Category Archives: Backgrounds

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Hambi saved, villages lost? Not yet!

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Hambi gerettet?See also: Press Release

UPDATE January 21th: After a protest by the North Rhine-Westphalian Minister for Economic Affairs Pinkwart, RWE has published a new map, see below. The question is, of course. whether this theater had been arranged beforehand. Because now the NRW state government is playing the role of savior of the forest and Morschenich..

An article appeared on the front page of the Aachener Nachrichten today under the heading: “Hambi saved, villages lost!”
On page three, a picture was published on how we should imagine this. Larger scale at the end of this article. So according to the plan, dredging should take place around the back of the forest, leaving a 400 m high hill with the rest of a lowland forest on it. Then the ex-Hambi will die of thirst.
Oops! Then we can cut and dig up the rest too. Pity! more…

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Call from Latin America – COP25, social movements and climate justice

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Coalition of Climate Justice Movements
A common declaration on climate crisis, energy transition and extractivism in Latin America.

Social movements were already organising their opposition to COP25 – in which those most affected by climate violence would be sidelined – even before the popular mobilisation started in Chile and Sebastián Piñera suspended the talks.

A gathering in Chile in September brought together frontline defenders to discuss the climate crisis, a just energy transition from the mining extractivist model that is killing Chileans and people all over the global South. more…

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Calling of some forest occupants on the occasion of yesterday’s announcement of RWE, they want to fell trees in Hambi

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German original: Indymedia

RWE announced yesterday via press release in their usual self-assured style, “within a short time” to want to fell trees, which are “dead or incurably damaged by the drought of last summer as well as by pest infestation”. Affected are allegedly 9 different, unspecified, locations in the occupied part of the forest, in the Merzenicher Erbwald near Morschenich, in the forest near the Hambach railroad and in the mining area.

Although we have nothing against trees occasionally falling on the rails, we will refer to the more ecologically valuable contiguous woodlands in the occupied part of the forest and in the Merzenicher Erbwald. more…

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Animal-free diet? Sure! But why?

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As often happens, also this post contains an opinion – on feelings of plants – that is not necessarily shared by everyone. As always, this shows how diversity can promote discussion.

 
Some may still remember: the German Greens once had the suggestion to set up a veggie day once a week in public canteens. All very nice and without obligation. They will not forget it that soon! They have not recovered from this shock until today. In the following shitstorm especially the term prohibition party was used very often and the Greens have become even more non-binding, with some pleasing exceptions.
However, it is now common knowledge that meat consumption and the production of animal food cause the greatest environmental impact. Meat addicts quip in the social media: “These vegans eat the food of my food!” This alone shows that everyone knows it: Actually, the reverse is the case. They feed on the livelihoods of the poor and even of the planet. more…

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On the current situation and the occupation in Morschenich

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In addition to the report on the occupation in Morschenich (House occupied in Morschenich) two people from the forest write here, because they feel the need to give a comment in retrospect. As always, the following is a formulation of individuals and not necessarily representative of the whole forest population.

An important point of anti-capitalist criticism starts right here: If a company can own a whole village, it can also determine what happens to it.

The examples of Manheim and Morschenich, where RWE relocates people and destroys houses, history and personal memories, in order to re-market the entire region, makes obvious the whole tragedy that comes with the massive depropriation by a big company. In the form of the villages, Hambach forest and the surrounding forests, RWE not only possesses important resources, but also can design the whole region and its habitats. Actually, such kind of property is theft. Because even if the company stops lignite mining in the region and instead pursues other plans (industry settlement etc.), it does not focus on the needs of those still living here, it’s all just about maximizing profits. This approach has always been supported by the state government in Düsseldorf. more…

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Open letter of solidarity from Leonard Peltier, to support the forest protectors in and around Hambach Forest

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We received the open letter below. We apologize for the late release because it was sent to us in a time in which we had a lot to do with our struggle. Here Leonard Peltier expresses his solidarity with the fight for Hambach Forest from the high security prison in Coleman / Florida.
We asked for the original text, which probably is in English, to publish it here. Meanwhile, you can read it translated back into English. Underneath you can find more details about Leonard and his struggle and how you can write to him.

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Germany

As you know, in our Native American spiritual philosophy, the connection to Mother Earth, Mother Nature, as you would say, is a very important element. We as human beings are only part of the sacred circle that connects people, plants, animals, mountains, rivers, winds and rain – we are all connected and related. Or as we Lakota say: Mitakuye Oyasin – ALL MY RELATIONS. more…

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If you necessarily need a date for the coal exit: – Now!

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This post was written shortly before the commission mentioned below published its results. As you may see, it is still very actual!
Opinions and thoughts of a group of people from the forest about the upcoming end of the commission on growth, structural change and employment

This commission is also known as coal-commission. This term is often been used in the public to create a false presentation. The exit of coal is just one of many topics, which is also just being discussed under “economical aspects”. Also the commission is talking about how to follow the aims for climate protection and the reduction of the CO2-emissions. For us it’s a mystery, how they want to reduce emissions, since they are actually talking about growth. more…

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Millions of ducks, geese, pigs, turkeys, carps, cows, chickens, rabbits, roes

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It’s that time again: the feast of peace is upon us. Millions of ducks, geese, pigs, turkeys, carps, cows, chickens, rabbits, roes and others have to put their heads on the block for it. I’m dreaming of a red Christmas. Their horrible lives end with a horrible death, so that on Christmas eve they are put on tables where is more disputed than on any other day. It is so nice to put the corpse of a victim of violence on the table at such a peaceful celebration. Before that, gifts have to be bought, in brightly lit pedestrian precincts or at mail-order stores, which treat their employees like the last piece of shit to squeeze more out of them. more…

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Police violence will be systematically investigated

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Der Rechtsstaat schreitet ein
The rule of law takes steps

This autumn, many people have realized what meanwhile provokes in the Hambach Forest a weary nod: the police (and their brothers and sisters in arms working directly for RWE) can do whatever they want. These are not slip-ups of sadists, it obviously has system. Should others and we ourselves be deterred from doing more than “just” protesting? Should violent ecoterrorists be bred? We can not look into their heads.
So many people have come a little naively into the forest with the intention of using their democratic right to demonstrate, who now lost all faith in the rule of law, due to repression. more…