Butcher Heiko Schoene, 56, expressed his disappointment when he found out that his flight to Zurich had been cancelled, impacting his family’s vacation plans to the Dominican Republic. He had saved up all year for the trip and was looking forward to finally being able to go on holiday. On the other hand, doctor Ruth Zeilen-Boehle, 69, believed that the protests were necessary due to the lack of action being taken for the climate. She stated that even if her flight had been cancelled, she would have accepted it in support of the cause.
The protest organisers are part of the A22 Network, a group dedicated to non-violent climate protests, and they are planning to disrupt airports in multiple countries in the near future. Global aviation is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for around 2.5% of global emissions, more than the combined annual footprint of Brazil and France. Last Generation, known for their attention-grabbing protests, is determined to continue exerting pressure to advocate for greater environmental protection through disruptive actions.
The group has faced criticism and legal repercussions for their tactics, which include throwing mashed potatoes at paintings in museums and glueing themselves to busy roads. Despite this, they remain committed to raising awareness and pushing for policy changes to address the climate crisis. Spokeswoman Lisa Johnson emphasized that prison sentences for activists will not shield society from the impacts of climate change, such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and rising sea levels. Last Generation has announced plans to protest against government subsidies for Kassel-Calden airport starting on September 25th.