Hundreds of activists, including climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg, protested against wind turbines by blocking entrances to Norway’s energy ministry.
Thunberg, who has been an advocate for ending the world’s reliance on carbon-based power, criticised the Norwegian government for continuing to use two wind farms that were built on land traditionally used by Indigenous Sami reindeer herders.
She stated that the transition to green energy cannot come at the expense of Indigenous rights and that human rights must go hand-in-hand with climate action.
Thunberg accused the Norwegian government of “green colonialism” and demanded that the colonisation of Sami people stop.
The supreme court ruled that the two wind farms built in central Norway violated Sami rights under international conventions, but they remain in operation over 16 months later.
The sight and sound of the giant wind power machinery frighten the animals of reindeer herders and disrupt their age-old traditions.
Police cleared one side entrance to the government building complex housing the energy ministry and detained some demonstrators, but they were later released.
Norway’s minister of energy and petroleum, Terje Aasland, said the government would contribute to resolving the case and that it would not take longer than necessary.
