Canada About 150 oil workers drive 50 trucks and honk loudly to protest the environmental protest led by Greta Thunberg in the province of Alberta.

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg on October 18 staged anti-climate protests with thousands of people in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, famous for the world's third-largest oil reserves.

post

Greta Thunberg spoke at a rally in Edmonton, Canada on October 18 Photo: Reuters

"We are doing this for our own future," Thunberg, 16, told a gathering crowd in front of the provincial legislature in Edmonton. "We will not be outsiders. We are doing this because we want powerful people to agree with science."

However, while many expressed support for Thunberg, a group of petroleum citizens drove a truck convoy from the nearby Red Deer capital to Edmonton to show opposition to the young activist.

The fleet of 50 trucks, organized by a pro-oil industry group, put up banners like "We love Canadian energy" and honked loudly on a road near Thunberg's protest site. all the time she spoke. After Thunberg left the stage, a noisy argument between groups of environmental protesters and about 150 oil supporters broke out.

"We are of course also concerned about the environment. What they need to understand is that we are being harmed and we also need to be concerned about employment in Alberta," an opposition to Thunberg said.

On the same day, at the inauguration of a new oil pipeline near Edmonton, Alberta governor Jason Kenney, also opposed Thunberg and her supporters.

post

Supporter of oil and gas industry holds a protest banner against Greta Thunberg in front of a truck in the city of Edmonton, Canada on October 18 Photo: Reuters

"When they charged their iPhones last night, that power came from this plant," he said, pointing to the Keephills power station, which used coal but now switched to natural gas.

"Alberta people and Canadians are real people," he continued. "They like practical solutions. Calling for an end to the modern industrial economy, pushing millions to unemployment is not a realistic solution for the world."

Alberta's energy industry is taking big risks by spending an amount to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon emissions, he added.

Oil and gas industry is highly criticized by Canadian environmental groups because oil sands in the province of Alberta are the largest source of CO2 emissions in the country, while the lack of foreign investment and pipeline to markets. New are also holding back the development of this industry.

Last month, Thunberg held a protest in another Canadian city of Montreal with nearly half a million supporters, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This is one of the largest protests in Canadian history.