Status: 15.09.2021 5:04 p.m.
Activists have been on hunger strike for two weeks. You are calling for a discussion with all three candidates for chancellor about the climate crisis. Now a 27-year-old has collapsed – government spokesman Seibert was concerned.
The federal government has appealed to those involved in the climate hunger strike in Berlin not to endanger their health. “You start to worry,” said government spokesman Steffen Seibert. “In the climate change political debate, which is the most important one that we have, any suggestion is welcome, but please, without putting yourself at risk,” he added.
27-year-old passed out
Several activists have been on hunger strike since August 30th. You are calling for a public discussion with the Chancellor candidates from the Union, SPD and Greens before the federal election on September 26th. A statement said: “We are the last generation still able to act. There is only this one planet to survive.”
On Tuesday one of the starving people collapsed. According to the organizers, he passed out and was unresponsive for some time. After he was released from the clinic, the young man announced today that he would continue the hunger strike. Seibert wished the 27-year-old a speedy recovery.
Telephone call with Baerbock
The Greens published a joint appeal on Tuesday by Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock and her opponents Armin Laschet (CDU) and Olaf Scholz (SPD). The three are ready to talk to the hunger strikers – individually, in person, not in public and after the general election. The prerequisite for this is an end to the protest action in this form. Baerbock had even telephoned the young people last week and asked them not to put themselves in danger.
The activists camp near the Reichstag.
Image: dpa
Call offer refused
However, the activists turned down the offer of the three candidates for chancellor. They insist on a public exchange in the current election campaign final spurt. The hunger strike continues until all three have agreed. The second demand of the participants is the establishment of a citizens’ council, which is supposed to give politicians immediate measures for climate protection. Those involved live in a camp near the Reichstag building. Of the originally seven starving people, one young woman gave up last week for health reasons.
However, there is already a “Citizens’ Council on Climate”, the patronage of the former Federal President Horst Köhler. The 160 members met twelve times, including with experts from science, and only recently presented a comprehensive report. The aim is to achieve the goals of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement – which the hunger strikers also want.