The ceremonial plenary that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attended at the first World Health Summit was repeatedly interrupted by protesters setting off fire alarms, which served as a literal siren call for climate action.
As police roped off the area outside the upscale Hotel Berlin venue, demonstrators pasted scientific documents on the effects of climate change on human health and the environment on the doors. A few activists also staged a sit-in.
“How many scientific papers are pasted on this building where Olaf Scholz is speaking, telling about the climate crisis and the health crisis?” said one protestor in a post on the demonstration.
“It is absolutely critical that all WHS 2022 participants from Africa and all other countries are treated with respect. …WHO and the World Health Summit are both dedicated to the well-being of all people, the key to achieving better health for all lies in collaboration and open dialogue. This is what WHS 2022 stands for.”
At the WHS, Yassen Tcholakov, a representative of the World Medical Association, made the following recommendations ”Maybe we should simply change where global conferences are held. If Europe and North America are unable to act as hosts maybe they shouldn’t be any longer.”
