From the policy statement of the Umweltgewerkschaft e.V.:
“To… avert a global environmental catastrophe, we need a new level of commitment from the environmental movement and a globally dominant force to counter the main culprits in corporate headquarters, banks, and governments. (…) We seek close solidarity between the labor and environmental movements and are uniting as an environmental organization based on union principles— locally, nationally, and internationally. The trade union ideal stands for the common struggle for our existential interests—our livelihoods and our future—for a fighting spirit, solidarity, and the broadest possible nonpartisan alliance. We advocate for a social alternative in which the unity of humanity and nature is realized.”
About the Local Chapters
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Let's make 100 percent renewable energy a reality—instead of building LNG terminals!
The Environmental Union has published a new flyer:
Flyer-No-Construction-of-LNG-Terminals_color_email-version.pdf Flyer-No-Construction-of-LNG-Terminals_color_print-version.pdf
Many people want to see the energy supply organized with an accelerated shift toward renewable energy. And this is urgently needed, especially in light of the historically unprecedented heat waves around the world. Energy from wind, solar, and other renewable sources is available in abundance and can now be harnessed cost-effectively on an industrial scale. Everyone is now talking about moving away from Russian gas and oil imports to ensure energy security and supply reliability. But we must move away from oil and gas supplies altogether, no matter where they come from. We therefore expressly oppose the construction of LNG terminals and the resulting continuation of the burning of climate-damaging greenhouse gases.
According to independent studies, the planned LNG terminals are not necessary for Germany's energy security. This could be ensured through the European gas network and existing LNG terminals. Furthermore, the capacity of the planned LNG terminals would significantly exceed current Russian gas imports ...
Looking Back: Büchel Action Camp - Nuclearban / July 2022
From July 5 to 10, 2022, it took place in the Eifel
The "Büchel Action Camp – Nuclearban," organized by IPPNW and ICAN, took place
And this year, the environmental union also took part in the protest with several local chapters.
.
We were able to display our materials in the information tent at the campground on the Moselle and made many new contacts there; brochures were sold for 15 euros.
On Friday, July 8, we had demonstrated together in front of the entrance to Büchel Airport.
Approximately 20 American nuclear bombs are stored in Büchel, where the Bundeswehr conducts exercises using Tornado bombers to practice dropping nuclear bombs. The airport is set to undergo extensive renovations, and starting in 2023, new, more modern nuclear weapons are to be stored there. The F-35 aircraft, which are to be procured using the 100-billion special fund, will also be stationed in Büchel.
People have been protesting against nuclear weapons in Büchel for 26 years.
This year, media coverage was limited, but SWR reported briefly on it, and the UG's current posters were also featured.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the camp organizers, IPPNW and ICAN, for organizing the action camp and for the invitation. We look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future!
Here are the demands published on the website buechel.nuclearban.de: ...
We call on the federal government to
- Deeskalation und Abrüstung
- den Beitritt Deutschlands zum Atomwaffenverbotsvertrag
- den Einsatz für eine gemeinsame Sicherheit in Europa und
- den Abzug der US-Atombomben aus Büchel endlich auf den Weg zu bringen!
Only a world without nuclear weapons will be a safer world.
On Friday, a short, improvised play about the world's problems was also performed at the IPPNW action camp, which sparked some interesting discussions.
Each problem was portrayed by a different actor or actress; the audience was drawn in as the “Univerum”; and even the Earth played a part, though all it could say about each problem was that it was spinning.
The girl who played Earth must have gotten dizzy. That was pretty funny. But during the debriefing, some serious thoughts were shared that were really important.
That resistance to the arms race, nuclear weapons, and the threat of war can never be diverse enough. There can be many reasons and motivations for standing up against warmongering.
It starts with religious motifs. (See the picture of Jesus with a broken rifle next to it.)
But left-wing critics of capitalism—including communists—also have something to say on the matter.
The Environmental Union has stated the following in its platform:
"We welcome, support, and promote a conscious change in behavior in the interest of sustainable environmental protection. However, subjecting the entire society to the capitalist, environmentally destructive principle of profit separates humans from nature. This can only be resolved at the societal level and not solely through individual behavioral change." — Read more:Environmental Union Program
SWR was also interested in this campaign and aired a report
https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/rheinland-pfalz/anti-atomwaffen-100.html
Environmental Union at the anti-war demonstration on July 2, 2022, in Berlin
A very broad coalition had organized this anti-war demonstration under the slogan "We won't pay for your wars!"
Nevertheless, only about 1,500 people turned out for the kickoff event and 3,000 to 4,000 for the demonstration. This was certainly not due solely to the sweltering heat and the vacation season. Clearly, there is a great deal of uncertainty among the public and, above all, an underestimation of the danger of a Third World War. Not only Russia’s ongoing war of aggression, but also NATO’s massive arming of Ukraine and, most recently, the decision to increase its “rapid reaction forces” from 40,000 to 300,000 soldiers—all of these send a clear message of escalation, a message of ever-increasing tension—instead of measures to de-escalate the situation!
As an environmental union, we were clearly visible with our flags and posters calling for action against the threat of world war and nuclear war. They challenged people to reflect on and discuss the highly dangerous global situation. The peace movement, the environmental movement, the labor movement, the women’s movement... all must come together to form a united “front” against the threat of nuclear war, which endangers all of humanity!
Earlier that morning, a nationwide Interbündnis meeting —convened on short notice—had taken place with approximately 60 organizational representatives, and the UG also participated. Proposals were adopted to establish a broad anti-war alliance directed against all imperialist warmongers. Its principles, guidelines, and name will now be discussed within the member organizations of InterBündnis before a final decision is made.
You can watch a YouTube video by journalist Abed Khattar about the start of the demonstration and the demonstration itself via this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDBZtYy1xC0
An Immediate End to Hostilities in Ukraine! — Latest Statement from the UG Federal Executive Board, Feb. 27, 2022
An immediate end to the fighting in Ukraine!
We condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,
just as we condemn the decades-long aggressive policies of NATO and the U.S., which have
!
We call for an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations, as well as the establishment of a
neutral buffer zone! Our solidarity and sympathy go out to the victims of the war,
the people of Ukraine and Russia, the refugees, the children, and the women.
Withdrawal of all foreign armies from Ukraine; no arms shipments to crisis
and war zones worldwide, and humanitarian aid for all refugees!
Imperialist wars are crimes against humanity and nature
We condemn Putin’s indirect threat to use nuclear weapons in the strongest possible terms! We
We demand a ban on and the destruction of all ABC weapons (nuclear, biological, chemical)!
The war also poses an acute danger that power outages at nuclear power plants
trigger a meltdown.
Above all, corporations and banks in the U.S., Russia, and the EU, along with their respective governments,
are vying for larger shares of the global market, for raw materials, and for the expansion of their
spheres of political influence. They bear the primary responsibility for wars and global
environmental destruction!
Latest InterBündnis Appeal Against the Growing Threat of World War!
In light of the war in Ukraine, the Internationalist Alliance has
(The Environmental Union is one of the 40 IB member organizations) has issued a recent call to action titled:
"Let's step up the fight against the growing threat of a world war"
"and for world peace!"
On February 24, the day the war began, the local Interbündnis took the initiative in many German cities and immediately organized anti-war rallies. Wherever time permitted, the Environmental Union also participated—for example, in Berlin at a rally at the “World Clock” on Alexanderplatz, or in Stuttgart on Schloßplatz, with approximately 100 participants at each event. Further actions are planned in various cities over the next few days, in line with the call: “Against all imperialist aggression! Actively for world peace! Long live international solidarity!”
Imperialist wars are the greatest crimes against humanity and nature and cause massive destruction to the natural environment.
Click here to view and download the call for papers:
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EU Taxonomy: Greenwashing for Maximum Profits! (UG flyer available for download)
EU Commission “Taxonomy”:
Greenwashing
for maximum profits!
To mark the anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster on March 11, the environmental union is mobilizing for protests and actions
The European Commission’s classification (“taxonomy”) of nuclear power and natural gas as “sustainable” energy sources is a slap in the face to everyone concerned about the environment!
As a reminder:
►Nuclear power plants were developed for the purpose of building atomic bombs. Since 1945, these plants have supplied the material for over 2,000(!) atomic bomb test explosions and thousands of nuclear warheads. The danger of a nuclear war is by no means over! The claim of “cheap nuclear power” was intended to conceal its military purpose. All things considered, nuclear power is the most expensive way to generate electricity.
►Since the very first nuclear power plant was built, not a single decade has passed without serious or catastrophic nuclear accidents. The consequences of Mayak, Harrisburg, Chernobyl, and Fukushima alone will continue to affect people and the natural world for thousands of centuries. The same is true of “normal” nuclear power plant operations, which constantly produce large quantities of radioactive isotopes. Every day that nuclear power plants continue to operate increases the “long-term” radioactive contamination of the biosphere!
►Natural gas (=methane) is extremely harmful to the climate and is not a “bridge technology”! Although its combustion in power plants produces relatively less CO2 than the combustion of coal or oil, However, during extraction and transport over thousands of kilometers, large amounts of methane escape through leaks—and methane has a global warming potential 84 times greater than that of CO2 (Source: IPCC Fifth Assessment Report). In other words: 1 kg of methane contributes as much to global warming as 84 kg of CO2. (Not to mention the particularly destructive fracking extraction method, which the U.S. in particular has used to nearly double its natural gas production over the past 15 years.)
The European Commission hypocritically cites the “urgent climate crisis.” The new EU taxonomy is supposedly “a real solution” to this (EU Commissioner McGuinness on Feb. 2). But then why hasn’t the EU long since set a course toward 100% renewable energy? Why, instead, have hundreds of billions of euros been spent for decades
Arenuclear, coal, and natural gas power plants being subsidized to benefit energy companies—while the expansion of renewable energy is being hindered?
That is why the tears shed by German Federal Ministers Habeck and Lemke over the nuclear power section of the taxonomy are nothing but crocodile tears—they approved the climate-damaging natural gas section in the interests of the energy companies operating in Germany! In principle, they all agree:
"Environmental and climate protection"—only if profits go up!
The EU taxonomy must be scrapped!
Let's work together to save the Earth from collapse!
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