LUZZRATH, Germany, Oct 10 (BUS) – Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate visited a large open-air coal mine in Germany and a village that will be demolished due to its expansion, saying the devastation is “really disturbing” and has implications far beyond Germany.
The visit of Nakati and other young climate activists comes just weeks before United Nations climate talks open in Glasgow, Scotland on October 31.
The Garzweiler lignite mine, operated by utility giant RWE, has become the focus of protests by people who want Germany to stop mining and burning coal as soon as possible. Activists and local residents say the mine expansion goes against Germany’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Paris climate agreement’s goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit), according to the Associated Press.
They also oppose the destruction of villages such as Luetzerath and adjacent forests to make way for the mine. Coal mining in Germany is set to end by 2038, but ecologists say it should stop much earlier.
Naket told the Associated Press press.
Because of rising global temperatures, she said, “weather patterns in my country are changing and we are seeing more intense rain and more severe drought.”
“With the expansion of this coal mine, it means destroying the cultures of the people, the traditions of the people, the history of the people of this place,” Nakati said.
Noting the size of the mine and its effects on greenhouse gas emissions, she added, “It’s really upsetting to see how much destruction there is.”
“It’s ridiculous for my friend Vanessa to come here from Uganda to show people that what we’re doing here in Germany, and that what RWE is doing here, affects countries like Uganda,” said German activist Leonie Bremmer.
RAE