Without even the merest hint of irony, eight environment activists today chained themselves to Munich’s Neues Rathaus on Monday, and demanded something the city does something it’s already promised it will do. Confused? You should be.
In 2017, a majority of Munich citizens voted in favour to shut down the city’s coal-fired power station by 2022. But it appears that the city is looking to renege on its promise and tomorrow the city council’s economics committee is to discuss the matter. According to the SZ, the loophole is that the vote was only binding for one year’, which seems weak in the extreme, and clearly Munich citizens have been taken for a proverbial ride.
Opening day of London Extinction Rebellion summer uprising (image Hannah Woodhouse: https://rebellion.earth/press/)
The CSU’s Clemens Baumgärtner is reported as wanting the plant to run longer than 2022 but on reduced capacity, reports the SZ. ‘In addition, the Federal Network Agency would prohibit switching off the plant.’ Environmental protection groups refute this, saying ‘the combined heat and power plant could be placed in cold reserve,” according to the SZ report.
Extinction Rebellion insist that the vote be adhered to and demand closure of the coal-fired power station by the promised 2022.
London
Over in London, the Guardian and other media have spent the day reporting on how Extinction Rebellion in the UK have carried out protests in five of the country’s cities: London, Cardiff, Leeds, Bristol and Glasgow, all under a different protest banner, from rising sea levels to extreme weather.
A few years ago, such protests might have been viewed from the outside as long-term battles. Munich and UK activists are trying to get their local populations to understand that climate change is here and having a colossal impact now. And that’s why, say activists, Munich’s coal-fired power station needs to close by the latest 2022. Just as was promised back in 2017. Still confused?
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December 2019
- Dec 16, 2019 ÖDP's Sonja Haider interview: sustainable Munich & European Green Capital Award Dec 16, 2019
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October 2019
- Oct 16, 2019 Munich city council reveals first plans for cycle path round Altstadt Oct 16, 2019
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August 2019
- Aug 30, 2019 Let the train take the strain (out of travel) Aug 30, 2019
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July 2019
- Jul 24, 2019 A coal-free Munich by 2020? Jul 24, 2019
- Jul 17, 2019 Munich CSU and SPD overturn 2022 coal referendum result Jul 17, 2019
- Jul 15, 2019 Extinction Rebellion rebel in Munich Jul 15, 2019
- Jul 9, 2019 SPD and Greens need to deliver on Munich cycling transformation Jul 9, 2019
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June 2019
- Jun 24, 2019 Munich's historic old city petition hits target for referendum Jun 24, 2019
- Jun 24, 2019 Munich, cycling backwater to cycling capital? Jun 24, 2019
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May 2019
- May 8, 2019 Munich modernises but is it modernisation without joined-up thinking? May 8, 2019
- May 5, 2019 Munich: carbon neutral or net zero? May 5, 2019
- May 3, 2019 Munich also needs to declare a climate emergency – now May 3, 2019
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April 2019
- Apr 20, 2019 Extinction Rebellion in pictures Apr 20, 2019
- Apr 20, 2019 Extinction Rebellion comes to Munich Apr 20, 2019
- Apr 17, 2019 Munich aims to sign up cyclists Apr 17, 2019
- Apr 17, 2019 Munich Green Apr 17, 2019