Greta Thunberg Calls Out 'Green Colonialism' in Norwegian Wind Farm Project

Greta Thunberg and indigenous activists in Norway are voicing their opposition to the construction of wind farms in a region of the Scandinavian country.

What Happened: The 20-year-old Swedish activist and her allies are terming the wind farm in Folsen, Norway as “green colonialism,” reported Financial Times.

“The Norwegian government cannot close its eyes anymore to the human rights violations that are taking place. The [colonization] of Sami people must stop,” said Thunberg.

Thunberg reportedly clarified that she wasn’t opposed to wind power but the transition to such energy shouldn’t take place at the “expense of indigenous people’s rights.”

Why It Matters: Norway’s indigenous activists accuse big business and the government of using environmentally friendly projects such as wind power to dilute the rights of their communities, noted FT.

Thunberg labeled the project an “international scandal” and “completely absurd” as Norway’s Supreme Court ruled against the building of the wind project.

The court had reportedly held that the construction of the farm violated the rights of Norway’s indigenous Sami people as it affected reindeer grazing.

There is no clarity on how the Norwegian government plans to deal with the Supreme Court ruling. Sami activists camped at several government ministries to mark the 500 days of the passing of the ruling, according to the report.

Police removed 13 activists early Monday morning, but Thunberg and others reportedly returned later and sat in front of a government building.

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