Swedish activist Greta Thunberg leads protest against Iron Ore mines on the land of Indigenous Sami people
In another attempt to save the environment, Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and members of the indigenous Sami community have joined hands to protest against the plans of the Swedish government for iron ore mines in Northern Sweden.
This uproar of protest came after the Swedish government approved the highly controversial plan led by the UK firm Beowulf, which had promised to generate 250 to 300 jobs for the people living near the site.
Indigenous Sami communities which live on the site of the proposed project have raised alarm, saying that the plan would prevent reindeers, herding, disrupt fishing and hunting and overall gravely impact the environment.
“We believe that the climate, the environment, clean air, water, reindeer herding, indigenous rights, and the future of humanity should be prioritized above the short-term profit of a company,” Ms. Thunberg said in an English-language video message.
Sami community is the only European Union indigenous community, which is actively involved in reindeer herding on a full-time basis. In recent times, the Sami community has been disregarded by the government as uncivilized and inferior.
Updated by Preet Joshi