During the International Women’s Day demonstration in Lisbon, two supporters of the climate justice collective, similarly to the actions taken by suffragettes in the fight for women’s rights, shattered the windows of Santander Bank for “consciously financing the climate collapse”. The two women, initially detained by the police, were eventually released due to pressure from the people present.
“Santander Bank is responsible for financing oil companies that are killing us: us women, at least 4 times more than men” says Maria Mesquita, one of the women who took action. “The climate crisis is a result of putting profit above life, of ignoring all the reproductive work necessary to sustain life, from regenerating the Earth to the care of people. This invisible work is placed on top of women’s shoulders, who are equally invisible. Solving the climate crisis means solving the care crisis.”
The solution, she states, is simple: an economy centered on life and not profit. “But first, we have to stop the violence against our bodies and against life. These companies are financing fossil fuels that are weapons of mass destruction. It is in our hands to stop this brutal war against our lives.”