According to the statement made by the regional police, the protesters gathered near Tesla’s first factory in Europe, “Giga Berlin”, overcame the police barricade and reached the area where the factory is located.
THEY BLOCKED RAIL TRANSPORTATION
The police guarded the building and did not allow protesters, some of whom were wearing masks, to enter the building. Highway exits in the region were closed, and railway transportation in the region was blocked due to demonstrators sitting on the railway tracks.
Climate activists have been protesting against Tesla factory expansion and deforestation in a camp of tree houses since February.
Protesters demanded that politicians respect citizens’ votes against the expansion of the facility and implement the results of the vote.
Activists, who argue that the forest area next to the factory is occupied by Tesla, want the drinking water areas in the area to be protected.
CLAIM THAT TREES IN A 100 HECTAR AREA WILL BE CUT DOWN
The factory, known as “Giga Berlin”, produces batteries, powertrains and vehicles. Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, plans to build storage facilities and a kindergarten for employees’ children to increase supply security next to the factory located on an area of 300 hectares.
It is claimed that Tesla’s plan will lead to the cutting down of trees in an area of approximately 100 hectares. While the facility’s intensive water use creates problems for those living in the region that has been hit by drought in the last 5 years, it is stated that the expansion plan will also negatively affect the “water conservation zone”.
In a vote held in Grünheide in February, residents voted against the expansion of the factory. For the first factory area, 92 hectares of trees were cut down, which caused a reaction from environmentalists and the German public. (AA)
