Popular Climate activist, Greta Thunberg on Saturday, joined thousands of demonstrators to march in a large-scale protest in Germany against the demolition of a village to make way for an opencast coal mine extension.
To press home their demands, activists marched on the hamlet of Lützerath in western Germany, waving banners, chanting and being accompanied by a brass band. Thunberg marched at the front of the procession as demonstrators converged on the village, showing support for activists occupying it in protest over the coalmine extension.
However, there were violent clashes with police as local media reported that stones were being thrown at police. One demonstrator was seen with a head injury, as ambulance sirens sounded near the protest site.
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“Germany is really embarrassing itself right now,” the climate activist said before the protest on Saturday, describing the force used by police in their clearance of the protest camp earlier this week as “outrageous”.
“When the government and corporations act like this, destroying the environment … the people step up,” she was quoted to have said.
According to reports, demonstrators have occupied the village in the brown-coal district of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia for two years, trying to stop the expansion of the nearby lignite mine run by energy firm RWE. Some built elaborate treehouses.
The German government and RWE argue that extra coal is needed to ensure the country’s energy security. However, a study by the German Institute for Economic Research has questioned this, suggesting other existing coalfields could be used instead – although RWE’s costs would be higher.
After a decision allowing RWE to proceed with the expansion, reports suggested more than 1,000 police in riot gear evicted hundreds of demonstrators from the village earlier this week.
Story was adapted from the Guardian.
