in Germany, a project to expand a Tesla factory provokes the anger of environmental activists

In Germany, around a hundred activists have been occupying a forest, about forty kilometers from Berlin, since the weekend, to prevent the expansion of the already giant factory of Tesla, Elon Musk’s automobile manufacturing group.

Around ten cabins have already been built, ten meters above the ground to prevent protesters from being dislodged by the police. Faces hidden under balaclavas or scarves, the activists are perched in trees with climbing equipment. Sabrina, a Berliner, is determined to block the extension of the giant Tesla electric automobile and battery production factory opened in March 2022, in Grünheide, a few dozen kilometers from Berlin.

“They would like to cut down more than 100 additional hectares of forest, to install other buildings and a new stationexplains the environmental activist. We are here in a water protection zone and the risk is contamination and pollution of the water.” Tesla’s factory already spans 300 hectares and the work project plans to expand the site by 170 hectares to double production.

An unbalanced balance of power

During the citizen consultation organized last month, two out of three residents of the town voted against the extension of the automobile factory. But Paul Eisfeld, who presents himself as the spokesperson for the community, fears a forceful move. “Behind Tesla, there is Elon Musk, again the richest person in the world. And he simply has enormous power to keep this factory growing. The federal government is also putting pressure on the local government. The report of force is unbalanced.

Hour after hour, the group of activists grew. Activists, bags on their backs and tents in their arms, arrive from all over Germany. Rene, 28 years, says he is ready to block the site for as long as it takes. “We have put in place a whole infrastructure. In addition to the tree houses, we have a kitchen, toilets. We have everything prepared to be able to stay for several weeks. We will not be dislodged by bad weather or by the police “, he assures. Activists plan to stay at least 15 days on site. In the Brandenburg region, Tesla is considered a powerhouse for the economy. The group now employs 12 000 people.