The Finnish branch of the environmental group Extinction Rebellio, known as Elokapina, said it was expanding a series of demonstrations in which it called on the government to declare a climate emergency in Finland.
On Saturday afternoon, members of the group dressed in red made a three-hour silent march through the center of Helsinki. The group also hosted a panel discussion with university professors and researchers in front of the Parliament annex.
From Sunday to Wednesday, members must join a volunteer project to rehabilitate dried swamp in Jämsä, Central Finland, hoping it will act as a carbon sink. Part of the area is protected within the framework of the Southern Finland Forest Diversity Program (Metso).
The August Uprising has shown protests in front of the parliament building since Wednesday, when they stopped traffic on Mannerheimintie for about an hour. Police arrested more than 140 protesters.
The article continues after the picture
Car owners are blowing their horns outside Parliament
On Saturday, traffic in central Helsinki was also hampered by other events, and many streets were closed during the Helsinki City Run half marathon.
In addition to climate action, a demonstration by car owners was held in front of the Parliament House, where motorists gathered to sing their horns.
According to Helsinki police, about 200 cars took part in an hour-long motorists’ event, which was similar to August.
The protest is supported by a Facebook group that opposes rising car costs. The protesters say so "opposes any decision that complicates the position of motorists" and that "motorists are already paying enough taxes". The government abolished taxes on the purchase of electric and plug-in hybrid cars as of Friday.
Rowdy rally fans in Jyväskylä
At the same time, the Central Finnish police said they were busy late Friday and Saturday night due to the festivities related to the World Rally Championships in Jyväskylä and the removal of coronavirus restrictions from the restaurant and bar opening hours.
Police said they arrested several people "drunk and behaves aggressively" In Jyväskylä.
According to the authorities, the ongoing Rally Finland in the Lakeland area was expected to lead to heavy traffic over the weekend, especially on route 9 in the Jämsä area.
The three-day 287-kilometer race ends on Sunday at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Source: The Nordic Page