“Fridays for Future” needs tutoring in tolerance and freedom

The climate activists who are calling for a big strike on Friday are civic and committed. At the core of the movement, however, is not thinking democratically, says Gunnar Schupelius.

Today, the group “Fridays for Future” is calling for an “international climate strike”. One should not go to work or school, but take to the streets to demonstrate against climate change.

Many other organizations are joining. The Catholic auxiliary bishop Matthias Heinrich explained in the BZ that he also wanted to go on strike. The evangelical church is there with the group Christians for Future (C4F). “Only if we act quickly and decisively can we avert the catastrophic consequences of climate change,” said Bishop Stäblein in advance.

People are concerned about the future, which is why they join the “Fridays for Future” activists. But they care about more than the climate. You have a head full of ideology.

You speak of the “social-ecological transformation” and by this formula you mean nothing less than the plan to abolish the market economy and free society.

The extent to which ideology dominates the thinking of climate activists can be seen in these two current examples:

Luisa Neubauer, the icon of the movement, said in all seriousness: “The roots of the climate crisis lie in power hierarchies of men over women, of white people over people of color, of men over nature.”

And the musician Ronja Maltzahn is not allowed to appear on the climate strike because she wears dreadlocks. She was guilty of “cultural appropriation,” judged Fridays for Future.

Cannot take part in the climate strike because she wears dreadlocks: the musician Ronja Maltzahn (Photo: ronjamaltzahn/Instagram)
Cannot take part in the climate strike because she wears dreadlocks: the musician Ronja Maltzahn (Photo: ronjamaltzahn/Instagram)

As a white woman, she wears the curly hairstyle of black people, without having experienced their oppression, is the accusation. She should cut her hair, then she can sing.


Read all of Gunnar Schupelius’ columns


“Fridays for Future” is bourgeois and committed. At the core of the movement, however, is not thinking democratically.

Neo-Marxists, radical feminists, “anti-fascists” and “anti-racists” cavort there who want to overwhelm us with dogmas, taboos and prohibitions. The ends justify the means, they say. You cannot stop climate change with democratic means.

Radical, anti-democratic tendencies are not uncommon in Germany. It was always there and in all new movements. It was always with the Greens, with the Left and with the AfD.

We always demanded of these parties that they separate themselves from their radical forces and called for the protection of the constitution to observe them.

However, “Fridays for Future” is classified as less dangerous, although this movement also urgently needs tutoring in tolerance and freedom. All those who are being stretched in front of the big air-conditioning wagons today should bear this in mind.

You can stand up for a good cause, but you have to be careful who you march with.

Is Gunnar Schupelius right? Call: 030/2591 73153 or email: [email protected]

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