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“The international climate negotiations on the implementation of the Paris climate conference will take place in Bonn in autumn 2017. But right next door in the Rhineland coal mining area, Europe’s largest CO2 emitter, the fuel most disastrous for the climate continues to be extracted and burnt. Germany is the world’s largest producer of lignite, a catastrophe for the climate.” – Ende Gelände
This past weekend a massive action for fossil-fuel phase-out took place in Germany’s Rhineland. Over 6000 people came together to take part in the two climate camps that were set up, the Red Lines protest or to participate in the mass civil disobedience actions Kohle erSETZEN and Ende Gelände.
There were many different types of creative actions and tactics, from blockades of the coal train tracks:
To actions in the mine:
And sit-ins blocking access to a coal-fired power station:
A massive 3000 people formed a “red line” human chain in protection of the nearby Hambacher forest, an ancient species-rich woodland which threatens to fall victim to the coal digger:
Each one of the people taking part had their own story and motivations, such as this mother and daughter who were participating in the action together. A wonderful example of inter-generational determination, solidarity and trust.
Mutter und Tochter ziehen zusammen los zur Grube! #endegelaende #familienausflug #climatejustice pic.twitter.com/ncucLlzS1H
— Fossil Free De (@FossilFreeDe) August 25, 2017
Many of those who participated in actions had never done this before. But none of this would have been possible without all the incredible people who stayed at camp and provided round the clock support. From cooking and delivering food and drinks to the blockades to cleaning toilets and making sure the camp had access to power. They provided legal advice and tips on dealing with the police. They gave press interviews, further action trainings, and kept live coverage up to date. The atmosphere at the camp was truly magical.
This was the question that the Disobedience Live (live broadcasted documentary project) posed to 4 activists they followed on their journey to and throughout Ende Gelände. It was an honest, powerful, insightful, at times funny and poetic account of what one act of climate civil disobedience felt like. Check out the clips below and visit disobedience.live to find out more about the activists and what took place.
But this resistance is not just about coal and fossil fuels, it’s about climate justice for all.
We are not only fighting for #endcoal in Germany – we fight for the rights of the people in #Colombia, South Africa, Pacific Islands, … pic.twitter.com/QU9AToqm0x
— Ende Gelände (@Ende__Gelaende) August 27, 2017
The next big moment for action in Germany will be during the UN Climate Conference, chaired by Fiji and hosted in Bonn. The low-lying islands in the Pacific are heavily threatened by rising sea levels and increasingly frequent typhoons. But the local population has a clear message: We are not drowning, we are fighting!
And so we’ll continue the fight for climate justice together. The Pacific Climate Warriors will be joining us in Bonn in November. Together with Ende Gelände and the local population here in the Rhineland, they will continue the protest and oppose the fossil fuel industry. The survival of their culture, lifestyle and home depends on it.
To stay in touch with what happens next and how you can be involved, visit ende-gelaende.org and sign up for updates from 350.org.
Until next time…