Environmental activists vandalize Finnish Parliament House to protest peat industry

On Wednesday morning, environmental activists from Elokapina and the Swedish climate movement Återställ Våtmarker sprayed red dye on the columns of the Finnish Parliament House. The act aimed to highlight Finland’s continued support for the peat industry, which adversely affects climate change. According to the Finnish Nature Conservation Association, peat is responsible for approximately 20% of the carbon dioxide emissions from Finland’s energy production.

Police arrested 10 demonstrators. Column cleaning commenced following police documentation of the damage, as the Parliament building is a site of significant cultural and historical importance. Discussions have begun with museum authorities regarding further cleaning measures.

Heavy equipment was needed for the cleaning of the columns. Authorities are seeking additional information about the pigment used to facilitate easier removal. Sari Turunen, the property manager of Parliament, noted that water-soluble dyes also leave traces on porous granite surfaces.

Concerns about the parliament’s transparency have been voiced by members of parliament in light of the incident. Finance Minister Riikka Purra expressed on social media her hope that the perpetrators would clean up the mess themselves.

Initial cleaning of the columns was completed Wednesday afternoon. The estimated costs for the cleanup efforts are projected to be several thousand euros, according to Juha-Pekka Ryynänen, a building master from the Parliament’s property office.