Christian Falck Wolff

Long Live Lützerath 

In 2020, climate activists occupy a small village in western Germany called Lützerath. The occupation is sparked by the German government’s approval of an expansion to the brown coal mine, Garzweiler II, that borders the village. The expansion means the village will be destroyed to extract the coal. This approval comes despite political commitments to phase out coal entirely. By January 2023, the time arrives. The expansion is set to start, and the occupation in Lützerath must end after more than two years. Thousands of climate activists from around the world travel to Germany, to take part in the protection of Lützerath. Violent clashes ensue. Despite huge resistance, the authorities manage to evict the village. In a last-ditch attempt to prevent the expansion of the mine from turning into reality, activists attempt to break into the mine. Determined to use their bodies as shields to block the massive excavators. The climate activist manages to break through police barricades and reach the very edge of the mine. Moments later, they are surrounded and arrested. The action on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, become one of the final acts of resistance. Lützerath now belongs to the past.