Activists Stage Protest Over Drinking Water Pollution in Denmark

A group of activists from Greenpeace carried out an action Thursday morning at the headquarters of Agriculture & Food at Axelborg in Copenhagen.

With the message “STOP THE PIG MESS — SAVE DRINKING WATER,” the activists redecorated the building’s facade by replacing the organization’s own advertisements with large red warning symbols. Messages were also written on the windows, including references to “health-damaging lobbying” and warnings about contamination of drinking water with pesticides and nitrate.

At the same time, three activists were on the roof, where, dressed in black suits and pig masks, they carried out an action using brought-along toilets. Behind them hung a banner reading “SAVE DRINKING WATER – STOP THE PIG MESS.”

According to Greenpeace, the action targets the role of Agriculture & Food in relation to the protection of groundwater.

“For decades, we have known that our drinking water is being polluted. The fact that groundwater has still not been protected is due to one special interest: the agricultural lobby organization, Agriculture & Food. Their lobbying has become a public health issue,” said Christian Fromberg, political campaign manager at Greenpeace.

One of the activists, Mads Wulff, stated that the organization wants greater focus on the consequences of pig production for drinking water.

According to Greenpeace, protection of vulnerable drinking water areas is limited, and pesticide residues are found in 55.7 percent of Denmark’s drinking water wells. The organization also points out that nitrate from slurry and fertilizer may pose a health risk.

According to Greenpeace, the issue of drinking water and agriculture has become a central topic in the political debate.

Greenpeace also states that a majority of voters support a pesticide ban, and that 95 percent of Danes want better protection of drinking water.