'We cannot save the world by playing by the rules': Greta Thunberg ...

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been fined for disobeying a police order to leave a climate protest last month.

Thunberg was charged with failing to leave the scene when asked to by police, with prosecutors saying the protest in Malmö had caused a traffic disruption. 

Thunberg, aged 20, said that she had disobeyed the police order, but pleaded not guilty because her actions were out of “necessity”, citing the climate emergency. The protest in June had attempted to block the entrance and exit of oil tankers to the Malmö harbour.

“I believe that we are in an emergency that threatens life, health and property,” she told the court in Malmö.

“It’s correct that I was at that place on that day, and it’s correct that I received an order that I didn’t listen to, but I want to deny the crime.”

At the time of the protest, Thuberg posted images to Instagram along with a caption that said: “The climate crisis is already a matter of life and death for countless people. We choose to not be bystanders, and instead physically stop the fossil fuel infrastructure.”

Thunberg was ordered to pay a fine of $144, in the form of 30 daily fines of 50 Swedish krona.

Hours after Thunberg had been issued the fine, she took part in another protest and was made to leave by police along with a group of other activists. She told reporters she would not be backing down. 

“We know that we cannot save the world by playing by the rules because the laws have to be changed,” she said. 

“It is absurd that those who act in line with science should pay the price for it.”

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