The battle for the future of humanity is being fought within one family.
On one side: a government minister.
On the other: his cousin, an XR activist.
They survived Norway's worst recent trauma together.
Now they’re on opposite sides of the country's oil war.🧵
On one side: a government minister.
On the other: his cousin, an XR activist.
They survived Norway's worst recent trauma together.
Now they’re on opposite sides of the country's oil war.🧵
Andreas Bjelland Eriksen and his younger cousin Vebjørn Bjelland Berg survived Anders Breivik's massacre together on Utoya Island. That bond forged in grief binds them.
But now Norway's rapacious appetite for fossil fuels is killing far more people than Breivik did.
But now Norway's rapacious appetite for fossil fuels is killing far more people than Breivik did.
Today, Eriksen serves as Norway’s environment minister in a supposedly centre‑left government that continues the "moral and economic madness" of expanding oil drilling in the Arctic.
https://x.com/antonioguterres/status/1511294073474367488
Berg is preparing a hunger strike to pressure the government to stop this madness.
This battle plays out as Norway heads to the polls on September 8, 2025, with oil policy front and centre. Berg’s protest will land squarely on his cousin’s doorstep.
This battle plays out as Norway heads to the polls on September 8, 2025, with oil policy front and centre. Berg’s protest will land squarely on his cousin’s doorstep.
Norway is drowning in oil wealth, with a sovereign wealth fund worth nearly $2 trillion - over $350,000 per citizen.
But still they want more.
Berg rightly describes it as "millions of people dying so we can get richer."
But still they want more.
Berg rightly describes it as "millions of people dying so we can get richer."
Eriksen has remained publicly respectful of his cousin but unwavering in his position. He argues that democratic buy-in is essential for any lasting transition.
“The methods may differ, but we’re family,” Berg says. “I’ll hold him accountable without burning the bridges.”
“The methods may differ, but we’re family,” Berg says. “I’ll hold him accountable without burning the bridges.”
Their story is a microcosm of a national paradox.
Norway is far from a country of climate deniers. It's electrifying its grid, leads in EVs, prides itself on being green.
Yet it continues granting new Arctic oil licenses and investing billions in fossil expansion. Simply evil.
Norway is far from a country of climate deniers. It's electrifying its grid, leads in EVs, prides itself on being green.
Yet it continues granting new Arctic oil licenses and investing billions in fossil expansion. Simply evil.
Pressure has mounted from groups including @Greenpeace and Nature & Youth who sued the government for violating the Norwegian constitution: the right to a healthy environment for current and future generations. How will those generations deal with Eriksen and his colleagues?
Despite court rulings partially recognising environmental rights, Norwegian appeals failed to block the licenses. Campaigners have escalated the fight to the European Court of Human Rights.
This is the choice so many face in society.
Work within the system, perhaps doing some good while also being complicit in radical evil.
Or resist and fight the system from outside.
One cousin helps manage the status quo. The other confronts it.
Which side are you on?
Work within the system, perhaps doing some good while also being complicit in radical evil.
Or resist and fight the system from outside.
One cousin helps manage the status quo. The other confronts it.
Which side are you on?
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