Three activists from the environmental group Greenpeace have been deported from South Africa following their arrest here in Durban for trying to hang a banner off of a hotel. The hotel was hosting a meeting of corporate representatives attending the U.N. Climate Change Conference with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The banner read: “Listen to the people, not the polluters.” Democracy Now! spoke to two of the activists as they carried out their action on Monday.

Frank: “My name is Frank. I’m from Germany, and I came here to just protest against the pollution with carbon dioxide. But it was too windy, so we had to keep the safety of the climbers and stop it, unfortunately.”

Stina: “My name is Stina. I’m from Denmark. And I was here to throw a banner trying to get the politicians’ attention.”

Amy Goodman: “What did the banner say?”

Stina: “It said, 'Listen to the people, not polluters.'”

Amy Goodman: “So, you were risking your life on this very windy day on top of a hotel in Durban, South Africa. Why?”

Stina: “Because the politicians are not listening to the people.”