conjure up the approaching end of the world, they justify their actions by saying that the federal government must act immediately to avert a catastrophe. Some don’t even want to have children anymore, they are so pessimistic about the future. They reinforce this impression with their actions. Sticking to the street to stop traffic isn’t just sending a political message to decision-makers. It sends a message to every driver: think about what you are doing. Each ride could be one too many. There’s no time.
Those who are glued to the runway of an airport do the same. Now the activists have traveled by plane themselves, and as tourists at that. How are you supposed to believe that saving the world can no longer be delayed? How not to feel the seriousness on their faces as fake?
Those who board the plane need not be ashamed
Now the “Last Generation” could have distanced itself from the flight of its two members. But she didn’t. Instead, she pointed out that we are all hypocrites. She accused the chancellor of double standards because he calls himself “climate chancellor” and then digs into Lützerath. According to this logic everything is justifiable. You could jet to the atoll for a short vacation and hold up posters for climate protection until the island eventually sinks into the Greenland meltwater.
This shows what the real problem is: the debate is too personal. Everyone has to justify their CO2-Balance sheet, and eventually everyone hates each other. Cyclists hate car drivers because they clog the streets for convenience and destroy the climate. Drivers hate cyclists because they feel they are trying to impose a different lifestyle on them.
Everyone can practice doing without the climate for themselves. There is nothing wrong with that. But don’t point fingers at individuals. Climate protection is primarily effective through emissions trading. It ensures that flights become more expensive and that the amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted is capped. So at some point fewer and fewer get on the plane. And if you do it, you don’t have to be ashamed.
#climate #activists #wrong #vacation #Thailand