OSLO: Climate activist Greta Thunberg and dozens of Sami activists blocked the entrance to Norway’s energy ministry on Monday to protest against wind turbines still in place on reindeer herding land despite a court ruling.

“We can’t use the so-called climate transition as a cover for colonialism,” Thunberg told broadcaster TV2 as she blocked the doors of the ministry in Oslo.

“A climate transition that violates human rights is not a climate transition worthy of the name and we must therefore stand up against the human rights violations that are happening here,” the Swedish climate activist said.

They are protesting against the continued operation of wind turbines in the Fosen region of western Norway, more than a year after a landmark ruling by the Norwegian Supreme Court.

The court found that the project violated the right of Sami families to practise their culture of reindeer husbandry.

An indigenous minority of around 100,000 people spread over the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia, the Sami have traditionally lived off reindeer herding and fishing.

In their October 2021 verdict, the 11 judges of the country’s highest court unanimously ruled that the expropriation and operating permits for the construction of the 151 turbines were invalid.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2023