Berlin, Europe Brief News – A protest vigil organised by climate activists in a Luetzerath village in western Germany was violently suppressed by German police forces.
Dozens of climate activists have been protesting against the demolition of the tiny hamlet for the expansion of a coal mine.
Some stones and fireworks were thrown as officers entered the village which has become a flashpoint of debate over the country’s climate efforts.
Police spokesman Andreas Mueller said the attacks on officers were “not nice” but noted that most of the protests so far had been peaceful.
Peaceful protesters are trying to prevent the emissions of 280.000.000 Tons of CO2 in Lützerath.
German authorities respond with torture.#LuetziBleibt
🎥 @DanniPilger pic.twitter.com/22ZMHlA9Bg— ᴊᴏᴀɴɪᴇ ʟᴇᴍᴇʀᴄɪᴇʀ (@JoanieLemercier) January 10, 2023
He said police would stick to their tactic of trying to avoid any escalation by offering to let any activists who leave on their own accord to do so without facing further police measures or prosecution.
“I’m really afraid today,” Petra Mueller, a 53-year-old local who had been at the site for several days, said from a top-floor window of one of the few remaining houses. Mueller said she still held out hope of preserving what is left of Luetzerath “until nothing is left standing; hope dies last”.
Environmentalists say bulldozing the village to expand the nearby Garzweiler coal mine would result in huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. The government and utility company RWE argue that coal is needed to ensure Germany’s energy security.
However, a study by the German Institute for Economic Research calls into question the government’s stance. Its authors found other existing coal fields could be used instead, though the cost to RWE would be greater.
