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German Green Energy Fail: Demolishing a Village to Expand a Coal Mine

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From Watts Up With That?

Essay by Eric Worrall

Massive protests have erupted in the village of Luetzerath, as German authorities advance plans to demolish the village to make way for more coal mining.

Police and climate activists clash outside Germany’s Luetzerath village as Garzweiler mine prepares for expansion

Posted Tue 3 Jan 2023 at 5:07pm

Scuffles have broken out outside a village in western Germany set to be razed to allow the expansion of a coal mine, a plan drawing resistance from climate activists.

Key points:

  • Activists in Luetzerath were living in houses abandoned by former residents
  • Officials have called for a nonviolent end to their occupation
  • Police have been ordered to clear the village from January 10

Activists threw fireworks, bottles and stones at police outside the village of Luetzerath before the situation calmed down and officers pulled back, German news agency dpa reported.

Protesters had previously set up a burning barricade, and one glued his hand to the access road.

The village is to be demolished to expand the Garzweiler lignite mine, despite protests from environmentalists who fear millions more tonnes of heat-trapping carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere.

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