Seventeen Climate Activists Fined for Protests Against Peat Extraction in Tranemo

Seventeen climate activists were recently sentenced following their protests against peat extraction at Grimsås moss in Tranemo, a conflict that has been ongoing for over a decade. The Finnish company Neova, which has received permission to extract peat, has faced persistent opposition from local communities and environmental activists.

The Boreas District Court's recent ruling concluded that all activists were guilty of unlawful behavior during their protests, during which they blocked drainage ditches and attempted to impede machinery, aiming to convert the area into a nature reserve. While the court acquitted fifteen of the activists of the more serious charge of aggravated illegal entry, two were convicted of vandalism, one for violent resistance, and two for illegal entry. The sentences came after significant protests last summer, during which the group ‘Återställ våtmarker’ engaged in direct action against Neova’s operations.

Despite the legal outcomes, activists have remained resolute, returning for a new three-week protest campaign. Neova criticized the ongoing demonstrations, asserting their legal rights to proceed with the extraction, amidst heightened police presence prepared to manage any potential unlawful activities during the protests.

Helen Wahlgren, a spokesperson for the activists, stated, "We will fill in the moss," reflecting their determination to continue opposing the peat extraction project, which they claim is detrimental to the environment and local ecosystems.