Activists throw cake amid protest at Volkswagen meeting
Activists disrupted German automaker Volkswagen’s annual shareholder meeting in Berlin on Wednesday.
Inside the meeting room, about ten activists, including a topless woman with “dirty money” painted on her back, interrupted CEO Oliver Blume’s speech. They were quickly escorted out by security.
The cake was also thrown in the direction of board member Wolfgang Porsche during chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch’s speech.
Police also stopped an attempt by climate protesters to stick to the ground in the square outside the meeting.
Anger over China and the climate
Activists disrupted proceedings inside the hall in protest against VW’s factory in China’s Xinjiang province.
They accused the automaker of turning a blind eye to human rights abuses in the region.
Volkswagen said it found no evidence of human rights violations at the factory in Xinjiang, which it operates with partner company SAIC.
Outside, climate protesters were demanding that Europe’s biggest car maker reduce its carbon footprint.
“The science is clear: emissions from planned Volkswagen car sales are beyond planetary boundaries,” was the message from Scientist Rebellion activists.
“Constructive dialogue is important. And a general meeting provides a good opportunity for that,” the company said in response to the protests.
lo/jsi (dpa, AFP, AP, Reuters)
Source: DW
Lori Barajas is an accomplished journalist, known for her insightful and thought-provoking writing on economy. She currently works as a writer at 247 news reel. With a passion for understanding the economy, Lori’s writing delves deep into the financial issues that matter most, providing readers with a unique perspective on current events.