People-power in action
March 3, 2025
By WeMove Europe
People-power in action: from keeping environmental defenders out of jail to making sure every person can have a place to call home. Here are some of the changes you made happen ✊🏽✊🏻✊🏿
In a time of big bullies like Trump, Musk and Weidel, we can get overwhelmed and worn out by the latest hateful headlines and shock happenings popping up on our screens.
Resisting the strikes of these bullies, this community continues to make change happen.
Keeping environmental defenders free to speak-up, uniting activists across borders and making sure every person can have a place to call home.
Here are some of the fights this community made happen over the past months:
Victory for the Whales: A testament to collective action.
In July 2024, environmental activist Paul Watson was detained in Greenland, facing extradition to Japan. [1] His potential 15-year imprisonment sparked a massive outcry across Europe, especially in France, with hundreds of thousands of people rallying for his release. [2]
Our community mobilised swiftly, demanding our European leaders stand up for Watson, by sharing thousands of messages on social media. We stood against the inhumane treatment of a planet's hero, relentlessly advocating for weeks to "Free Paul Watson. Save the Oceans!"
Our collective pressure led to his release in December 2024, showcasing the power of unified, grassroots activism. [3]
Now we keep fighting to make sure all environmental defenders can speak up and fight for a healthier and greener planet. [4]
Championing housing rights: Homes for People, Not for Profit
At the same time, we tackled the worsening housing crisis, insisting that affordable housing is a right, not a privilege.
We gathered stories from members of this community speaking about their experiences and combined these into powerful videos. We then made sure they reached the new European Commissioner for Housing. [5]
For the first time, the EU has a Commissioner dedicated to tackling this crisis, and following our video he has pledged to put people first.
Together, we made ourselves heard. We marched with 120,000 people in Barcelona, shared our stories far and wide, and ensured housing remains at the top of the agenda. Now, we must hold the Commissioner to his word. We will keep mobilizing to ensure homes are for people—not profit.
Turning the tide on toxic PFAS
In January, journalists exposed the far-reaching influence chemical lobbyists have over European decision-makers — including Commission President von der Leyen. [6]
Days later we linked arms and sounded the alarm for Europe’s people, water and food, already polluted with forever PFAS chemicals. From environmentalists in Frankfurt and Lyon, to affected communities in Dordrecht, and mothers in Vicenza - together we demanded a ban on PFAS. [7]
We united these moments of people power all in one video, and spread it across the social platforms of the European Commission. Making sure there could be no doubt to the President of the Commission on what people in Europe want from her. [8]
She has not responded to the invite to meet with PFAS-polluted communities from across the EU, yet. So, together with our partner the EEB, we will keep pursuing them till they do.
None of these achievements would have been possible without the hope, strength, and support of our community.
Thank you for standing with us.
![](mailto:?subject=People-power in action&body=People-power in action: from keeping environmental defenders out of jail to making sure every person can have a place to call home. Here are some of the changes you made happen ✊🏽✊🏻✊🏿
In a time of big bullies like Trump, Musk and Weidel, we can get overwhelmed and worn out by the latest hateful headlines and shock happenings popping up on our screens.
Resisting the strikes of these bullies, this community continues to make change happen.
Keeping environmental defenders free to speak-up, uniting activists across borders and making sure every person can have a place to call home.
Here are some of the fights this community made happen over the past months:
**Victory for the Whales: A testament to collective action.**
In July 2024, environmental activist Paul Watson was detained in Greenland, facing extradition to Japan. [1] His potential 15-year imprisonment sparked a massive outcry across Europe, especially in France, with hundreds of thousands of people rallying for his release. [2]
Our community mobilised swiftly, demanding our European leaders stand up for Watson, by sharing thousands of messages on social media. We stood against the inhumane treatment of a planet's hero, relentlessly advocating for weeks to "Free Paul Watson. Save the Oceans!"
Our collective pressure led to his release in December 2024, showcasing the power of unified, grassroots activism. [3]
Now we keep fighting to make sure all environmental defenders can speak up and fight for a healthier and greener planet. [4]
**Championing housing rights: Homes for People, Not for Profit**
At the same time, we tackled the worsening housing crisis, insisting that affordable housing is a right, not a privilege.
We gathered stories from members of this community speaking about their experiences and combined these into powerful videos. We then made sure they reached the new European Commissioner for Housing. [5]
For the first time, the EU has a Commissioner dedicated to tackling this crisis, and following our video he has pledged to put people first.
Together, we made ourselves heard. We marched with 120,000 people in Barcelona, shared our stories far and wide, and ensured housing remains at the top of the agenda. Now, we must hold the Commissioner to his word. We will keep mobilizing to ensure homes are for people—not profit.
**Turning the tide on toxic PFAS**
In January, journalists exposed the far-reaching influence chemical lobbyists have over European decision-makers — including Commission President von der Leyen. [6]
Days later we linked arms and sounded the alarm for Europe’s people, water and food, already polluted with forever PFAS chemicals. From environmentalists in Frankfurt and Lyon, to affected communities in Dordrecht, and mothers in Vicenza - together we demanded a ban on PFAS. [7]
We united these moments of people power all in one video, and spread it across the social platforms of the European Commission. Making sure there could be no doubt to the President of the Commission on what people in Europe want from her. [8]
She has not responded to the invite to meet with PFAS-polluted communities from across the EU, yet. So, together with our partner the EEB, we will keep pursuing them till they do.
None of these achievements would have been possible without the hope, strength, and support of our community.
Thank you for standing with us.
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