Greta storms wind turbines in Norway

The Swede, together with other climate protectors, blocked access to the Norwegian Ministry of Energy in Oslo. They are protesting against the construction of wind turbines in the west of the country, reported the AFP news agency.

The reason for their resistance is the indigenous peoples who live in the area. “We cannot use the so-called climate change as a cover for colonialism,” said Thunberg, according to TV2, outside the ministry’s doors. “A climate transition that violates human rights is not a climate transition worthy of the name.”

Thunberg wants to protect the rights of the Sami people

The Sami people still live in northern Fennoscandia. Around 100 000 people belong to this group. They fear that the wind farm project will curtail their rights. They traditionally raise reindeer in the Fosen area. The court had confirmed the conflict of interest and declared the construction of 151 turbines invalid.

The Norwegian authorities have ordered further reports. “We understand that this case is a heavy burden for the Sami reindeer herders in Fosen,” Minister Terje Aasland said on Monday. However, the court has not yet made a decision about what to do with the wind turbines.

Incomprehension

Credit Suisse said they were perplexed by the court’s decision: “In 2013, following a long and thorough process, Fosen Vind was granted a license by the Norwegian authorities. As part of the licensing process, all affected parties were consulted and the relationship to reindeer husbandry was particularly emphasized.

“Today, the Supreme Court in Norway ruled that the decision to grant a license and permit to two of Fosen Vind’s six wind farms, Storheia and Roan, was invalid. Fosen Vind and Energy Infrastructure Partners are analyzing the ruling, its implications on the investment, and awaiting the Ministry’s processing of this verdict,” said Dr Anne Sexton, from the Energy Infrastructure Partners, Credit Suisse (CSEIP).

Stadtwerke München is a shareholder

“If our fundamental rights are not respected, then I don’t know which country to trust,” emphasized the musician Ella Marie Haetta Isaksen. She herself belongs to the Sami people.

The Roan and Storheia wind farms are part of one of the largest onshore wind energy projects in Europe. The German company Stadtwerke München is also a shareholder.