Press conference, 09/06/2018

Invitation to the common press conference, to the beginning of the tree felling, today at 3 pm
Kerpen-Buir, September 06th, 2018. This morning RWE started felling trees in the Hambach Forest. In the early hours of the morning a large crowd of police entered the forest, at half past ten the first tree was felled. Thus, the RWE Group and the police, commanded by the NRW state government, create irrevocable facts even before the official cutting period. With the so called Day X, a nationwide mass mobilization begins today. Thousands of people will engage for the conservation of the forest during the days to come with demonstrations, sitting blocks and forest walks.

The local initiative Buirer für Buir, activists of the occupation in the Hambach Forest, Ende Gelände and the Aktion Unterholz invite today to a joint press conference. It will take place at 3:00 pm in the Protestant Gemeindehaus (parish hall), Bahnstraße 42 in 50170 Kerpen-Buir. Then we drive together to the Hambach Forest, where we are available for interviews.

Today’s clearing work again sharpen the conflict over the Hambach Forest. The Federal Environment Ministry, the unions of police (GdP) and services (Ver.di), local residents and environmentalists demanded in recent weeks a coal moratorium and a deforesting stop. The Berlin coal commission threatens to fail, several members announced in the event of cuttings their exit from the panel. Nevertheless Mr. Reul, Minister of the Interior, ordered on behalf of the state government a large-scale police campaign, in order to enforce tree felling for RWE.

On Sunday, September 9, the initiative Buirer for Buir is calling for a demonstration in connection with a walk in the forest.
The occupiers of the forest are preparing to prevent the evacuation of over 60 tree houses during several weeks.
Ende Gelände announces blockades of coal infrastructure at the Hambach opencast mine on October 06 and October 25-29.
Aktion Unterholz will stop the destruction of the forest from tomorrow, Friday, 07-09-2018, with civil disobedience.

Representatives of the broad spectrum of protests comment on today’s developments as follows: “The escalation of the conflict by RWE represents a deep cut in our quality of life for the village of Buir. In addition to the forest and our neighboring villages, we also lose our peace. The Hambach Forest, for us a symbol of a future-oriented society, now threatens to become a memorial to the destruction of our future. We feel left alone by those responsible in the federal and state governments – forgotten,” says Andreas Büttgen of the local initiative Buirers for Buir.

“We defend the forest against RWE and Minister of the Interior Reul. In the trees we fight for climate justice and against capitalism. It will not be easy to get out of the forest,” says activist Momo of the occupations in the Hambach Forest.

“With the evictions and the felling, RWE clearly transgresses a red line for the climate. It is a scandal that the state government protects this way corporate profits and not the climate. We call for the carbon phase out, as an immediate measure of global climate justice,” said Karolina Drzewo, press officer of the alliance Ende Gelände.

“The destruction of the Hambach Forest is intolerable. We will therefore prevent the eviction and clearance of police and RWE from tomorrow on with actions of mass civil disobedience. By this form of action, we take our future into our own hands”, says Anna Schönberg of Aktion Unterholz.

Contact:
For background discussions, interviews or any questions, we are always happy to help.

Buirer für Buir: Andreas Büttgen, +49 173 5146141, info@nullbuirerfuerbuir.de
Waldbesetzung: Momo, press_hambachforest@nullriseup.net
Ende Gelände: Karolina Drzewo, +49 152 04560800, presse@nullende-gelaende.org, ende-gelaende.org
Aktion Unterholz: Anna Schönberg, +49 1775944678, presse_unterholz@nullriseup.net, aktion-unterholz.org

Continue ReadingPress conference, 09/06/2018

Live Ticker for eviction/

5.September

20:15 No more police inside the forest. They are still present around though.

19:33 One person that was taken into custody today is in hospital because the police broke their arm.

18:55 The Demonstration „Defending human rights“ will soon be at the edge of the forest.

17:57 Demonstration still going, now with around 700 people.

17:56 Detention support in Aachen is being harassed by police officers. Right now a person was forced to give their identity, and police officers are pushing handcuffed supporters up against a wall. Support your local supporters!

17:22 A-Tripod at Jesus Point has been evicted.
17:21 Demonstration passes through the dangerzone.
17:00 300 people are at the demonstration. The “A” tripod is almost evicted.
16:12 At Cozytown 3 generously filled Shit-Barricades are being evicted. The mood is good. At least for the activists.
16:10 The monopod and the tripod have been evicted. On the big A a person is still standing. He asks for people to be present to support at the detention center, when he will be evicted.
16:10 Updates from EA: 5 people in detention , 3 probably on the way there. Two were brought before the judge, and will be released tomorrow at 24 o’clock. In front of the detention people are waiting in solidarity.
16:05 Still a person on the Tripod (in the shape af a huge A) at Jesus Point
16:00 No more cops in Oaktown and food is ready!
13:30 Eviction of ground structures in T-Town. Nothing new about the tripod.

12:45 A group of 15 artists were sent away in Morchenich. They were on their way to their vernissage. Police talked about “art ban”.

11:53 Big police action around the tripod at “Jesus Point” including climbing cops. A front loader drove over the so called “bomb”, no explosives experts were present.

11:46 Ground structures in “Lorien” were evicted . One tripod is still standing.

11:35 Two people have been in Gesa (pre-charge detention centre at the police station) in Aachen since 4:30 last Night. They haven’t got food yet and were only now allowed to Have a call. Come to the Gesa! Bring Tobacco and vegan snacks.

10:55 A cherry-picker tried to evict the lowest platform in “Lorien” but people occupied it, so the cherry-picker drove off. The ground in “Oaktown” is getting thoroughly searched by the police. A small tripod got knocked down in “Lorien”, a big tripod is occupied.

10:34 Climbing Cops at the tripod. Person in 2,5 meter deep hole is locked on with the left arm. Cherry-picker in “Oaktown”.

10:14 Eviction troops of the police arrived at the tri-/ monopod structure at “Jesus Point”

09:32 Eviction of all ground structures in “Oaktown” has begun. In the background theres activists humiliating the police and RWE.

09:27 Police heard the name “Mike” in “Oaktown”: “Doesn’t he live at the meadow?”

09:25 The person that got taken into custody near the airfield was released again.

09:16 Police finds an art-installation and called explosives experts in.

09:09 One person was taken into custody near the airfield at the meadow.

09:05 Ultimatum from @RWE_AG: 10 minutes to get your private stuff and leave. Ultimatum from forest to RWE to leave or we’ll “Make use of our balaclavas!”.

09:00 Riot cops and securities all over “Oaktwon”. Shouting and sirens everywhere.

08:58 Technical forces with cherry-pickers at the tripod near the “Deathpop” entrance of the forest.

08:04 Forest side of the meadow sporadically blocked by the police

08:00 Police is driving aimlessly left and right at the meadow. Historical barricades are getting evicted.

07:40 “Lorien” is surrounded by the police. Eviction at the Lake of “Oaktown”.

07:31 A large amount of armoured police are cautiously entering the forest at “Deathpop”. A lot of eviction vehicles and securities, but still managable. Police is scouting on the main roads inside the forest.

06:00 Everything calm at the meadow. Some vehicles at “Deathpop”.

2. September

21:35 The police destroyed a fireplace and left the forest. Some police vans left at the security road.

21:20 The police has entered the forest again at “Deathpop”. They’ve already been there this afternoon to cut tarps.

Continue ReadingLive Ticker for eviction/

Demonstration For Hambi, Wed 5.9 Possible Eviction Day

Securing of evidence?This was a house before the so-called securing of evidence. Click for an enlargement

DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF HAMBI 5.9 WED Buir Train-station.

Regardless of, and perhaps especially because of the now 3 weeks of massive police actions: barricade clearings, constant harassment, arrests (now of 26+ all but 2 now released) meadow raid and confiscations, and now the information that large police action might be planned for this Wednesday the response to all this Climate Killing Bullshit has just been freaking phenomenal.  Supporters have been constantly streaming in and despite the searches, bringing over a ton of eviction food and supplies (with tools, pallets and climbing supplies being stolen by the co2ps).  Hundreds have visited, stayed and supported regardless of constant harassment even of the official protest Mahnwache, access to which is “legally” guaranteed without id checks and controls (those pressing this issue have been able to get in without being checked, others have just given their names without presenting ids). Also please remember that the forest is large so it is really hard to cut off all access from outside…

There has been mobilization of countless local support groups, initiatives, and even, yes, NGOs taking on the cause of Hambacher Forest, still more people packing their backpacks and joining the struggle would be good as well.  There has also been explosion of articles and reportage from the forest, all with the exception of local coal press being fairly positive.  This however does not change the fact that the escalation to push the Planet past catastrophic 2 degree climate warming and the run away global warming points of no return continues with at least 6 police vans posted around Hambi trying to control people coming to the forest and evictions and cutting of last portion of the forest being in the works regardless of the official Kohle Kommission coal exit narrative.

So counter balancing possible thousands of Co2ps  on the could be in the forest on this very same day is a valid climate justice and grass roots strategy.  One that can especially lift up the morally and spirits of the forest activists facing police violence, destruction of their homes and of their beloved unique on European scale habitat…

#HambiBleibt #HambacherForst: Please use those hashtags on twitter with updates on the situation from the demo and in case Fossil Fool Herbert Reul’s Co2ps attack Hambi excerpting the highest violence ever extended to all life on this planet, destabilizing the climate and future of the only life bearing world.

Hambi Bleibt!

train schedules for the demo from other cities:

Continue ReadingDemonstration For Hambi, Wed 5.9 Possible Eviction Day

Skill Share: Now more than ever, and even longer!

In the last few days we were asked again and again whether the Skillsharing camp will take place, despite the impending eviction. And of course the answer is yes! No matter if and which structures are evicted, we will find a place either in the Hambi or in the vicinity and make sure that there is a great skill share! And to show that we are not going to let the repression organs spoil our events, we’ll put in some more days.
The Skillshare-Camp will be opened on the evening of 09/22 and go until 10/03.

Some frequently asked questions
Some background info

Continue ReadingSkill Share: Now more than ever, and even longer!