Environmentalists have called on politicians in Brandenburg to stop the US car manufacturer Tesla’s expansion plans in Grünheide near Berlin. Until then, they want to occupy the forest next to billionaire Elon Musk’s factory to prevent deforestation, as they announced at the weekend. “Our protest has just begun and will get even bigger,” said Lou Winters from the “Turn Off the Tap to Tesla” coalition on Saturday.
The 80 to 100 environmental activists from many corners of Germany expanded the protest camp they set up on Thursday with ten tree houses. They saw themselves strengthened above all by the encouragement of local residents.
Protest camp with piano and pizza
Piano music between the pine trees, pizza fresh from the oven, offers to try climbing: the protest camp exuded an almost cheerful atmosphere. Citizens of the region, including families with children, walked through the camp when the weather was good. They also dropped off food, toilet paper and other donations.
The environmental groups want to support the resistance of the residents. In a recent survey, the majority of the population of the 9,000-inhabitant community of Grünheide spoke out against Tesla’s expansion plans. Politicians must follow this vote, demanded the environmental groups. “What else has to happen for politicians to react and finally put human welfare ahead of profit interests,” said Winters. Refugee and climate activist Carola Rackete, who visited the protest camp on Saturday, said: “I think the expansion has to be stopped because the residents don’t want it.” Rackete is the Left’s top candidate for the European elections.
This increases the trouble for the company and its only European car factory. There is also a dispute about Tesla wastewater and exceeding limit values. There is no quick solution in sight for an outstanding development plan.
Tesla wants to expand its site, which is partly in the water protection area, and build a freight station as well as logistics and warehouses. It is an area of around 120 hectares that is to be cleared for this purpose. The expansion plans should also be seen against the background that the car manufacturer wants to increase production and double the planned 500,000 cars per year to one million. The last estimate was 300,000 cars per year. Tesla argues that the freight station would shift traffic from road to rail.
Tree houses and occupied forests were part of the program of the environmental movement, which in the past protested against motorways and especially coal mining, for example in North Rhine-Westphalia. Images of evictions with a large police presence are also remembered. There were also scuffles between activists and security forces.
Police allow up to 15 structures
In Grünheide – which is located in an excursion region rich in forests and lakes – the situation remains relaxed for the activists. The police, who occasionally stopped by with a few officers, are currently allowing the camp to stay until mid-March. The environmental groups are allowed to build a maximum of 15 buildings in the forest, according to a notice from the authority that can be viewed in the camp. You are not allowed to light fires or leave piles of rubbish behind.
In the eyes of the forest occupiers, the conflict over Tesla, water and forest continues. For example, you mention the lithium mining necessary for batteries, which causes major environmental damage in Latin America. Although electric cars have a green coating, they are not a solution to the climate crisis, said Winters. She called for the production of electric buses for free local transport instead of SUVs.
Tesla itself has not yet commented on the protest. The state government also did not react. She sees the Tesla factory, with around 12,500 jobs so far, as a driving force for a growing industrial location. The citizens’ initiative in Grünheide once again criticized Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke for rolling out the red carpet for Musk.
While community representatives have to struggle for a solution after citizens say no to the Tesla expansion, environmental activists are calling for further protests. On March 10th there will be a demonstration at the town hall in Grünheide. An action weekend called “Disrupt Tesla” is planned for May.
