Thunberg detained in Germany for Protesting

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg was detained by German police and removed from the coal mine protest in the Western village of Lützerath on January 17th. 

Thunberg and a large group of activists were protesting against the expansion of the Garzweiler coal mine in hopes to protect the Lützerath village. The protesters stood against the demolition of the village after police warned them to clear the edge of the mine. 

Shortly after Thunberg was detained, the police did an identity check with IDs, Thunberg and other protesters were released. She resumed the protests and continued to stay at the Lützerath village once released. 

“Yesterday I was part of a group that peacefully protested the expansion of a coal mine in Germany," Thunberg tweeted. "We were kettled by police and then detained but were let go later that evening. Climate protection is not a crime.”

Lützerath village is located in the north Rhine-Westphalia and is supposedly abandoned. An agreement was made between the mine's owner, RWE (RWEG.DE), and the government that this village could be destroyed to make room for the coal mine if the original five villages that were going to be bulldozed are protected. 

The Garzweiler mine is one of three extensive open-pit coal mines in the German state area, located along the Dutch border. It is credited for about 20% of Germany's carbon emissions.

Protesters respond that villages have been uprooted and evicted as coal mines around Germany expand. Environmentalists, such as Thunberg say destroying Lützerath will result in vast greenhouse gas emissions. Instead they push for expanding renewable energy over mining more lignite, or brown coal

For the second year in a row Germany fails to meet ambitious climate targets. This has started to form a controversial coal debate in Germany as protests increase.