Climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg joined hundreds of activists yesterday in blocking entrances to Norway's energy ministry, in protest at wind turbines.
The 20-year-old has been a vocal advocate in ending the world's reliance on carbon-based power.
Over the past five years she has made headlines across the globe after leading a number of climate protests to push for more green energy sources.
But yesterday she criticised the Norwegian Government for the continued use of two wind farms.
She was protesting against wind turbines
GWLADYS FOUCHE
The wind turbines are built on land traditionally used by Indigenous Sami reindeer herders, with Thunberg warning the transition to green energy could not come at the expense of Indigenous rights.
Chaining herself to other demonstrators, she said: "Indigenous rights, human rights, must go hand-in-hand with climate protection and climate action.
"That can't happen at the expense of some people. Then it is not climate justice."
Accusing Norway go "green colonialism", she told the gathered crowd: "The Norwegian government cannot close its eyes any more to the human rights violations that are taking place.
"The colonisation of Sami people must stop."
Norway's supreme court in 2021 ruled that two wind farms built at Fosen in central Norway violated Sami rights under international conventions, but the turbines remain in operation more than 16 months later.
The court's verdict did not say what should happen next to the 151 turbines, which can power some 100,000 Norwegian homes, or what should happen to the dozens of miles of roads built to facilitate the construction.
Reindeer herders in the Nordic country say the sight and sound of the giant wind power machinery frighten their animals and disrupt age-old traditions.
The protesters accused the government of 'green colonialism'
NTB
Police on Monday afternoon cleared one side entrance to the government building complex housing the energy ministry, carrying away some demonstrators.
They were detained by police before later being released.
Norway's minister of energy and petroleum, Terje Aasland, said the government "understand that this case is a burden for the reindeer herders".
He added: "The ministry will do what it can to contribute to resolving this case and that it will not take longer than necessary."
