Environmentalists have occupied a forest near the Tesla factory near Berlin. They want to prevent the planned expansion of the Tesla site. Up to a hundred activists are said to have come to stay in the meter-high tree houses and tents in the camp: “The longer the occupation lasts, the better,” said the spokeswoman for the initiative.
The initiative called on other supporters to visit the camp and bring materials such as lumber, saws, climbing equipment and hammocks. “We hope more people come by.” The dispute over Tesla’s expansion plans is also likely to continue politically.
Wastewater values exceeded: production is threatened
Elon Musk’s American company is also being criticized because it exceeded certain wastewater values in Grünheide according to official measurements. The responsible Strausberg-Erkner water association therefore met for a special meeting on Friday. The result: Tesla currently does not have to count on a cessation of wastewater discharge. However, the association meeting failed to reach an agreement. Instead, a draft resolution to stop the removal has been postponed, association meeting chairman Henryk Pilz said. Why it was postponed initially remains unclear. The mayor of the town of Erkner subsequently resigned as chairman of the committee.
Tesla fears “millions of dollars in damage every day”
The American electric car manufacturer Tesla had previously warned the water association about stopping the drainage. “You are aware that stopping the discharge of the Gigafactory wastewater would lead to the cessation of production from the Gigafactory. Such a decision causes millions of dollars in damage every day,” the company said in a letter. The left-wing faction leader in the state parliament, Sebastian Walter, was critical
Masked activists are also likely active in similar protests
According to the initiative, about 80 to 100 environmental activists gathered in the camp next to the electric car factory. They built tree houses that were meters high, stretched ropes between the pine trees and set up tents. The protest initiative aims to prevent the forest from being cleared for a Tesla expansion. A number of the environmental activists, some of whom did not show their faces, also took part in protests in the Hambacher Forest or in the lignite village of Lützerath.
100 hectares of forest will make way for expansion
The electric car manufacturer plans to build a freight yard, warehouses and a corporate kindergarten next to the existing 300-hectare factory site. More than 100 hectares of forest will be cleared for this purpose. Tesla’s expansion plans were also rejected by a majority during a referendum in Grünheide a few days ago. After the negative citizen vote, the city council is now expected to decide on the development plan in May.
The police see no reason to break up the tent camp in the forest, but they do keep an eye on what happens there. “We will continue to monitor it,” said a spokesperson. The protest in the pine forest can continue until March 15, the police have decided. Because the meeting was not registered, criminal proceedings have been initiated for violation of the Assembly Act, a spokesperson said on Friday.
“Let it go and don’t push it out of the woods”
The initiative stated: “We are open to discussion, but will not allow ourselves to be pushed out of the woods.” This Saturday afternoon a forest walk is planned in Grünheide in protest against Tesla, as well as a piano concert in the forest. . When asked, Tesla has not yet commented on the protest camp next to the factory – and neither has the Grünheide community.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
