Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair, became the target of a rare attack by eco-activists in Brussels. While preparing to speak to the media at a press conference, the man was surprised by a woman dressed in black who attacked him with two cream pies, which she threw in his face.
O’Leary, 62, was in the Belgian capital to speak at a news conference and deliver a petition to protect overflights in Europe. The incident occurred amid news that Belgium-based Ryanair pilots had called a strike for September 14-15, coinciding with a general meeting of the airline’s shareholders.
The attack took place during an interview in which O’Leary was accompanied by a cardboard cutout of the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Ryanair’s official social media account was ironic about the incident, stating that O’Leary had received a “warm welcome in Brussels” and suggesting that the cakes were a way to celebrate passengers’ support for the airline and their petition.
Ryanair pilots at the Belgian Charleroi airport have called a strike demanding the “immediate cessation of the blackmail carried out by the company to link the negotiation of a new collective agreement with the abandonment of all ongoing individual legal proceedings”. In addition, they demand “strict compliance with Belgian legislation, the payment of arrears and the opening of negotiations without prior conditions,” according to the newspaper. Daily Mail.
This episode is the latest twist in the long saga in which Ryanair has fought for protect cancellation overflights. In May, O’Leary delivered a petition signed by more than 1.1 million passengers to von der Leyen’s office, urging the European Commission to protect overflights and ensure they are not adversely affected during strikes by air traffic controllers. air traffic.
The British outlet explained that Ryanair argues that it was seen forced to cancel thousands of overflights from various European countries, blaming European aviation authorities for prioritizing domestic and short-haul flights during strike times, affecting international travelers.
The European Commission has noted that several member states already have protections in place to prevent overflight cancellations, but Ryanair wants these protections to be applied uniformly across all European Union states.
Today’s attack in Brussels is the latest in a series of incidents involving climate activists. Recently, activists who advocate for the transition to cleaner energy sources They disrupted traffic on Westminster Bridge in London as part of their efforts to stop the development of an oil field.
The group Fossil Free London carried out this protest with the aim of putting pressure on the government to stop funding fossil fuel projects. Joanna Warrington, one of the activists, claimed that the government was prioritizing profits from the fossil fuel industry over climate change mitigation.commented the medium.
In another incident in August, eco-activists cut and deflated the tires of SUVs in Cornwall in a protest against fuel-guzzling vehicles. Despite their aggressive approach, the group, calling itself “Tire Fire Extinguishers”insisted that their protest was peaceful and sought to catalyze change towards a safer environment for all.
Also in August, Greenpeace activists climbed onto the roof of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s home in a protest against his support for expanding oil and gas drilling in the North Sea. The protesters were arrested after a seven-hour demonstration at the £2 million (almost $2.5 million) home of the Prime Minister.
The actions of eco-activists continue to generate attention and debate around environmental issues and energy policy around the world.
Source-www.infobae.com