Climate activists gather outside a production site of steel giant Tata Steel on June 24, 2023 in Velsen, the Netherlands (ANP/AFP/Ramon van Flymen)
Hundreds of activists from the NGO Greenpeace forced the barriers of a production site of the steel giant Tata Steel in Velsen near Amsterdam on Saturday, in order to demonstrate there, despite a formal ban from the local authorities.
They are protesting against the pollution caused by the activities of this plant, considered by the environmental organization as “one of the most polluting metallurgical plants in Europe and located in the middle of a densely populated area”.
“Together, Greenpeace Netherlands, local residents and activists are demanding that the most toxic parts of Tata Steel be shut down to protect the health of nearby residents,” Greenpeace said in a statement on Saturday.
“It is unacceptable for Greenpeace protesters to enter the company’s industrial grounds even though access to it is conditioned by strict security rules. They can cause unintentional accidents, disrupt company operations and be at risk. ‘origin of significant risks to the health and safety of people and the environment,’ Tata Steel reacted in a press release.
Dutch police closed the Reyndersweg, a street near the site, on Saturday, it said in a statement, before finally announcing its reopening.
In support of the Greenpeace demonstration, seven members of the environmental movement Extinction Rebellion chained themselves shortly before 11:00 GMT to a railway line connected to the industrial site and were still chained at 1:20 p.m. GMT, confirmed Berthe van Soest, spokesperson for the movement. , to AFP.
Under the name of “together for a healthy air”, another demonstration supported by local organizations for the defense of the environment also took place on Saturday on a beach near the site.
The possible presence of demonstrators on the grounds of Tata Steel had for several days been the subject of a dispute between the local authorities and Greenpeace.
Climate activists gather outside a production site of steel giant Tata Steel on June 24, 2023 in Velsen, the Netherlands (ANP/AFP/Ramon van Flymen)
In an open letter published Thursday, the mayor of Velsen, Frank Dales, had banned protesters from going to Tata Steel grounds, highlighting the dangerousness of the site.
“Security is also at the forefront of action initiated by Greenpeace. Activists may wish to enter Tata Steel land. “You are not allowed access. Tata Steel’s land is vast and dangerous in several places including huge installations that cannot be disabled, hot substances, large vehicles including trains, etc.”, he said warned in an open letter.
“The mayor had better wonder about the safety of the inhabitants of his own commune. It is precisely dangerous to live near Tata Steel since toxic clouds escape every day from the factory”, retorted Faiza Oulahsen, climate and energy director of Greenpeace Netherlands, in another open letter.
In February 2022, the Dutch courts opened an investigation into “intentional and illegal” pollution caused by the steel giant Tata in its factory near Amsterdam, considering that public health could be threatened.
© 2023 AFP
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