In total 22 members of anti-climate and anti-meat organization Vegetable Future They were recently arrested by the National Police He was accused of being a member of a “criminal organisation” for damaging public and private property worth half a million euros. This environmental group is characterized by taking direct actions to draw attention to the climate emergency the planet is experiencing. Now his spokesperson has given his opinion on everything that is going on.
Futuro Vegetal thinks: moral and legal “barbarism” for which they are accused of being a “criminal organization” He assured that he would continue his actions until the government withdraws its support for the meat industry and uses it to “promote alternatives” to climate change.
This was stated by the organization’s spokesman, Bilbo Bassaterra, in statements to Europa Press. Bassaterra warned the organization experiencing a “pressing moment” As announced, these arrests, which occurred in the first two weeks of December 2023, were made by the authorities. He detailed that the detainees, who included people between the ages of 20 and 60, were “for two or three hours.”
“Our aim is not to commit a crime”
According to him, calling these organizations “established for the purpose of committing crimes and described as criminal organizations” as a criminal organization is both ethical and legal “barbarism”. Futuro Vegetal has no such goal: it does everything possible to avoid it.”he emphasized.
“We don’t want to kidnap anyone and ask for money. What we do is to fight for measures against the climate crisis“, the spokesperson said, emphasizing that they tried to “avoid committing a crime” with their actions, for example, they used washable paint in cases where they threw it at buildings or monuments or stuck to the frame of the painting. Goya’s ‘Las Majas’ painting is in the Prado Museum so that it does not affect the painting. They also do not understand “how the authorities reached” the compensation figure of half a million.
The party’s spokesman does not understand how the damage figure of half a million euros was reached
“We’re just protesting, drawing a lot of attention and questioning what we believe are criminal organizations. And here we’re talking about what the Socialist Party is doing, for example, which is committed to subsidizing big corporations. “They’re eliminating the possibility of living in the area,” Bassaterra added.
“Effective protests”
Futuro Vegetal’s spokesperson also noted the “persecution” of the group for protests that, in his opinion, were “effective.” “They’re questioning people who have a lot of resources.” and stated that “this has a great capacity to influence politics at the state level.”
Group faces charges Intends to continue his style of activismThe spokesman assures this, thanking the support they have received from other environmental organizations and even from some politicians, whom he criticizes, not including the central government.
“We did not receive any message about the situation, and we did not want to hear our message. It is very remarkable that a government that claims to care about the environment has a ministry on this issue.” With Spain already “Europe’s meat producer”, the Administration’s only action against the climate crisis is to “turn it into a European energy producer, destroying biodiversity and endangering the rural world” rather than “betting on energy” condo communities”.
Increase in membership and public support
Regarding the announcement of the arrest of twenty of its members, Bassaterra applauded. more people have learned about their activities and they are accepting participants at their meetings “more than ever before”Although some of its members left “out of fear”. Ultimately, the organization grew to almost 300 members, compared to the hundred it had at the time of the action in the Prado.
The number of people attending party meetings has tripled since the arrests
Related donations of more than 140,000 euros to the organizationThe spokesman maintained that Futuro Vegetal had always been “transparent,” as the police investigation showed, and detailed that the money was used to “maintain the activities of the group.” This includes meeting basic needs, such as “food or rent,” for some people who “dedicate themselves to the group full-time” and “do not have coordinators.”
He explained that although other organizations carrying out “civil disobedience” on Spanish soil have a hierarchical structure and salaries, this is not considered a salary, questioning why this is stated when accusing them of a criminal organization. “We don’t understand why we are like that and Greenpeace or Femen are not,” he asked.
Finally, Bassaterra reiterated: Futuro Vegetal will continue its operations “until the government takes minimum measures” “To confront the climate crisis,” that is, “until we pull the subsidy out of the meat industry and use it to promote alternatives.” And they will do this despite the fact that the authorities “send the police to infiltrate the movement” and blame them. He accused them of “very serious crimes”: “It is our right to protest.”
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