New mass protests at Hambach Forest as clearing of activist camp nears end
About 10,000 people gathered at the Hambach Forest over the past weekend to again protest against the forest鈥檚 clearing to make way for a nearby coal mine, the Rheinische Post reports. At a protest event on Sunday, environment expert Peter Wohlleben told an audience that the ancient forest is one of Germany鈥檚 last remaining primeval forests, stressing its importance in absorbing carbon emissions and cooling the local climate during heat waves like the one central Europe experienced this summer. Wohlleben said cutting down the forest would be 鈥渁 catastrophic signal for climate action鈥�. Meanwhile, police have cleared almost 80 tree houses with activists who have held out for years in the ancient forest, saying that it is hard to gauge if more houses are hidden somewhere in the forest.
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For background, read the 威力彩玩法 article Germany鈥檚 coal commission insists no decision yet on exit date and the coal commission watch.