Germans Block Opening Of Coal Mine In Abandoned Village

The fate of a tiny village has sparked heated debate in Germany over the country’s continued use of coal and whether tackling climate change justifies breaking the law, Frank Jordans reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: Protesters dug trenches, built barricades, and perched atop giant tripods in an effort to stop heavy machines from reaching the village before police pushed them back by force.

Environmental activists were locked in a standoff with police this week around the hamlet of Luetzerath, west of Cologne, that’s due to be bulldozed for the expansion of a nearby lignite mine.

Protesters refused Tuesday to heed a court ruling banning them from the area. Some dug trenches, built barricades, and perched atop giant tripods in an effort to stop heavy machines from reaching the village before police pushed them back by force

“People are putting all of their effort, all of their lives into this struggle to keep the coal in the ground,” said Dina Hamid, a spokesperson for the activist group Luetzerath Lives. “If this coal is burned, we’re actually going to take down our climate goals,” she said.

“So we’re trying to, with our bodies, protect the climate goals.” Stephan Pusch, who heads the district administration, said that while he sympathized with the protesters’ aims, the time had come to give up Luetzerath.

The village’s last resident left in 2022 after being forced to sell to utility company RWE. “You’ve achieved your goal. Now clear the pitch,” he said to jeers from the room.

Many disagreed, arguing that the village is more than just a potent symbol for the need to stop global warming. Studies indicate that about 110 million metric tons of coal could be extracted from beneath Luetzerath. The government and RWE say this coal is needed to ensure Germany’s energy security — squeezed by the cut in supply of Russian gas due to the war in Ukraine.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic