Situation at the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin - Expansion & Protests

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by MadeInDex, May 7, 2024.

  1. MadeInDex

    MadeInDex New Member

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    As this is an electric car forum, I thought you might be interested my first article about the protests & situation at the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin.

    [​IMG]

    It is covering some of the protestors concerns - that I see differently, after having been there on the ground.
    The other issues are widely covered by the media, so i did not go into detail there.

    The protest has been ruled legal up until this month (May) let's see what happens next.
    (The Vulkangruppe who did the arson attack on the power supply of the factory is not the same group as the one protesting there. Some members might be participating though.)

    The construction on the expansion is ongoing.

    If there is anything you would like to know, I'm more than glad to answer any questions :)
    - Your MadeInDex.org
    PS Thanks Bwilson4web for telling me the right sub-forum for it :)
     
    #1 MadeInDex, May 7, 2024
    Last edited: May 7, 2024
  2. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    This is new: Eight hundred protesters attempt to storm German Tesla factory | Tesla | The Guardian

    Protesters opposed to expansion of the US electric vehicle maker Tesla’s plant in Grünheide near Berlin clashed with police as some of them attempted to storm the facility on Friday.

    Some 800 people took part in the protest, according to the organising group Disrupt Tesla, which claims the expansion would damage the environment.

    Video showed dozens of people wearing blue caps and masks coming from a nearby wooded area and attempting to storm the company’s premises with police officers trying to prevent them, including by force. At least one protester was detained.

    “Why do the police let the leftwing protestors off so easily?” the Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, wrote on his social medial platform X, adding that the demonstrators did not manage to break through.

    The group also wants to highlight environmental destruction in countries such as Argentina or Bolivia brought about by lithium mining, according to a Disrupt Tesla spokesperson, Ole Becker. Lithium is a key resource for electric vehicle batteries.

    “We are here today to draw attention to the Tesla factory in Grünheide for the environmental destruction here,” Becker told Reuters.

    The police confirmed that the protesters tried to enter the plant’s premises, but were prevented, with several people taken into custody, and that it received a few reports of injuries.

    “We protect the freedom of assembly,” said a Brandenburg police spokesperson, Mario Heinemann, “but we are also responsible for public order and safety. That means we will also intervene when necessary“.

    Some of the demonstrators have damaged a few Tesla cars using pyrotechnics and paint at a nearby car storage site, the police spokesperson added.

    Tesla earlier this week said it would shut the factory for one day on Friday, without specifying a reason.

    Curious.

    Bob Wilson
     
  3. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Perhaps it is time for a Tesla factory in Norway, Poland, or Spain. Perhaps the former Eastern European countries like Czechoslovakia?

    Bob Wilson
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    or mars
     
  5. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    The hypocrisy of some protestors:



    Bob Wilson
     
  6. MadeInDex

    MadeInDex New Member

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    :D
     
  7. MadeInDex

    MadeInDex New Member

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    I think this is actually working in their favor, Tesla was highly unpopular because of Elon Musk & it beeing an American company among other things, as Germany is more left-wing and many people dislike the US foreign policy.
    Many people i talked to changed their dislike for Tesla to a neutral / pro Tesla stance after the arson attack.
    The expansion is ongoing and the total production reduction is minimal at most.
     
  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Pure speculation, the areas around Berlin were East Geman, Soviet satellite state. I wonder if they have a greater inclination against Tesla and Musk, the capitalists?

    I noticed their web page continues to recommend "busses" for transportation. It begs the question, did they use busses to get to the Tesla factory area?

    Bob Wilson
     
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  9. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    They're set up near the train station.

    From the article about their opposition to nuclear power, Germany has a strong environmental movement. They were one of the first countries to have members of a Green party get elected.
     
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  10. MadeInDex

    MadeInDex New Member

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    Germany is in generally left-wing, it has social capitalism and social democracy which functions differently than for example the US. Germany as a result of that has many socialists and a lot of those dislike capitalism & the US.

    Brandenburg (where the Gigafactory is) is more right wing, like many of the old DDR states (Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Sachsen ...). Berlin was always different (& often more progressive) from the other states of Germany, due to it being a city-state.

    Most come with the train, but some also by ICE car/van.

    Yes agreed.