Of Lashes Spared and Children Spoiled

"To promote a generational collective initiative to protect our earth (sic), and to build a more substantial future, through popularizing reaching out to policy makers, maintaining an open forum to discuss issues pertinent to marginalized communities, and by enforcing these ideals through motivating students to delegitimize the stereotype that they are too young to make a tangible change to our society."

So reads the mission statement of The Last Generation, a student-led organization inclined to the tedious artifice of adorning terrorism in the raiments of activism. The group—members of which defaced a $110-million Monet painting by pelting it with mashed potatoes in October 2022—puts forth on its website: “We are tired of leaders acting like children and believe that now is the time for children to act like the leaders. We believe that everyone has the right to clean air, clean water, and, most importantly, a clean planet. Through our platform, we hope to make a difference by providing these things to every single person across the globe regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation.”

On Thursday, 24 November 2022, Last Generation members breached the perimeter of Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport (BER) for purpose of gluing themselves to the airport’s tarmac in protest of both greenhouse gas emissions attributable to commercial aviation and the German government’s alleged inaction on climate change.

The activists—after the fashion of terrorists and fools—livestreamed their crimes via Twitter. Video of Last Generation members cutting through airport fencing at the BER’s north and south boundaries, gluing themselves to active airport surfaces, and holding up banners rationalizing their actions were broadcast to a largely outraged world.

The incursions forced the suspension of flight operations for nearly two-hours, during which police contended with and corralled the protesters. Airport authorities gave the all-clear for flights to resume at 17:15 GMT—18:15 local [BER] time.

Though the exact number of perpetrators remains unknown, local police reported that each group of Last Generation protesters entering the airport comprised several individuals—many of whom were taken into custody and now face charges of trespassing, damage to property, and interference with air-traffic.

Autumn 2022 has seen Last Generation members undertake numerous protest actions throughout the German capital, including on public roads and junctions and at government ministries. German Transport Minister Volker Wissing called the Last Generation's protests "ever more unscrupulous," and suggested "society could not accept such behavior."

Agreed... -- Ed.

FMI: ber.berlin-airport.de