Climate activists leave behind dirt and rubbish - "mood changes"

The mood of the residents in Erkelenz is changing: the climate activists at the Garzweiler opencast mine are leaving behind too much rubbish and dirt, according to Mayor Stephan Muckel.

Erkelenz – According to the impression of the mayor of Erkelenz, Stephan Muckel, the actions of climate protectionists on the edge of the Garzweiler opencast mine are increasingly being met with criticism in the affected districts.

24RHEIN reports on this.

"My impression is that the mood in the villages is changing a bit," said the CDU politician to the dpa.

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The mood of the residents changes: the climate activists leave behind too much rubbish and dirt (symbol image).

© Christoph Hardt/imago

Residents criticize climate activists: Too much graffiti, garbage and dirt

This is happening against the background of protests in which some of the participants did not follow the rules.

Among other things, a group split up during a demonstration and tried to storm the village of Lützerath, which had been cordoned off and was earmarked for demolition, after the Lützerath eviction.

The police prevented that.

Many people are upset about forms of protest such as sticking or abseiling from bridges, reported Muckel.

He received this information from many by e-mail and in person.

You can also see more graffiti, rubbish and dirt in the remaining places.

In the places that were originally supposed to be excavated for the lignite, about 90 percent of the houses are deserted.

Measures are being coordinated between various authorities to ensure more security and order on site.

Climate activists from Lützerath have settled in tents on a soccer field in the neighboring town of Keyenberg.

Criticism according to Lützerath activists "immeasurably exaggerated"

A spokeswoman for the Aachen police confirmed on Saturday that there were letters of complaint from local residents.

The citizens' initiative "All villages remain" called the criticism "excessively exaggerated".

"In the last few days there have been isolated cases in which people have broken into abandoned houses and soiled them - we find that very regrettable," said Dorothée Laumanns according to the announcement.

You will be held responsible for any damage caused.

However, the demonstrators "left surprisingly little rubbish behind" in Keyenberg, which was eventually removed themselves.

The damage would be politically exploited, criticized Alexandra Brüne from the initiative.

Meanwhile, RWE is even planning to demolish a street on the outskirts of Keyenberg to facilitate coal mining.

That is the real scandal.

"We thank the people who have come to us for the protests in recent weeks and years to support our cause."

List of rubrics: © Christoph Hardt/imago