A current major threat to our planet Earth, Climate Change continues to worry the entire Population for its foreseen devastating consequences on the existence of our future generations. The significant rise in Climate Activism indicates the urgency of the issue of climate change.
At a time when the planet is facing a terrible climate crisis and urgent and immediate action to protect it has become an absolute necessity, Many concerns and debates have been sparked amid the recent trial of Greta Thunberg, a 15-year-old Swedish climate activist in her home country, where she was fined a significant amount of money in the charges of civil disobedience. She was a prominent protester in the rally organised by the 'Reclaim the Future", an environmental activist group last month. They tried to block the entrance and exit to the Malmo harbour to protest against the use of fossil fuel and refused to vacate the protesting site on the orders of the police.
Greta Thunberg has been praised and celebrated by many for her activism to raise awareness about environmental degradation considering her young age. Moreover, she has been a source of inspiration for many young minds like her as she has encouraged them to come together and work towards a better future. Her trial will discourage young people from speaking out and protesting against government, politicians, and legal pressures, despite their right to demand environmental preservation as the young people are the ones that will inherit the planet.
In recent years, Major global politicians and organisations have constantly raised the issue of Climate change and several Environmental treaties have been signed between countries. The climate crisis has evolved from being solely an environmental concern to becoming a political issue, with significant implications for policy and governance. But Greta Thunberg's case has made it obvious that environmental issues have never been prioritised by any government or any corporation even after constant warning by scientists and ecologists about the negative implications of the climate crisis.
Sweden has long been seen as an advocate of the environment, its capital is where the very first environmental treaty was signed (Stockholm Declaration 1972). Unfortunately, The Swedish government's latest coercive approach in Greta's case came as a disappointment when she was fined for her dedication to raising awareness about the climate crisis. Peaceful protests and activism are protected rights under freedom of expression laws. Thunberg's charges are a clear violation of her right to free speech and assembly in a democratic country like Sweden.
On the other hand, Thunberg's civil disobedience and blocking of traffic have been cited as reasons for her trial. It has become important for the legal system to recognize that ensuring public safety and the rule of law is important but the right to protest and the need for climate action are crucial too. The legal system must strike a balance between protecting the right to protest and ensuring that protests do not result in harm to individuals or property.
This trial could be a topic for debate as one side will argue about how protests against fossil fuels infrastructure are crucial for the environment's better health and is the need of the hour, other will argue how Civil disobedience should be punished adequately to maintain law and order in the country. But we must appreciate Greta's response to her trial, that the climate crisis is already a matter of life and death for countless individuals, She and her team of climate activists decided to take action and physically obstruct the fossil fuel infrastructure instead of being bystanders and no legal pressures will hinder her constant determination and will to protect the environment.
It becomes essential for us to continue supporting the efforts of activists addressing the issues of climate change. We must recognize that environmental preservation is a collective responsibility as it is affecting every individual. Demanding immediate and bold actions for our sustainable future is our very right and we can hold the government accountable for it.
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