Climate activists from Poland and Ukraine traveled to Strasbourg to continue activities aimed at embargoing Russian fuels and accelerating the transformation. In the European Parliament, the talks were, inter alia, with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.
The politician delivered a speech to the European Parliament on Monday on the occasion of Europe Day and the end of the conference on the future of the European Union. to ask him, among others to keep paying Russia for fuel, as well as the role of French companies in fueling the climate crisis.
They also asked about the construction (EACOP), in which the French concern TotalEnergies is involved. We asked Dominika Lasota about her conversation with the President of France and his answers to her questions.
– We went with Arina Bilai and Wiktoria Jędroszkowiak at the end of the Conference for the Future of Europe. It was obvious for us that such an event cannot miss people from Ukraine who are fighting not only for the future, but also for the present – she said and added that it was obvious for them that the voices of the citizens must be heard in such a place.
– Unfortunately, despite requests from global climate movements, it was not possible to get permission to officially speak. We decided that after the end of the official part and the speeches of politicians, let us speak as we can. We approached the President of France and asked a specific question
the activist said.
“He thought we were coming to say thank you”
As she reported, they asked Maron “why is he talking about democracy, about the promise of a better life, and at the same time France supports companies from the fossil fuel industry that, for example, are causing destruction in East Africa through the construction of the EACOP pipeline”.
– In this confrontation with Macron, it was obvious that at first he thought that we were approaching him for photos or to thank him for something. And it turned out that we come for specifics. And where he can set the tone, young women come up to him and he is standing upright. He promised us, among other things, that he would enter into talks with the Ugandan authorities over the pipeline
– she said.
Macron argued that he “understands what” activists mean, but that investing in the Total pipeline “is not a state-owned company.” “I have stopped public funding for such projects,” Macron repeated.
– What he was saying was an excuse. The issue of public finances is a minor matter in this matter. The French president has many more tools to stop Total, commented Lasota. As the leader of one of the largest economies with diplomatic capacity, she said, “she can impose policies that prohibit this company from doing so.” – In addition, Macron previously said that he was counting on the project to be accelerated. In this context, the claims that he did his best to stop such projects are ridiculous, she noted.
“They put profit over people’s safety”
The French Total is among the fuel giants who are planning huge investments in oil and gas extraction – although their implementation will wreck the chances of stopping climate change at a moderately safe level. journalists of the “Guardian” wrote.
– Information such as that disclosed by The Guardian is further evidence that the fuel companies that are repainting green are lying. They cover their real business goals and real intentions. They still put profits as their main goal, not people’s safety – said the activist.
That is why – in her opinion – we must “as people, activists, media, hold politicians and governments to account.” – That is why we asked Macron if he would be the president who would end the era of fossil fuels. Despite the fact that she is friends with the CEO of Total, will she finally say: it’s over, now we focus on a policy of declining from fossil fuels – she said.
“The debate in Germany is radically different from that in Poland”
After Strasbourg, the activists traveled to Berlin to talk to local politicians about the embargo on Russian fossil fuels.
– According to experts and politicians, Germany is the biggest blocker of the gas embargo. That’s why we went to Berlin now to break through to German politicians and climate movements, Lasota said.
In her opinion, the debate in Germany on the embargo is radically different from that in Poland. – We hear from almost the entire political milieu that we “cut ourselves off from Putin”, “we do not buy from a dictator”. In Germany, it is mainly said that without gas the economy will collapse and that it will pose a threat to chemical companies. On the one hand, they scare the public, on the other – they do not take the tragedy that is happening in Ukraine seriously, she said.
– Companies and industry are trying to get their way. Therefore, as people from Poland and Ukraine, we meet German politicians and explain to them that the embargo is the minimum that they should do – she emphasized.
Source: Gazeta
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