Environmental activists have been occupying a forest near the Tesla factory for six months. They do not want to give in to the fight against the expansion of the factory. Things are quiet at the moment, but trouble is looming.
The small protest camp in the middle of the forest near the Tesla factory can only be vaguely seen from the asphalt road. But the isolated tents and tree houses of the past have now developed into a forest settlement. Around 20 tree houses offer the activists shelter at night, there are workshops, toilets, a marketplace and an area for climbing exercises.
The residents have been protesting against the Tesla factory in Grünheide near Berlin for around half a year. They want to prevent the planned factory expansion. They have been living in the forest since February 27th – in changing occupations.
Activists want to stay in winter
The activists leave no doubt about their plan. They want to stay and prevent the expansion of the electric car manufacturer’s plant. Currently, around 20 people are holding the fort in the camp, said a spokeswoman for the “Stop Tesla” initiative. Since most of the activists are not staying in the camp permanently, there are no signs of wear and tear or protest fatigue. The activists also want to survive the foreseeable winter in the camp. “Unfortunately, the forest is not yet saved,” stressed the spokeswoman.
After there was even talk of clearing the camp, the protest is now moving into calmer waters. The Higher Administrative Court (OVG) of Berlin-Brandenburg rejected a complaint from the police. The complaint concerned the conditions for the camp, which included the dismantling of the tree houses. After turbulent days of action in May with a large police operation and several demonstrations, the protest is now trundling along without any major incidents.
Inspections with the assembly authority and the state forestry department were mostly quiet, the state environment ministry said. “No deterioration of the situation could be observed.”
Interior Ministry has concerns
For the Brandenburg Interior Ministry, the camp is still a thorn in its side, and the final word on the forest occupation has not yet been spoken. “The legal situation regarding the handling of protest camps, especially tree houses in forests, is still unclear,” said a spokeswoman for the ministry.
The ministry is also not ignoring the danger that could arise from munitions in the ground. The probability of finding munitions in the area of Tesla’s expansion site is “quite high,” said the spokeswoman. “The fact that the World War II munitions to date have only been found outside the ‘camp’ is simply due to the fact that no exploratory measures have taken place there so far.”
Expansion is controversial
The activists are opposed to the planned construction of a freight station and logistics areas, which would require further forest to be cleared. The majority of Grünheide residents had spoken out against such an expansion, but the plans were subsequently scaled down: less forest is to be cleared.
The Brandenburg Ministry of Economic Affairs has expressed reservations about the forest protest. Actions like these are “certainly not beneficial for Germany as a business location,” said a spokeswoman. “The municipality has approved the new version of the development plan with a solid majority. That is why the Ministry of Economic Affairs is not particularly worried at the moment.”
Tesla remains silent on protest
The car manufacturer is keeping a low profile with regard to the protest camp. The company did not respond to a request for comment about the activists. According to the forest occupiers, there is no contact between the activists and the company.
Tesla wants to stick to its plans to expand production with a new factory and to expand the site. However, the company is waiting for sales to pick up speed before it can expand. Plant manager André Thierig is critical of the protest: “We build electric cars here, we are not an oil refinery or whatever,” he told the German Press Agency.
Initiative sees Tesla as weakened
The activists also see it as a success that Tesla is putting the brakes on its expansion. The spokeswoman for the “Stop Tesla” initiative sees Tesla’s sales development as a “clear sign that people no longer see Elon Musk and Tesla as a showcase project.” The company is at a point where it is “somewhat weakened.”
The Ministry of Economic Affairs contradicts this interpretation. “Tesla’s announcement that it will combine the factory expansion with overall organic growth is understandable given the current market development in the automotive sector,” the spokeswoman made clear. Tesla has made its commitment to the Grünheide site and the expansion clear to the state government. “This is also demonstrated by the necessary and currently ongoing approval procedures.”
Activists announce “hot phase”
Before Tesla can push ahead with the expansion of the site, the state forestry department must sell the relevant land to the company. “The sale of the land owned by the state forestry department requires the approval of the specialist committee in the state parliament,” said the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The protest could then flare up again and enter a “hot phase,” emphasized the spokeswoman for “Stop Tesla.”
In May of this year, several activists stormed the factory and wanted to storm the factory premises. The police were on site with water cannons and ultimately managed to protect the premises. As the sale draws closer, other initiatives have also announced that they will hold demonstrations and protests.
Source: Stern
