Greenpeace has demonstrated outside the Danish embassy in The Hague in protest against the arrest of a member of staff, Joris Thijssen.

Mr Thijssen was arrested in Copenhagen on Friday during the Climate Change Summit. He was involved in a “friendly” demonstration at a gala given by Danish Queen Margarethe.

Mr Thijssen’s family and colleagues sang Christmas songs with a choir and held up a large Christmas card, calling for Mr Thijssen to be released before Christmas. They also spoke with the deputy ambassador for Denmark.

Greenpeace said the gala incident was tongue-in-cheek, and that the Danish reaction was “disproportionate”. Mr Thijsen and three other environment activists (a Swede, a Spaniard and a Swiss) could face several months in prison. Greenpeace says the four do not want to escape justice and are prepared to face trial at a later date, but they do want to return home for the holiday.

Joris Thijssen has been involved in climate activism for many years. He has tried to promote sustainable energy in China and documented melting icecaps in Patagonia. He even attempted to proclaim himself Environment Minister after the 2002 elections. He entered the grounds of the royal palace Huis ten Bosch while the queen addressed the new cabinet and sneeked into the Lower House and began a speech with the words: “Good afternoon fellow ministers and deputy ministers. In case you forgot: my name is Joris Thijssen, environment minister.” Both times he was arrested.
 

Photo: Greenpeace - Flickr/Gottick Matt