This week I went in to greet a young German professor from the sustainability department. He carried under his arm the excellent biography that he made Sara Parkin from Petra Kelly. I asked the teacher if she knew her founding compatriot of the German Greens, I had no idea. By his discharge, I have done the same exercise among other young academics obtaining the same result.
I have told myself, again an incredible woman, a key figure of European eco feminism erased from history.
This weekend there elections in Germany, the surveys give the German green party a third place. If the qualitative leap of the greens is confirmed for the first time, passing the border of 20% of the votes, something is beginning to change. And, to understand this long road of the German greens is primordial figure of Petra Kelly, of which next year we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his death.
In the eighties a significant part of the German and European public surrendered to his charismatic leadership.
Petra was one of the founders of the German Green Party, and brought her experience and emotions into the world of politics, she wanted to do politics in a different way, with tenderness and authenticity. He led popular struggles against the installation of nuclear missiles in Europe, or called for a free Tibet.
Kelly and her companions were the first party to incorporate issues into politics that traditional parties had not done: grassroots democracy, pacifism, feminism and naturally, the protection of the environment. She said that the German parliament needed “to be revitalized by a nonviolent, creative ecology, a peace movement and an uncompromising anti-party party.”
Surely the rise of the German greens has also contributed to the appearance of a Swedish woman who started, three years ago, the “school strike for the climate” before the parliament of her country. Greta Thunberg, has changed the story of the fight against the climate crisis and has told the rulers of the world: “My name is Greta and I want you to panic, … for more than thirty years, the science has been clear, how do you dare to continue looking away and come here saying that they are doing enough … “.
With the example of Greta, the world’s youth begin to demand climate justice, and the easiest thing for many has been to kill the messenger (“that if she is manipulated”, “that if she should be in school” …). In traditional politics, Greta upsets them, like Petra 30 years ago.
And surprisingly, traditional politics is uncomfortable for green parties. Despite Petra Kelly’s heritage, German greens and other greens from northern Europe, where theoretically people are more sensitive to these issues, have never been important.
The last votes of the green parties of Norway (3.8%), Sweden (4.4%), Denmark (7.7%) and Finland (11.5%), have sometimes allowed them to enter coalition governments , but little else.
It seems that until now the corset of a traditional party brings many problems to people who defend environmental positions. Will this change this Sunday in Germany? Annalena Baerbock, currently the leader of the German Greens, has adopted positions less annoying for the the status quo, seeking to broaden the base of the party. Far from the figure of Petra Kelly that shook Germany in the eighties.
Perhaps Petra Kelly and Greta Thunberg teach us that we have to go beyond the parties, and we need a green movement that disturbs the gray jackets.
A green movement with a lot of social base that brings together many people who want to put the planet at the center and not the economy. A green movement that reminds all of us that our planet has limits, and they cannot be exceeded.
These planetary limits are the ones that we must all jointly claim, and defend. With hope, as Petra Kelly said: “We do not see final peace near nor will we reach utopia. The warlords will continue to be born in our regret. But if we do not surrender to pessimism, hope will sprout and unease will wither.”
*** Alfred Vernis, professor in the Department of General Management and Strategy at Esade.
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