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Protest Against Brown Coal Mining

My entry for the 1st International System Creativity Contest at 1000steine.de in 2001, category: "Urban Conflict".

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The bucket wheel at work

Grevenbroich. The new brown coal mine Garzweiler II was opened a few weeks ago. The biggest Bucket Wheel Excavator found it's new operation site and mines tons of brown coal every day.

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Bucket Wheel Excavator

The Excavator ist gigantic. The height is nearly 100 metres and the total length is more then 200 metres. Each of the eight buckets provides enough space to park a midsized van inside.

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Greenpeace activists at the Bucket Wheel Excavator

But not everyone agrees with the extension of the brown coal mine. Greenpeace activists protest against the devastation of villages and nature.

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Protest …

Some of them could reach the excavator and fix a huge "STOP" display high up in the air.

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Media coverage

A TV teams interviews a young guy who fixed himself to one of the gigantic chains of the excavator.

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Spectacular protest against the Brown Coal Mining

Spectacular protest against the Brown Coal Mining.

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Protest against the Brown Coal Mining

Two very unanxious demonstrators reached the big buckets and fixed themselfs with a chain.

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Police force on it's way …

Some Police special forces were called. They were compaigned by two brand new water cannon trucks.

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No way out …

I didn't take long till all demonstrators were arrested.

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Violent protest in the city of Grevenbroich

Meanwhile the demonstration goes on in the historic parts of Grevenbroich (the nearby city). No more peaceful demonstration at this time. Old tires are burning, Molotow-cocktails are thrown and the street is blocked by barricades.

Jürgen Freiherr of Grevenbroich, the founder of the brown coal industry in this area was pulled down from his pedestal and demolished.

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Violent protest in the city of Grevenbroich

The Police uses heavy equipment to fight against the demonstrants. The following night will become even more violent …

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Violent protest in the city of Grevenbroich

20.03.2002 – The 5th winner of the 1st International System Creativity Contest (ISCC) is announced wird bekanntgegeben :-] Thank you to all who voted for me!

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ISCC Logo (2001)
  1. Go to Bucket Wheel Excavator

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