Mass protests disrupt German motor show

September 14, 2019

Tens of thousands of climate demonstrators turned up to protest at Germany’s biggest car show in Frankfurt on Saturday, using the event as a platform to demand the car industry address its role in damaging the environment.

Estimates of the number of participants protesting at the International Motor Show Germany (IAA) ranged between 25,000 and 18,000 protesters, with more than 10,000 of these on bicycles as part of the “Sternfahrt,” or “Star Ride,” journey.

The protesters marched for an end to the combustion engine and for a government and industry overhaul of transport policy that prioritizes zero and low-emission modes of transport such as bicycles, walking, buses and trains.

Further charges leveled at the car industry by protesters were that the automobile industry is not moving fast enough towards emissions-free transport and that more should be done to stop SUVs, which are considered especially harmful to the environment.

The protesters displayed banners calling for a “Verkehrswende,” or “transport transition,” in a seeming reference to Germany’s planned “Energiewende,” or transition to renewable sources of energy.

Wide spectrum of protest groups

Many different groups participated in the protest,with Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion (XR)and cyclist awareness protesters Critical Mass at the forefront.

Those riding as part of the “Sternfahrt” cyclist demonstration blocked the motorways A661 and A648 on their journey to the IAA protest.

“Just under three-quarters of the 50 new cars displayed (at IAA) continue to use environmentally damaging diesel and petrol,” said Greenpeace in a statement in support of the IAA protests.

The environmentalist organization referred to a report earlier in the week that showed the cars manufactured by just three German car companies, VW, Daimler and BMW, produced more C02 in a year than Germany as a nation produces in the same period.

The IAA was not available for comment at the time of the protest, with its Twitter account only advising attendees how best to approach and leave the Frankfurt exhibition hall due to the disruption caused by protesters.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the show on Thursday with a warning on climate change, yet set out no plans for regulations, only asking the industry to invest more resources in producing affordable and sustainable electric cars.

‘The planet’s on fire’

The protest is a further sign of a snowballing global movement calling on world leaders and industry to take action against the destruction and degradation of the environment.

It comes a day after Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist, brought her Fridays for Future environmental protest movement to the White House in the United States. Hundreds of protesters gathered and chanted, “The planet’s on fire, Trump is a liar.”

Worldwide environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion is planning a series of disruptive actions and protests for October, with European capitals including Berlin and London to be targeted.

Climate protests: Extinction Rebellion gets creative

Save Mother Earth!

Beginning April 15, protesters with Extinction Rebellion took to the streets of London and other cities to demand governments declare a climate and ecological emergency. They occupied key spots in the city, calling on those in charge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2025, halt biodiversity loss and set up citizens’ assemblies on climate and ecological justice.

Climate protests: Extinction Rebellion gets creative

Creative protests

Extinction Rebellion, founded last year by academics in the United Kingdom, is one of the world’s fastest-growing environmental movements. Their aim is to protest climate change inaction in a creative and nonviolent way. Demonstrators say people are causing their own mass extinction, which is the basis of their “rebellion.”

Climate protests: Extinction Rebellion gets creative

Royal support?

Harry and Meghan, the duke and duchess of Sussex, didn’t exactly take part in the sit-in on London’s Waterloo Bridge on April 18. The royals are expecting and protesters used the happy event in their demonstration, having the couple “thank” Extinction Rebellion for saving their child’s future.

Climate protests: Extinction Rebellion gets creative

Stuck to the train

Activists have used a variety of unusual protest methods to draw maximum attention and get their point across. Throughout the week, they’ve blocked traffic, climbed atop buses and superglued themselves to buildings and, in the case of this young man at London’s Canary Wharf station on April 17, trains.

Climate protests: Extinction Rebellion gets creative

Civil disobedience

The goal of the protests is to temporarily disrupt everyday life. As a result, police have arrested more than 800 people in London alone. Activists want to get the public on their side, but a YouGov survey showed that just 36% of more than 3,500 British polled support the protest, with 52% against.

Climate protests: Extinction Rebellion gets creative

Naked truth

Extinction Rebellion protesters first attracted global attention on April 1, during yet another heated Brexit debate in the British Parliament. A group of semi-naked activists revealed themselves in the visitor gallery with slogans including “SOS” and “Stop Wasting Time” written on their bodies, with some gluing their hands to a glass barrier. The scene was quickly broken up my security.

Climate protests: Extinction Rebellion gets creative

Global movement

The Extinction Rebellion protests got their start in London, but the movement has also spread to other major cities around the world. On April 15, these activists on the Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin blocked traffic for hours.

Climate protests: Extinction Rebellion gets creative

Switching tactics?

On April 21, organizers in London said they were willing to switch tactics and talk with the government. “We’re giving them an opportunity now to come and speak to us,” said spokesman James Fox. “If they refuse … then this is going to continue and this going to escalate in different, diverse and very creative ways.”

Author: Friedel Taube