Over the autumn, ‘Restore Wetlands’ has been preparing and organising what they themselves call a ‘disobedient referendum’. In this referendum, citizens can vote ‘yes’ to continued peat extraction or ‘no’ to peat extraction in Sweden. The project has received support from the US-based Climate Emergency Fund, which is contributing 375,000 Swedish kronor.
- The global situation is becoming more unstable with every passing day, resulting in increasing violence and conflict. This is evident in Sweden too, where politicians are speaking in an increasingly hostile and anti-democratic manner about people who demonstrate. At the same time, there is a huge gap between the initiatives ordinary people want to see and what the government prioritises. Many of us feel small and powerless, helpless in the face of a world ruled by a power-hungry elite. Olydig Folkomröstning is a response to this, says Helen Wahlgren, press spokesperson for Olydig Folkomröstning.
In the referendum, you can vote yes or no to peat extraction. Restore Wetlands will run a campaign to encourage people to vote ‘no’ and get involved in the democratic initiative that is the Disobedient Referendum. All information from the ‘yes’ side comes from the lobbying organisation Svensk Torv. Svensk Torv has been contacted on several occasions with an offer to run the ‘yes’ campaign, but has not responded so far.
The referendum will run throughout the spring until 23 May, and anyone with access to BankID can vote, which means that Återställ Våtmarker is opening up the process so that children can also take part.
- It is only right that children take part; this is about their future. The government thinks 13-year-olds can go to prison; we are letting them vote. The website for Olydig Folkomröstning is easy to understand, with the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ arguments presented clearly. Children are capable of forming their own opinions; of course they should vote, says Pontus Bergendahl, press spokesperson for Olydig Folkomröstning. Through this
referendum, Återställ Våtmarker aims to highlight and spark debate about the fact that democracy is under threat. Democracy has declined globally, and now only 45% of the world’s population lives in democracies. A survey conducted by Novos on behalf of Civil Rights Defenders in 2023 shows that 65% of the Swedish population feel that democracy in Sweden is moving in the wrong direction.
“The referendum is important. It is about our survival. Emissions are rising and our world is heading towards total climate collapse. Ordinary people must be heard and have their say,” says Pontus Bergendahl, press spokesperson for Olydig Folkomröstning.