GERMANY: Anti-coal protests

In September, hundreds of anti-coal campaigners took part in a protest at a vast coalmine close to the city of Cologne, calling out the government’s decision that coal could be mined and burned until 2038, which they say will not reverse Germany’s emissions quickly enough. Current proposals are to further expand the strip mine, entailing the destruction of several nearby villages. Campaigners reported that around 3,000 people took part, with some protesters detained when they broke through police lines. Several journalists reported being blocked by the police from taking photos and shooting videos as they attempted to cover the protest.