There are now regular protests from activists in Austria demonstrating for stricter climate protection rules. On Monday, three people got stuck in the center of Graz and demanded a speed limit of 100 on the autobahn. The association of entrepreneurs is now bursting at the seams because of the action: “This weekly madness of sticking on the streets of Austria must finally come to an end”, secretary-general Kurt Egger demands.
“We cannot prevent the hard-working population from being harassed week after week on their way to work. That is not good for the environment, but it puts people’s lives at risk,” Egger says, annoyed.
The ÖVP member of the National Council points out in a broadcast that the traffic jam caused by the adhesive action is in itself harmful to the climate. “Thousands of cars stuck in traffic uselessly blow CO2 into the air. Our conservative calculation is based on 5 tons of CO2 per half hour. That’s a return flight from Vienna to Sydney,” Egger says.
Action ended after an hour
The “Last Generation Austria” group, which conducted the protest in Graz, emphasized on Twitter that public transport was blocked “as little as possible” and that buses were allowed to pass as much as possible (see tweet below). The action was ended by the police after almost an hour and the protesters were taken away.
It is only a matter of time before the people of Austria “pay with their lives for such a protest,” said Secretary-General Egger of the Economic Association. He refers to a startling blockade in Berlin, in which a cyclist was involved in an accident and later died. It is currently being investigated whether the protest of the climate activists could be partly responsible for a delayed rescue.
“Self-Declared World Saviors”
For the ÖVP sub-organization it is clear: “You cannot behave relentlessly and expect encouragement for yourself at the same time. This behavior is full of double standards,” says Kurt Egger. Instead of “self-proclaimed world saviors paralyzing our infrastructure”, climate-friendly and carbon-saving technologies are needed.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
