MAHMOUD BENNETT:
CLIMATE ACTIVIST GRETA THUNBERG HAS BEEN DETAINED BY GERMAN POLICE AT A PROTEST OVER THE EXPANSION OF A COAL MINE.
THE INCIDENT OCCURRING IN LUTZERATH – A VILLAGE IN WESTERN GERMANY SET TO BE DEMOLISHED BY MULTINATIONAL ENERGY COMPANY RWE IN ORDER TO EXPAND THE MINE
A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE REGIONAL POLICE FORCE CONFIRMED THUNBERG’S DETENTION, AND SAID THAT SHE, ALONG WITH THE OTHER PROTESTORS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, WOULD BE RELEASED LATER IN THE DAY.
RIOT POLICE REMOVED ACTIVISTS FROM BUILDINGS IN THE VILLAGE LAST WEEKEND, BUT THUNBERG AND OTHERS REMAINED AT THE SITE OF THE MINE STAGING A SIT-IN ON TUESDAY.
ORGANIZERS OF THE PROTEST SAID AROUND 35,000 DEMONSTRATORS SHOWED UP SATURDAY WHILE POLICE SAID THE NUMBER WAS CLOSER TO 15,000
CLIMATE ACTIVISTS SAY THE COAL MINE’S PLANNED EXPANSION WOULD RELEASE VAST AMOUNTS OF GREENHOUSE GAS AND VIOLATE GERMANY’S COMMITMENTS TO THE 2015 PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD.
FOR MORE ON THIS ISSUE, CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS PIECE WHICH BREAKS DOWN THE CLIMATE CLASH IN LUTZERATH.