RWE is well connected; on to Hambacher Forst

RWE's co-determination committees have a great deal of party officials from the SPD. For many years it was good practice to provide well-paid SPD and union officials with well-paid supervisory or other posts in the corporations. Many municipalities own shares in the energy companies.

It is no wonder that they can persuade courts to go against protests and demonstrations. Otherwise, the return of the corporations could be diminished. If the goal of the ban on demonstrations was to keep the protests small, it was the dumbest thing the cadre and the courts could do: the opposite will be achieved. But surely a higher court will recognize this and lift the ban.

It is clear to all the protesters that the consequences of burning lignite are mainly for poor people living in inner cities and not having the financial means of recreational holidays like the middle class. The same applies to the diesel exhaust gases. At any rate, the returns of large corporations are at work.