Since the 1th of October nearly everyday different actions happened against the Logging Work in the Hambach Forest near Cologne (Germany). Tree Occupations, Blockades on the Roads towards the Hambach Forest, Blockades of Companys which are involved in the Exploration. In this Time a lot of Assaults by RWE Security against the Activists happened. Workers of the Company “Kaisers” attacked Activists with hammers and put death threats against the Activists.
These Blockades are part of the “No Tree is cutted” Campaign. These Campaign should disturb the logging action, the operating schedule of coal mining and energy generating.
Coal Mining is the most climate damaging way to generate Electricity. This way is accomplished here by batons, police and judicial trials. With Flood Light, Fences, Barbwire, Security Guards with Dogs, Starving out activists, Violence against Activists and Hundreds of Cops they trie to prevent the disturbance of the coal mining.
Since several Years the resistance is facing the interests of the Companys. Several Times since 2012 activists occupied the hambach forest to stop this life harming Technology through Treeoccupation, Ocupation Camps on the ground, Manifestations and Climate/Skill Sharing Camps. In this Time a colourful and creative resistance movement developed.
This was also showed by the last days due to different direct actions. Yesterday there was another Blockade of a logging machine. Three Activists climbed on the Machine and made there concerns public through a microphone. One Activist locked himself to the machine with his neck, so that in case of eviction he would be strangled. These was made public to the Security Guards to prevent them from eviction. The Security made an attempt to pull down the activists from the machine. In this situation the locked on person was falling in his neck and got strangled. The Security stopped the attempt. The surrounded the Machine to prevent the activist from getting away. After One Hour the the Police showed up with around 30 Persons. Despite the Surrounding 2 Activists could escape.
In several negotiations between the locked on Person and the Chief of police it was communicated that the Person could not free himself. After this Policeman entered the machine and were fixing the person to the roof and then cut the neck chain. Then the police brought the person with handcuff and batons to the police station in Dürren. There they collected his fingerprints to identify the person. Then he was released.
Today in the Morning RWE started logging work directly in the area of the Occupations to provoke the activists. Several Activists entered the forest to stop the logging work because in this area activists are living on the ground and on the trees.
Thereupon the RWE Security attacked and injured activists by batons, pepperspray and punches. Also Activists got arrested with strangling and cable ties. Shortly After that the police entered the forest with heavy machines 4 units of riot police and technical supply. Until now 9 Persons got arrested and transported to the police station in dürren. Also the Police started to evict the “Pile” (a barricade with people living in it) which is blocking the way to the tree occupation. For more up-to-date information check the ticker.
Chronology of the last weeks.
29.10. Blockade of the logging work by occupation of the machines. One Person locked-on and the arrested.
28.10. Blockade of the logging work by building barricades and paint bombs to the machines.
25.10. Blockade by blocking the logging machine.
19.10. Walk throw the Forest with 50 Person.
17.10. RWE and Police found a second Occupation near the hole. They directly cut the trees. No Activists in the trees.
15.10. Activist in falling out of the tree. One Person arrested.
