In Germany, about 1,000 eco-activists are protesting the expansion of RWE's Garzweiler coal mine at the expense of the demolition of the village of Lucerat.
Police in riot gear began evicting environmental activists to clear the blocked road, Al Jazeera reported.
Eco-activists settled in tree houses, camping and on tripods, which they set up right on the road, dug trenches and built barricades. They also threw several stones and fireworks at the police.
Police spokesman Andreas Müller said the attacks on police officers were "unpleasant", but noted that most of the protests had so far been peaceful. People are encouraged to leave the village voluntarily without further police action or prosecution.
It is noted that according to ecologists, the demolition of the village with a bulldozer for the expansion of the coal mine will lead to huge emissions of greenhouse gases. The government and RWE argue that coal is needed to ensure Germany's energy security.
The article emphasized that the study of the German Institute for Economic Research casts doubt on the government's position. After all, other existing coal deposits can be used instead, but this will require higher costs. In addition, Germany could increase green generation, scale energy efficiency measures or increase coal imports.
The article emphasized that some activists expressed particular anger at the environmental Green Party, which is part of regional and national governments. The party reached a deal with RWE, allowing the village to be destroyed in exchange for ending coal use by 2030, rather than 2038.
Eco-activists stress that the expansion of a large open-pit coal mine runs counter to Germany's international obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The country is expected to miss its ambitious targets for the second consecutive year.
As EcoPolitic reported earlier, in Germany, the energy company RWE dismantled one of the 8 wind turbines of the Keienberg Park in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia to expand the Garzweiler coal mine (open pit).
