Climate campaigner, Greta Thunberg, was arrested alongside other activists protesting the expansion of a coal mine in the German village of Luetzerath on Tuesday 17 January.
.Greta Thunberg with a group of protesters in the German village of Luetzerath, which activists have been occupying for several years to protest the expansion of a coal mine. Picture: Greta Thunberg/ Twitter
Over 6 000 demonstrators recently occupied the abandoned village, which is to be demolished to make way for the expansion of the mine after the mine’s owner struck a deal with the government to demolish the village for faster extraction of coal.
Activists have stated that Germany should not be mining for more lignite, or brown coal, and should focus on expanding renewable energy instead. Europe is facing an energy crisis due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where Russia is the major supplier of gas to the continent.
Activists, however, claim that the coal will not be ready soon enough to solve Germany’s current energy crisis and will release 280 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Yesterday I was part of a group that peacefully protested the expansion of a coal mine in Germany. We were kettled by police and then detained but were let go later that evening.
Climate protection is not a crime.#LuetziBleibt #LuetziLebt #KeepItInTheGround #ClimateJustice
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 18, 2023
‘Greta Thunberg was part of a group of activists who rushed towards the ledge,’ a spokesperson for Aachen police told Reuters. ‘However, she was then stopped and carried by us with this group out of the immediate danger area to establish their identity.’
Thunberg was carried away by three police officers and escorted towards the police vans. She has since been released following a brief detention.
‘Germany is one of the biggest polluters in the world and needs to be held accountable,’ Thunberg said.
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