Climáximo supporters risk jail
Eleven supporters of environmental movement Climáximo will begin their trial next week (April 22) for the blockade of Avenida Engenheiro Duarte Pacheco in December 2023.
According to activist Matilde Alvim the trial will take place at Campus de Justiça over three consecutive days. “Solidarity and resistance activities” are being organised throughout, she added.
The 11 activists – aged between 20 and 58 – are accused of “civil disobedience” and “disruption of communications”. If convicted, they risk sentences of more than a year in prison, writes Lusa.
According to information released by Climáximo: “A few days before the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, 11 Climáximo supporters will be on trial for the political protest to block Avenida Eng. Duarte Pacheco in Lisbon, which took place in December 2023. The trial will last three days and will include dozens of witnesses, as well as a solidarity programme that promises to involve and organise the next steps of the movement for climate justice” – the “April Assemblies”.
The way Climáximo sees it, “the 11 will be judged for having fought for life” on the planet.
“We cannot normalise the extreme violence that is the climate crisis”, the movement continues. “The drought in the Algarve, the millions of people currently displaced, and the thousands of deaths due to the climate crisis. We know that governments and companies are continuing their plans of destruction. Delegating responsibility for stopping the climate crisis is like waiting for a dictator to put an end to dictatorship”.
But it is unclear how broadly-based support for Climáximo really is. Yes, the movement most certainly has a base of young, committed ‘activists’ – but wider society – even the political classes – appear ‘bored’ at best (dismissive at worst) of Climáximo (and other groups) protests that have frequently verged on vandalism/ criminal damage.
Many social media posts responding to antics have said the equivalent of ‘lock them up!’. There was even one that suggested motorists faced with a climate protest blockage should simply “drive over them”.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
