The environmental activists in the occupied forest near the Tesla factory in Grünheide near Berlin have prepared for a week-long protest. “The longer the occupation lasts, the better,” says a spokeswoman for the “Stop Tesla” initiative.
The occupation of the forest in protest against the planned expansion of the Tesla site began at night. 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 will come along.”
According to the initiative, there are around 80 to 100 environmental activists – some of them masked – in the camp next to Elon Musk’s electric car factory. They built tree houses several meters high, stretched ropes between the pine trees and pitched tents. The protest initiative wants to prevent the forest from being cleared for a Tesla expansion.
The electric car manufacturer plans to build a freight yard, warehouses and a company kindergarten next to the existing 300-hectare factory site. More than 100 hectares of forest will be made way for this.
Tesla’s expansion plans were also rejected by a majority in a referendum a few days ago. There is also a dispute between the company and the responsible water association because wastewater limits have been exceeded.
Critical moment Kommunikation von Tesla
In view of the resistance against the Tesla factory in Grünheide, the Berlin-Brandenburg business associations (UVB) have advised the car manufacturer to adopt a more aggressive communication and information policy. “It’s a bit of an unusual strategy to not talk to anyone except the responsible authorities,” said UVB managing director Alexander Schirp on RBB Inforadio on Friday. “There is a lot of room for improvement because you can send messages that have the power to convince,” said Schirp. It is hardly known that Tesla did not receive “a single euro of funding” for the plant. 1,200 of the 12,000 employees – a tenth – were hired because of unemployment.
Police are holding back
The police see no reason to break up the tent camp in the forest, but are monitoring what is happening there. “We continue to keep an eye on it,” said a spokesman. The protest in the pine forest can continue until March 15, the police had decided.
The initiative said: “We are open to discussion, but will not allow ourselves to be pushed out of the forest.” The “Stop Tesla” initiative also wanted to speak at the climate protest in Berlin on Friday, which the climate movement Fridays for Future had called for. This Saturday afternoon, a walk in the forest to protest against Tesla and a piano concert in the forest are planned in Grünheide.
When asked, Tesla has not yet commented on the protest camp next to the factory – nor has the community of Grünheide. The environmental activists receive support from the local citizens’ initiative.
Demand to Brandenburg’s head of government
The Grünheide citizens’ initiative called on Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD) to visit the camp and speak to the occupiers. Around 100 activists came together in the forest near the electric car factory on Thursday, several of whom also took part in protests in the Hambacher Forest or in the brown coal village of Lützerath.
In addition to the planned deforestation, environmentalists also criticize, among other things, the mining of lithium for batteries. They accuse Tesla of endangering drinking water and poor occupational safety. “Clean cars are a dirty lie” and “Water is a human right” could be read on posters.
Eastern Commissioner: Consider protest when planning major projects
With a view to the resistance against large factories like Tesla, Eastern Commissioner Carsten Schneider advises companies to advertise themselves to local people. From Schneider’s point of view, industrial settlements in East Germany are no longer a sure-fire success. “I notice a change in East Germany,” said the SPD politician to the German Press Agency. “In the past, practically every major project was welcomed as long as it brought jobs. Now there is occasional resistance. We have to take that into account when planning in the future.” The US electric car manufacturer’s expansion plans were rejected by a majority in a referendum in the affected community of Grünheide a few days ago.
Water association advises on exceeding limit values for wastewater
Today, the Strausberg-Erkner Water Association (WSE) is holding an extraordinary meeting to discuss whether it will stop wastewater disposal at Tesla. According to official measurements, Tesla has exceeded certain wastewater limits. However, the Oder-Spree district sees no danger to the health of the population, as it announced upon request.
