Extinction Rebellion Belgium daubs Brussels palace and parliament walls

Protestors from the militant Extinction Rebellion (Belgium) group painted Brussels’ Royal Palace walls with graffiti on the night of 19 September. They also tagged parliament buildings including the Belgian prime minister’s on Rue de la Loi.

The group, part of the global movement set up in May 2018 that uses non-violent “civil disobedience” to ask governments to combat climate change and environmental damage, said Belgium’s current and new government must tackle “ecological collapse”.

Calling for clear measures to bring solutions to climate change, it wrote, “So what is your plan?” in Dutch on the emblematic buildings, along with the Extinction Rebellion logo.

With the graffiti already removed and a police report sent to the Brussels public prosecutor’s office, Brussels mayor Philippe Close made his feelings clear on Twitter: “It is a shame to see Extinction Rebellion yet again target the Royal Palace and our heritage. I am not at all sure that this kind of savage action will help the climate cause.”

But Extinction Rebellion Belgium, that last year also daubed the palace walls with graffiti, says on its Facebook page that action is essential: “We are in a period of abrupt ecological breakdown. Millions of people and living organisms are already suffering due to a culture of greed and perpetual growth. We rebel against this culture, and for life on this planet. Join the Rebellion!”

The group wants the Belgian government to declare a “climate and ecological emergency” and enact a “comprehensive, legally-binding national emergency plan” to restore biodiversity, preserve the natural environment and phase out fossil fuels by 2025. It also wants Belgium to set up a Citizens' Assembly to ensure a “managed transition to an equitable post-growth society”.