Police blocked protesters trying to get onto the Tesla grounds at its Berlin-Brandenburg factory, Brandenburg police told CNBC.
  • Vub@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    3 months ago

    So even on Lemmy people defend Tesla because “why not protest against coal” and “but this is EV”. Sigh.

    People DO protest against coal, and to a much larger extent.

    Tesla is a shitty scam company which deserves nothing but bankruptcy. Their factory is destroying huge areas in Brandenburg and uses massive amounts of water in an area where there is severe drought. Brandenburg even has deserts forming for those who are unaware. Even if you would accept Tesla, the factory is placed in the worst place possible.

    Apart from the environmental aspects, the company is famous for being atrocious regarding workers rights. That crypto bro scam firm should just get the hell out.

    • cygon@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      3 months ago

      It’s a battery factory that was built there despite environmental concerns.

      I think the main things that attracted the ire of environmentalists are:

      • When the building permits were still being negotiated, Tesla just started clearing land illegally
      • A battery factory requires lots of water, this one was built in a region already low on groundwater
      • There have been several instances of spilled chemicals
      • The sewage coming out of the factory has been contaminated (phosphorus and nitrogen) beyond allowed thresholds for two years
      • The local water supply company is reportedly near its limit, but Tesla wants to expand the battery factory and clear additional land

      .

      But the situation is a bit muddy. Early protests around 2021…2022 often had a share of far right wingnuts trying to recruit people. That’s lessened, though. This specific protest was definitely swelled in numbers by the factory expansion and land clearing plans, but is also part of a planned day of protests by the “Disrupt Tesla” group. They have a web presence here: https://disrupt-now.org/en/.

    • return2ozma@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      3 months ago

      Climate protesters have expressed concerns about Tesla’s plans, which entail cutting down approximately 250 acres of forest in a rural community of fewer than 8,000 residents near a nature conservation area.

      • SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        0·
        3 months ago

        Should be noted that basically all of that forest is a tree farm monoculture.

        Now they moved to protesting the water usage of the factory, which is high, but quite low compared to other industries and farms in the area.

        I mean, fuck cars in general, but protests that focus on bullshit facts are not helping the cause.

        • Tryptaminev@lemm.eeEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          The water usage is a huge issue. The region has suffered a severe drought from 2018-2022. There is some issues with a chemical bubble in the ground that require a careful and coordinated pumping by all water utilities and well operators in the area to not suck it into the aquifer.One water utility had to deny all building permits for new houses, schools, businesses because Teslas water consumption capped the legally and sustainably permittable water extraction in the area.

          There was a huge shitshow around the permits Tesla gained with direct political interference from the state government to overlook legal requirements in particular in the context of water. Tesla is fighting to deny access for the water utility to the chemical analysis of the water they extract at their wells.

          There is a risk that Tesla could permanently destroy the water supply for hundreds of thousands of people if they are not made to observe the legal requirements and cooperate with other stakeholders for water in the region.