German Letzte Generation joins Extinction Rebellion in the A12 blockade on Saturday, September 30, 2023
Action group comes to The Hague with 100 people: “Climate change doesn’t halt at borders so neither should climate action.”
On Saturday, September 30, 2023, the German climate movement Letzte Generation will come to The Hague with 100 people to join the A12 blockade. That the A12 blockades are gaining notoriety outside the Netherlands strengthens Extinction Rebellion in its opposition to the annual 39.7 to 46.4 billion euro fossil subsidies.[1] A big turnout is again expected on this fourth Saturday of the ongoing A12 blockades. Spokesperson Lucas Winnips: “We will keep coming back every day at noon until the government ends fossil fuel subsidies.”
Carla Hinrichs, spokesperson of Letzte Generation explains: “Fossil fuel subsidies and governments lying about their deadly consequences are a global problem. The German government is investing billions in oil, gas and coal while at the same time claiming to do everything in their power to fight climate change. That’s exactly what’s happening in the Netherlands and basically all across the globe. That is why we support Extinction Rebellion Netherlands in the A12 blockade. All over the world and especially in the global south, people are suffering the consequences of the climate and ecological crisis. It is absurd that Western governments are still driving that crisis with hundreds of billions of fossil fuel subsidies every year. This criminal policy must stop — and it can be stopped if we all work together. Climate change doesn’t halt at borders so neither should climate action. That is why we will join the protests in The Hague.”
Recent actions by Letzte Generation in Germany
On Sunday, September 17, 2023, several supporters of Letzte Generation sprayed the Brandenburg Gate with orange paint to emphasize the necessary policy change — away from fossil fuels, towards an honest and socially balanced climate policy. Since then Letzte Generation has been protesting in Berlin with up to 40 roadblocks per day. The monument is still not fully cleaned and looms as an orange warning sign in the middle of the German capital. Last Sunday, September 24, Letzte Generation emptied buckets of orange paint on the track of the Berlin-Marathon, which was then spread out by the shoes of hundreds of international runners who thereby carried the protest out into the whole world.
Water cannon not deployed since court summons
On Monday September 25, 2023 Extinction Rebellion Netherlands announced that it would file summary proceedings against the Dutch State to prohibit the use of water cannons at the A12 blockades. These summary proceedings will be held on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the Palace of Justice in The Hague. Remarkably, the Hague police have not deployed any water cannons since the announcement of these summary proceedings. Also, hardly any police were deployed on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, which meant that Extinction Rebellion could blockade the A12 tunnel trough like it did last year. According to a spokesman for the municipality of The Hague, “other priorities now take precedence.”[2]
What is Letzte Generation?
The movement “Letzte Generation“ was initiated in 2021 by a small group of activists who organized a hunger strike in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin. They made Olaf Scholz, then chancellor candidate, meet up with them for a public discussion about the climate catastrophe and the political failure of an adequate response.
Now the movement is organized by several hundred people of all ages who stand up for their rights following the guidelines of civil disobedience. They emphasize the necessity of an economy without fossil fuels, which should be accomplished by 2030 at the latest. First of all, they demand honesty about the current dramatic situation and the necessary steps to avoid the total collapse of the biosphere and civilization as we know it. They have been blocking city streets, highways and airports all across Germany. Currently, several hundred people from all over Germany are gathered in Berlin and announced to continue with their protest till the change – away from fossil fuels, towards an honest and socially balanced climate policy- is made.
[2] https://nos.nl/artikel/2492018-politie-laat-xr-blokkade-a12-ongemoeid-vrijmaken-nu-geen-prioriteit