In Berlin, climate activists staged a disruptive protest on Thursday morning, opposing the discontinuation of Dutch subsidies for fossil fuels, by blocking streets and employing vivid demonstrations involving paint resembling the Dutch flag spread across highways.
This follows a string of protests in the Netherlands, where activists are pushing against their government’s support for fossil fuels.
Particularly targeted were areas like Wilhelmstraße and Leipziger Straße near the Federal Ministry of Finance, with connections to the “Extinction Rebellion” group being confirmed by a German news agency correspondent.
A complaint regarding the police’s use of pain-inducing physical techniques – dubbed “pain fists” – has been filed by “the last generation” with Berlin’s Citizens and Police Commissioner.
Police Commissioner Alexander Orki has reviewed 95 such cases in recent weeks. Legal use of force is justified by the police, citing lawful rights when trying to subdue non-compliant individuals through painful maneuvers.
Meanwhile, the Neuruppin Public Prosecutor’s Office plans to conclude investigations into “the last generation” members by year’s end, with possible criminal organization charges depending on findings.
In December 2022, police and prosecutors targeted 11 activists from the group, conducting raids across various federal states.
A new report unveiled by the American Psychiatric Association explored how various environmental phenomena attributable to climate change, such as severe weather calamities, soaring heat, and substandard air quality, can ignite or magnify mental health complications among the younger demographic.
