Famous climate activist Greta Thunberg announced a visit to the Western German village of Lützerath as police forces start to evict the climate activists currently blocking its demolition.
The village is set to be demolished to make room for the expansion of a coal mine by energy giant RWE, leading to activists occupying the site in protest.
Following Thunberg’s visit to Lützerath in September 2021, she will travel again to the village this Saturday, dpa reported.
Meanwhile, a police spokesperson said that “all is going to plan” concerning the eviction of activists, which was started on Wednesday, as cited by FAZ, which also reported on the individual violent actions by protesters.
“This morning was surely mixed, as we partially witnessed stones and Molotov cocktails being thrown,” the spokesperson said.
The situation had calmed down by the afternoon, as “we have very predominantly seen peaceful protests.” The police “expressly welcomes that a large number of activists decided to leave this area peacefully and without resistance,” the spokesperson added.
While prominent climate activist Luisa Neubauer criticised the eviction as “one-sidedly serving the profit interests” of RWE in a radio interview, Green Economy and Climate minister Robert Habeck defended the step.
The compromise struck between the regional and federal governments and RWE, according to which other surrounding villages are spared while Lützerath is demolished, brings more legal security to attain Germany’s planned coal exit by 2030, he argued.
(Julia Dahm | EURACTIV.de)
Source: euractiv.com
