Hambach Forest Protest Turns into Celebration as Court Halts RWE Expansion
Tens of thousands of environmentalists gathered in the terms of Hambach on October 4, 2019, ready to defend it from destruction by utility company RWE. Over 150 buses and special trains brought activists from across Germany and Europe to the site. The protest, initially planned as a demonstration, turned into a celebration after a court lifted the ban on gatherings nearby and within the terms. The Higher Administrative Court of Münster ruled that RWE could not expand mining operations into the terms area, deeming it irreversible. The court argued that RWE had not provided sufficient reason for an immediate clearing of the Hambach terms. Activists, armed with equipment like shovels, axes, saws, spray bottles, and masks, prepared for a final stand as legal options to save the terms dwindled. Support for preserving the Hambacher terms was overwhelming, with 79% of respondents in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) backing its protection, including 71% of CDU supporters. The Merkel government's commission on growth, structural change, and employment sought a political solution but ultimately failed to effectively save the terms long-term. RWE warned of substantial short-term operational effects and potential revenue losses of hundreds of millions due to the court's decision. The terms had already suffered destruction, with all tree houses demolished, one fatality, and hundreds arrested in previous protests. The planned protest on October 4, 2019, turned into a party, highlighting the determination of environmentalists to protect the Hambacher terms. Despite the widespread support and legal setbacks for RWE, the long-term fate of the terms remains uncertain.
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