Climate activists from the group “Last Generation” activated the emergency shut-off valves at several oil pipeline stations in Germany. The aim, according to the activists, was to put pressure on the German government. The government should not allow any more drilling for fossil fuels in the North Sea.
Activists penetrate pipeline distribution stations and activate emergency shut-off valves
In the process, the activists penetrated the oil pipeline valve stations at locations near Berlin, Munich, Leipzig, Greifswald and Koblenz. By closing the shut-off valves, they were able to completely stop the flow of the affected pipelines. Afterwards, they also chained themselves to the shut-off valves. However, the photos they released indicate that the sites were only lightly secured. Apparently it only took two people at each site to gain entry. It probably did not take much effort to close the shut-off valves afterwards. Only a few days later, further attacks took place in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Image: Stefan Müller (climate stuff, 1 Mio views) from Germany, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Activists call for no more drilling to be allowed
The activists called on the German Minister of Economics and Climate Change, Robert Habeck, to declare that Germany will no longer build fossil fuel infrastructure. According to their demands, the government should in particular no longer approve any new oil drilling in the North Sea.
Government must not allow itself to be blackmailed
In view of recent developments, the government must not heed the call and even allow itself to be blackmailed by a small group of radical activists. Germany is currently searching high and low for alternatives to Russian oil and gas. This includes new offshore drilling in its own waters. Officials in the German state of Lower Saxony have already given the green light to this. They have already approved gas drilling off the Wadden Islands. A rare concession by the Greens for additional fossil fuel extraction.
The “last generation” is becoming more and more radical
Habeck has called for finding new sources of oil and gas to make the German economy independent of Russian supplies. Recently, Habeck announced that Germany has procured enough foreign oil in the long term to be able to stop its imports of Russian crude oil in a few days. The “Last Generation” is a small group of activists who have already publicly announced corresponding attacks on infrastructure and industrial plants. Last August and September, five members of the group went on an 18-day hunger strike in front of the Reichstag demanding a “climate citizens’ assembly” to present plans to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. One protest participant even had to be hospitalised in the process. In February, groups of Last Generation activists stuck their hands on streets in Munich and Berlin. They were demonstrating against food waste, which is said to be responsible for about eight percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
In the meantime, the group is becoming more and more radicalised. Their demands are absolutely unconditional, a constructive discussion is not possible with them. Corresponding attacks have already been announced in advance. But with attacks on critical infrastructure, they are now endangering security in the country. These are no longer trivial offences, they are criminal acts that even border on terrorism. This means that the “Last Generation” has now become a case for the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. They have looked the other way for far too long.
Price: € 54.99.jpg){kind=link}