Don't Buy the Lie

Activists from all around the world came together today in Copenhagen to protest against the official World Business Day of the climate summit.

Danish and international activists have been mobilizing for the Don't Buy the Lie action for a long period of time, the name of the action refers to the market driven false solutions that put corporate profit above the needs of people.

The protest used different and creative forms of action to give a voice to all who consider corporate solutions to the climate crisis as problematic. "Instead we should concentrate on finding alternative solutions which focuses on climate and social justice" says Nadja from the initiative.

About 700 climate activists used creative actions to visit and disturb multiple venues where corporate lobby negotiations were taking place. Tactics included the production of lots of noise outside these venues and multiple banner drops in a dynamic and flexible path through the inner city. In this way, locations like Forum, Industriens Hus and the corporate Hopenhagen market - all places of corporate greenwash and lobbyism, - were temporarily disturbed.

Police presence at the action was immense, encircling and pushing the protest multiple times, rejecting the peoples right to express their opinions. Around 70 people where arrested only on the base of suspicion, without actually breaking a law, and thereby prevented from taking further part in the demonstrations. According to the recently enacted law they can be withheld for up to 12 hours.

The Activists agree that corporate influence on the climate negotiations can only damage the process. "It is people, and especially the ones most affected by climate change that have to set the agenda" says Andrea.

Throughout the week, continuous actions of civil disobedience will attempt to put climate justice on the agenda.