HOW TO STOP THEM! Last Generation falls apart in Austria after government hits eco-mob – including ‘Climate Shakira’ poster girl – with hefty fines and legal fees for gluing themselves to roads
The Austrian branch of a major climate activist movement has succumbed to crushing legal costs and fines resulting from property damage and disruptive public protests by its members.
Last Generation Austria announced this morning that the organisation is disbanding and issued a desperate appeal for further donations, while its members – including notorious German activist ‘Climate Shakira’ – are still embroiled in a large number of legal cases.
‘We no longer see any prospect of success… We understand that Austria wants to remain ignorant about fossil fuels and is therefore prepared to take responsibility for the deaths of billions of people. Society has failed. That makes us infinitely sad.
“As of today, we are ending our protests and the ”Last Generation Austria”. We will use the remaining funds to cover the costs of criminalization and investigations.
“Our donation channels remain open as there are still large fines and high legal costs outstanding,” the group said in a press release issued this morning.
Climate activists from ‘Last Generation Austria’ spray the Vienna University of Economics and Business orange with a fire extinguisher
German climate activist Anja Windl is pictured sitting on the tarmac before a march in Vienna, Austria, on September 15, 2023
Austrian police officers take away German activist Anja Windl from the environmental movement Last Generation (Letzte Generation) after she blocked traffic with other activists at the Aspern Bridge on April 3, 2023 in Vienna
Climate activists from Last Generation Austria are taken away by police after gluing themselves to the A10 Autobahn towards Villach, disrupting Pentecost holiday traffic. Before the road was blocked, there was already a five-hour wait and a 10-mile traffic jam
The image shows climate activist Anja Windl from Bavaria, Germany, who has become known as ‘Climate Shakira’
German activist Anja Windl of the environmental movement Last Generation (Letzte Generation) still lies on the ground after police officers freed her glued hand during her protest where she and other activists blocked traffic at the Aspern Bridge on April 3, 2023 in Vienna.
Last Generation is one of the largest climate activist organisations in Europe, with branches in several countries.
But the Austrian chapter has gained notoriety for hundreds of its members engaging in highly disruptive public protests, gluing themselves to roads and standing on highways to block traffic to and from cities across the country.
They also attempted to destroy major sporting events and public spaces, particularly museums and galleries.
In November, angry skiers had to be restrained when protesters took to the slopes in Gurgl to postpone the Alpine Skiing World Cup.
Henrik Kristoffersen, Norway’s most successful slalom skier, was pulled out while activists of the latest generation sprayed the ice with paint, held up signs and sat behind the finish line, with five skiers yet to finish.
A year earlier, activists from the Last Generation stormed the Leopold Museum in Vienna to deface the masterpiece ‘Death and Life’ by the Austrian painter Gustav Klimt.
Two members of the group ‘Last Generation’ threw the paint over the 1915 painting, before one of them glued himself to the glass protecting the masterpiece. It is one of a number of attacks on famous artworks in the UK and Europe in recent years.
And in May, shocking footage emerged of police officers and angry motorists working together to clear protesters from the road, while the group conspired to stage five separate protests, aiming to cause traffic chaos across Austria.
But now the group is being presented with the bill for the pointless protests.
Instead of enforcing change, the Austrian government has suppressed the demonstrations and prosecutors have attempted to punish the guilty with significant fines.
Climate activists from ‘Last Generation Austria’ spray the Vienna University of Economics and Business orange with a fire extinguisher
A Last Generation demonstrator sprays paint in the finish area of an alpine ski, men’s World Cup slalom in Gurgl, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023
Activists from Last Generation are taken away after spray painting the finish area of the men’s World Cup slalom in Gurgl, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023
Henrik Kristoffersen, pictured wearing glasses, is held during the Alpine Skiing World Cup
Climate activists poured a black liquid over Austrian painter Gustav Klimt’s masterpiece ‘Death and Life’ at the Leopold Museum in Vienna
A security guard stops one of the climate activists after they threw paint on the famous masterpiece
German activist Anja Windl from environmental movement Last Generation blocks traffic with fellow activists at the Aspern Bridge on April 3, 2023 in Vienna, Austria
Hundreds of members of Last Generation have been fined, including German activist Anja Windl – also known as ‘Climate Shakira’ for her alleged resemblance to the Colombian pop star
A spokesperson for Last Generation admitted defeat, saying the protests simply could not go ahead as legal costs and fines continued to pile up.
‘We protested in all kinds of ways… We continued despite violence, death threats, arrests and detentions, hatred and fines amounting to tens of thousands of euros.
“We see no prospect of success anymore. We remain angry. The resistance continues,” they said.
Hundreds of Last Generation members were fined, including German activist Anja Windl, also known as ‘Climate Shakira’ for her alleged resemblance to the Colombian pop star.
She rose to prominence in April last year when she started a TikTok campaign to find an Austrian husband, a tactic she claimed could help her avoid deportation after a series of arrests at climate protests.
And in March of this year, she was brought to court after being arrested in Munich in August 2023 following a series of protests.
She was found guilty and given the choice between a 40-day prison sentence and a hefty fine, which she appealed.
Windl told German media Image Earlier this year it was announced that she faces a number of criminal cases in Germany and Austria, while authorities in Vienna are reportedly considering a ‘residence ban’ against her.
Austria is trying to crack down on the environmental movement after Italian lawmakers introduced a bill earlier this year that would give courts the power to fine environmental protesters up to €60,000.