Lütherath: Greta Thunberg on climate demo

STORY: Prominent supporters at the demonstration to preserve Lützerath on Saturday. Together with the climate activist Greta Thunberg, thousands of people moved towards the lignite village. The town in North Rhine-Westphalia is to be demolished so that the energy giant RWE can expand its Garzweiler II opencast mine. The demonstrators are not only protesting against the destruction of Lützerath, but also against the CO2 emissions caused by the use of lignite. The goal sought by the world community of limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial times can no longer be met. Thunberg said the battle for Lützerath is not over as long as the coal is still in the ground. Germany accused them of being “one of the biggest climate sinners in the world”. “The fact that you are all here is a sign of hope. This is just part of a larger, global climate movement. A movement for climate justice, social and ethnic justice. What happens in Lützerath does not stay in Lützerath. As one of the world’s biggest polluters, Germany has an enormous responsibility.” On the fringes of the protests, there were clashes with the police when demonstrators tried to get to the demolition edge and into the opencast mine. The authority did not provide any information on the number of emergency services. Since Wednesday, Lützerath has been evacuated with a massive police presence. The last occupied house had already been cleared by emergency services on Friday. In the village on Saturday, however, some activists stayed in tree houses and an underground tunnel.