Coal Mine

#germany #Luetzerath #coalmine #climateprotesthttps://gotopnews.com/post/1338784Riot-equipped police began evacuating climate activists from a doomed village in West Germany that had to be demolished to expand a coal mine. Key points: Police say most protests are peaceful Police said most of the protests were peaceful. Dozens of activists set up camp Wednesday afternoon. Dozens of activists camped Wednesday afternoon Climate activist Greta Thunberg is expected to attend a large protest near the site on Saturday On Wednesday, local time, some stones and fireworks were thrown as officials entered the small hamlet of Luetzerath, which has become a hotspot for the country’s climate efforts. Police spokesman Andreas Mueller said the attacks on police officers were “unpleasant”, but noted that most protests so far have been peaceful. He said police will adhere to any escalation avoidance tactic, allowing any activist who leaves voluntarily to do so without facing further police action or prosecution. Still, some protesters complained police use excessive force, and others said scale police response – with officers brought in from across country and water cannons at hand – was a form escalation not justified by peaceful protest. At least one woman screamed in obvious pain as officers used force to pull her out of the barricade outside village. Dozens of activists continued to camp in Luetzerath, some in elaborate treehouses, as dozens of activists slowly made their way through the village, clearing police barricades and a communal soup kitchen. Some activists are reading a book or playing the accordion while perched on 3-meter tripods. Despite the cold wind, few sat or stood on the roofs of Luetzerath’s remaining buildings. “I’m really scared today,” said Petra Mueller, 53, who had been in area for a few days, from the top-floor window of one of few remaining homes. Mueller said he still hopes to preserve what’s left of Luetzerath “until there’s nothing left, the last hope dies”. Environmentalists say bulldozing the village to expand the nearby Garzweiler coal mine will result in massive greenhouse gas emissions. The government and utility company RWE argue that coal is essential to ensure Germany’s energy security. But a study by the German Institute for Economic Research questions the government’s stance. Its authors found that although the cost of RWE is higher, other existing coalfields could be used instead. Another alternative for Germany could be to increase renewable energy production, curb demand through energy efficiency measures, or import more coal or gas from abroad, according to the study. The protesters refused to heed a court order effectively banning them from region on Monday, citing the work and urgent need to reduce global carbon emissions. Some activists have expressed their particular anger at the environmental Green party, which is part of both regional and national governments, which last year reached a deal with RWE that allowed it to destroy the village in exchange for an end to coal use by 2030 instead of 2038. ‘wrong symbol’ Deputy Chancellor Robert Habeck, a Green, Germany’s economy and climate minister, defended the agreement as “a good decision for climate protection”, which met the demands of many environmentalists and saved five other villages from destruction. “I think climate protection and protests need symbols, but the empty hamlet of Luetzerath, where no one lives anymore, is the wrong symbol for me,” Habeck told reporters in Berlin. Climate advocates say expanding a massive open-pit coal mine goes against Germany’s international commitments to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. The country is expected to fail to meet its ambitious targets for the second year in a row. A spokesperson for the Luetzerath Lives activist group Lakshmi Thevasagayam said Luetzerath “is now Europe’s crystallization place for the climate movement.” “We know that coal under Luetzerath is not essential for energy security – it has to stay underground so we can achieve climate justice. “Now we can do something about climate catastrophe, but at some point we won’t be able to anymore.” Ms Thevasagayam accused police of going on “a full escalation” by continuing the evacuation Wednesday. RWE said in a statement that a 1.5km fence will be built around the pitch. He called on activists to peacefully end the “illegal occupation” of the site, which he legally owned. Police spokesman Andreas Mueller said authorities had been preparing the evacuation operation, if necessary, until last few weeks. Twitter content loading The heads of various environmental organizations planned to visit Luetzerath on Thursday to express their solidarity with the activists there. A major protest is also planned near the site on Saturday, which will also be attended by renowned Swedish climate advocate Greta Thunberg.