German police detained Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other protesters at the edge of an open-cast coal mine Tuesday, where they were protesting against the destruction of a village to expand coal production, the German news agency reported. dpa.
Thunberg was among hundreds of people who resumed anti-mining protests in various locations in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Last year the German government reached an agreement with the energy company RWE that allows it to destroy the village in exchange for ending the use of coal by 2030, instead of 2038.
The government argues that the coal is necessary to guarantee the energy security of Germany, affected by the cut in the supply of Russian gas due to the war in Ukraine.
However, environmentalists argue that demolishing the village of Luetzerath will result in large greenhouse gas emissions.
In western Germany dozens of climate activists rallied to a main street in the city of Cologne, and to a state government building in Düsseldorf. Near Rommerskirchen, a group of about 120 activists also occupied the coal railway tracks to the Neurath power station.
Those who refused to leave the tracks were detained, reported dpa.
Thunberg had traveled to western Germany to take part in anti-mine demonstrations and was also at Tuesday’s protest near Luetzerath.
“We are going to use force to take you to identity control, so cooperate,” a police officer told the group, according to a report from Reuters.
“Greta Thunberg was detained and taken by us with this group out of the immediate danger area to establish her identity,” a police spokesperson said.
Thunberg was taken by three police officers to a location away from the mine and then escorted to police vans.
“Germany is one of the biggest polluters in the world and must be held accountable,” Thunberg said.
Associated Press/Reuters/OnCuba.
