FAQ Lusatia 2019

Content:

Who can take part?

Everyone can take part in Ende Gelände as a matter of principle. We’ve agreed on an action consensus (updated June 2019) as a common statement of intent: our aim is to enter and block the lignite mine and other coal mining infrastructure with as many people as possible. We think it’s important for everyone to have a good overview of the situation and for people with no or little experience of direct action to be able to participate. For this reason we’re offering training workshops and information events in the cities of Dresden, Leipzig and Berlin prior to the direct action.

What makes Ende Gelände different from other forms of direct action?

There has been serious resistance to open cast mining and the use of coal for electricity generation in Germany for several decades. Ende Gelände sees itself as one of many forms of resistance against Europe’s greatest CO 2 producers. The idea of Ende Gelände is to use critical mass as opposed to blocking diggers in small groups. We aim to enable lots of people to go a step further than demonstrations and human chains – and actively prevent CO 2 emissions. We’re willing to discuss our aim of blocking the mine and preventing the extraction of coal and its use in energy generation in public in advance of the direct action – among other reasons because we think our concern is totally legitimate given the urgency of action on climate change.

Isn’t that illegal?

Science and the general public do not seriously dispute the fact that climate change is caused by humans and that we urgently need measures to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. And it’s equally undeniable that the effects of continuing climate change will affect millions of people, particularly those who are the least responsible for it. But the politicians simply make rhetorical speeches with targets for the end of the century with no immediate practical measures and at the same time pave the way for further emissions, for example by allowing the expansion of open-cast mines and oil extraction from tar sands or by negotiating further free trade agreements. The Paris Climate Conference in December 2015 may have agreed on the worthy aim of maximum 1.5⁰C warming, but there’s no trace of it being put into practice. The so-called “coal compromise” of the Commission for Growth, Employment and Structural Change (“Coal Commission”) announces a coal exit in 2038!

Yes, Ende Gelände is not permitted by law, but given current politics it is completely legitimate and necessary. It falls within the tradition of civil disobedience which puts its own deeper form of righteousness before formal law.

How can I take part?

In essence: if you come earlier, you’ll be better prepared. A joint preparation is important to us. It is best if you arrive by Thursday evening. But it will also be possible for those coming a little later to join the action. Come to the arrival cities, take part in the training workshops, discuss things with your affinity group , get an impression of the action plan and of the meeting points.

Joining the blockade in a wheelchair

As in the summer action in the Rhineland, we will try to give people in wheelchairs, using a walker-rollator or other walking aids the opportunity to take part in our civil disobedience action. Please contact us at bunt @ende-gelaende.org ( PGP-key ) if you can imagine participating in our multi-colored finger. This way we can prepare this finger better and adapt it to your individual needs. Here you can find more information on our multi-colored finger.

Can I take part even if I don’t want to go into the mine?

Everyone is invited to take part in a way he/she feels confident in doing. People who don’t want to go into the mine can support the direct action by protesting in a demonstration on the edge of the mine, on the roads leading to it and in front of the gates. In addition, it is also possible to block the lifelines of coal production, the coal tracks.

Furthermore many helpers are needed all around – for example in logistics ( aktionslogistik@ende-gelaende.org ( PGP-Key )). Please contact us, we need you there as an important part of the action!

How will we behave during the direct action?

Police lines or blocks may try to stop us on the way to the pit. We will avoid them or find gaps and flow through them. We’re not going to let this stop us and won’t let ourselves be drawn into possible police escalation strategies. We don’t want to hurt anyone and are neither targeting police officers nor their vehicles. Our aim is to get to the mine and the tracks and sit down there. Our main form of protection is in mass participation – including journalists and famous people. We’ll take straw, foam and inflatable mattresses so that we’re comfortable during the sit-in. We will behave calmly and courteously, we will not endanger any people. We will block and occupy with our bodies. The goal is not to destroy or damage infrastructure. We want to use our bodies to block and occupy and we won’t destroy or damage any infrastructure in doing so. We’ll stay together and take control of the pit! More information here: Action consensus (updated June 2019).