Newsletter #1 – 2016
The following presents the outcomes of our Action-conference in Leipzig and what lies ahead of us. With some 200 new and old climate activists present, we opted for the ‘ambition escalation game plan’. More than ever we are determined to mark the end of coal in Germany. Come join us!
1. Ende Gelände 2016: In May we will take Lausitz
2. Our choreography of actions for 2016/2017
3. Upcoming Ende Gelände meetings
4. International Mobilisation
1. Ende Gelände 2016: In Mai we will take Lausitz (near Berlin)
We have decided that in 2016 we will continue where we left off this year: With a mass action of civil disobedience at a place where climate change is being caused. On Pentecost/Whitsun weekend
(11th-15th May)
, we will block the diggers in Lausitz. This Ende Gelände action will be part of a series of actions against extractivism around the globe. Between the 7th and the 15th of Mai on five continents many thousands will perform actions of civil disobedience against the fossil industry, to show that we will “Keep it in the ground!”.
Why Lausitz?
The lignite mining area Lausitz, as of today, belongs to the Swedish corporation Vattenfall. Due to political pressure by the Swedish government, Vattenfall wants to get rid of it. But instead of closing both the mines and the power plants surrounding it, they are looking for a new investor – it would the largest reinvestment into coal in all of Europe, which means: more climate catastrophe, more resettlement, more pollution of our drinking water. The consequences of at least another thirty years of lignite mining in Lausitz would be disastrous, both locally and globally.
But with a strong action in Mai, we might still be able to disrupt the sale.
We say: Enough!
If Vattenfall wants to dropLausitz and leave the rest of the dirty work for others to do, we intervene. We demand thatGermany quit coal, starting now. And we know that we cannot count on the politicians to do it. But we can count on ourselves. In a mass action of civil disobedience we will claim Lausitz and halt the destruction. We call upon all, whether experienced in protests or not, to join us – together we will show the world: Whoever invests into coal at this stage, will meet our resistance.
2. Our choreography of actions for 20162017
- May 2016 (Pentecost/Whitsun weekend): Ende Gelände goes Lausitz. Mass action in the Lausitz region in Eastern Germany (southeast of Berlin) accompanied by a 4-day camp.
- End of August 2016: Climate-Degrowth-Camp + Action lab in the Rhineland. The camp is seen as a laboratory for developing and testing new forms of action and communion. It should also be a place to further connect and interact with international groups.
- 2017: “Area-concept” in the Rhineland mining area with various and diverse forms of action, among them an Ende Gelände mass action. This time we will close down Europe’s largest CO² dump for good.
3. Upcoming Ende Gelände meetings
Our next meetings will be on 9th January and on the weekend of 12th – 14th February . We will share the exact location soon on the website . If you are interested in joining us, please do. We need all the help we can get.
4. International Mobilisation
If you are interested in joining the international mobilisation for Ende Gelände 2016 or would like us to send you materials like flyers, banners, stickers, etc. (coming soon – all for free ;)), please send a mail to mobi@ende-geleande.org
Auf geht’s, ab geht’s – Ende Gelände!
Best regards, the Ende Gelände Newsletter-editors
