Ende Gelände has declared the action weekend for climate justice finished today. More than 2,000 activists participated in blockades at ChemCoast Park near Brunsbüttel. In the neighborhood of production facilities of the oil and chemical industry, a terminal for fracking gas is planned there. In wind and weather, the activists blocked the railroad tracks to the ChemCoast Park at important points. The blockades were maintained until Sunday. On Saturday, activists with canoes brought shipping on the Kiel Canal to a complete standstill for more than two hours. Ships were jammed on one of the most important waterways in the world. Ende Gelände is calling for an immediate phase-out of oil, gas and coal.
During the blockade of the Kiel Canal, 15 activists* were taken into custody by police, including Esteban Servat, climate activist from Argentina. Servat, who is from the fracked gas region of Vaca Muerta, had to leave Argentina because of state repression and death threats.
“The gas and fracking industry today is a continuation of colonial forms of exploitation: the open veins of the global south bleed through the waterways of Europe. That’s why we decided to block the most important channel for cargo traffic in Europe,” Servat reports after his dismissal. “I had to flee Argentina because I opposed the gas industry. Now I’m facing legal action in Germany. But we will not be intimidated. It’s time for civil disobedience.”
Ende Gelände’s weekend of action was part of the “Shale must fall” alliance’s global day of action against gas, fracking and colonialism. In addition to the blockade actions in Brunsbüttel, Ende Gelände had held an international panel discussion in Hamburg and organized a demonstration with the “Anti-colonial Attack.” At the same time, 23 actions against fracking took place in 13 countries in South America, North America and Europe.
Joli Schröter and Elia Nejem, press spokespersons of Ende Gelände, draw a positive balance:
Joli Schröter: “Our action weekend was very successful. With our blockades, we made short work of the lie of clean gas. We will not allow the construction of the fracking gas terminal in Brunsbüttel.”
Elia Nejem: “Fossil capitalism is the continuation of colonialism. It breaks the boundaries of the planet. We put life above economic growth and profits. That is why we are fighting for climate justice and a social-ecological revolution. We have shown this weekend: Another world is possible! The Climate Justice Movement is growing and is internationally stronger than ever! We will stop climate colonialism.”
Brunsbüttel, 1.8.2021
Ende Gelände