Demonstrations by Extinction Rebellion Finland in the capital Helsinki have been going on since Wednesday 16th June. Approximately 140 demonstrators blocked the main street in front of the Parliament on Thursday 17th June, holding the block overnight. The next day the protestors, now practically a camp with tents and sleeping bags, moved from the main street closer to the Rebellion Centre on the Senate Square, the heart of the older part of the city. Hundreds of people were part of the new street block, many spending the next two days there.

Finally on Sunday 20th a new street block was formed, with activists returning to the main street in front of the Parliament. Both remaining blocks were dissolved by the police, who detained over 120 protestors, some of who had joined the rebellion during the previous few days.

The demonstrations raised the issue of the climate crisis on the national news, and a number of politicians visited the activists to hear our concerns and demands. At this time our demands for our Summer Rebellion remain:

  1. We demand that the government starts telling the Finnish people the truth about the climate crisis, by declaring a climate and ecological crisis and by beginning regular national crisis communication.

  2. We demand that Finland stops heating the climate as soon as possible and brings forward its carbon neutrality target to 2025.

  3. We demand that the government includes Finnish consumption-related emissions in all its emission reduction targets, and that the government ends the over-consumption of natural resources by Finns by 2025.

  4. We demand that the transition to a carbon-neutral and sustainable use of natural resources in Finland is made by means of a deliberative democracy, involving citizens and utilizing the best research data. The government must establish a Citizens’ Assembly to make proposals for rapid and equitable emission reduction targets and nature conservation measures. The Parliament must consider the forum’s proposals. We demand that the government includes Finnish consumption-related emissions in all its emission reduction targets, and that the government ends the Finnish over-consumption of natural resources by 2025.

The Rebellion Center is staying at the Senate Square for speeches, dialogue, trainings, and music.

Photos can be used with the lisence CC BY. Names of the photographers are included in the file names when applicable. Credit as “Photographer’s Name / Elokapina – Extinction Rebellion Finland”.

Media inquiries: [email protected]

Livestreams, videos and updates from the block can be found via our social media channels with our Finnish name, Elokapina: