The climate march last Sunday did not only demonstrate for the climate. The Palestinian issue was also discussed. That seemed to cause division among the demonstrators. What does it mean for the climate movement if other topics are also discussed?
Sunday’s climate march was the largest climate protest ever in the Netherlands. About 85,000 people were present in Amsterdam. This high turnout could partly be explained by the presence of climate activist Greta Thunberg, he wrote de Volkskrant.
Sahar Shirzad, winner of the PAX peace prize, would also speak on Museumplein. But when she started talking about the Gaza conflict, her microphone was turned off. Later she was given the floor again. This time from Thunberg himself.
There were very different reactions in the audience. Some people were positive, but others booed or walked away. Shirzad’s supporters also shouted slogans such as: “From the river to the sea” in “No climate justice on occupied land”.
The division can have several consequences
According to Namkje Koudenburg, assistant professor of Psychology at the University of Groningen, broaching the Palestinian theme can have various consequences. “I think on the one hand it can work well,” she tells NU.nl. “If they reach agreement on this issue within the climate movement, they can also use their infrastructure for action for another purpose.”
But it can also go the other way. Groups can split off if it is not clear what the group stands for. “When there is friction about the purpose and identity of a group, it can lead to fault lines.”
Jacquelien van Stekelenburg, professor of Social Change and Conflict at the Vrije Universiteit, also thinks that it can do something good for the movement. “It can connect the climate theme to other topics. Then it can become bigger.”
But she also sees another possible outcome. “There are also people who only want to focus on the climate.” That can cause disagreement. For example, a man walked onto the stage, grabbed the microphone from Thunberg’s hands and shouted that he came here for the climate, not for political views.
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Man takes microphone from Greta Thunberg at climate march
It is not yet clear which way things will go
“We often see that movements are committed to multiple issues,” Van Stekelenburg told NU.nl. “That doesn’t have to be a problem. But the Gaza conflict is a globally polarized topic.”
“You also saw this division at the climate march. Some people reacted positively when the conflict was discussed on stage, but people also shouted ‘boo’.”
Both Van Stekelenburg and Koudenburg do not dare to say which way things will go. “The question is how strong the dissatisfaction is and how many people are dissatisfied,” says Koudenburg.
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They also notice divisions at Extinction Rebellion
A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion (XR) tells NU.nl that there are “very different views” within XR about dealing with multiple themes. “Some believe that you can directly link climate injustice to social injustice. But others do not see that link so strongly.”
Discussions about this are taking place within Extinction Rebellion. Also about the strategic approach, says the spokesperson. “The movement has never been bigger and it is important that everyone continues to commit to the climate.”
Since this autumn, XR has been committed to more than just climate activism. Extinction Rebellion Solidarity (XRS), part of XR Netherlands, is a new group that focuses on demonstrating with other movements. For example, XRS will be demonstrating against Zwarte Piet together with Kick Out Zwarte Piet in the coming weeks.
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Greta Thunberg is participating in the ‘largest climate march ever’ in the Netherlands
2023-11-13 15:57:00
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