Germany: The battle over Tesla's Gigafactory | Focus on Europe

people here are being deceived Tesla will make sure this is a gem for the area for Germany for Europe and for the world we oppose the Tesla plant here in Glida we cannot afford to continue in this way billionaire Elon Musk He wants his company Tesla to expand the Giga Factory in Germany and tear down parts of this forest, turning what was once a small, quiet German town upside down. It's a David versus Goliath

battle

. Roman, 24, is ready to move up to his current home; he has been living in a treehouse in the woods for the past month.

First of all, I love forests. I always feel deeply happy in the forest since I came here. I've also felt completely grounded, but a part of this forest being cut down to expand a factory that builds climate-friendly electric cars is a contradiction, says Roman, who is ready to start his master's degree specializing in Environmental Protection, he and others are occupying the trees as a form of civil resistance to Tesla Tesla is Tesla is great at selling what they are doing as a solution as an ecological alternative to what we already have, but we cannot afford to continue like this in the long term , not everyone will be able to have a car.

The kind Roman is preparing breakfast today for the dozens of left-wing activists in the forest who have come from all over Germany and some even from abroad that is always the question of how many people 50 or so I am not sure can go in any direction many of activists cover their faces when cameras are on Roman's name is also just an alias the meals they get here are free you need your strength if you are going to climb trees here good breakfast despite the hot food life in the forest can be cold and wet and there is no rain, but Roman is very clear, he tells us that he wants to stay and protect the forest.

Why are parts of this forest in danger? Let's go through it in 2019. Elon Musk announced that Tesla would come to slide through a small town east of Berlin. Mosque purchased land in the Brandonburg estate to build a huge factory. This plan produces the Tesla Model Y for the European and international market, a mid-range SUV that was the world's best-selling car last year. Currently, Tesla produces about 300,000 electric cars per year in Glen Haida. and wants to triple this number to expand the production process would require Tesla to expand the

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by tearing down a part of the forest for a logistics center and a train station this is something that glider resident Manua Hoya will not tolerate, we met her because she founded a local citizen initiative and is campaigning strongly against any future expansion.

Since day one she has been fighting against the destruction of the environment by gigafactories, as she calls them, the young people living in the camp have become her natural allies, it's great that so many young people are committed to preserving the forest and water, most of this forest and the area further ahead are in a drinking water protection zone, it's not just the trees that are a point of concern, in the soil beneath lie vital water supplies if these were contaminated by tens of thousands of people. people could be left without drinking water, she fears that Deion people here are being taken over by a race that is climate friendly, it has nothing to do with being climate friendly, nothing at all, idiots, seriously, they have nothing else to do at the moment but movie this is It is a

battle

of David against Goliath it is a fight that just makes you feel helpless and angry at times in a recent poll conducted in gr haa more than 60% of citizens vote against Tesla's plans to expand the plant even though Tesla has since escalated its plans, the company is still determined to expand its facilities here, we are standing in front of this damn factory, what did they not understand about the survey Which shows that Grun Haida residents did not want expansion and will continue to fight it?

Tesla we should stay at the already ruined site and not clean up anymore Forest we want to hear Tesla's side of the story but our interview requests go unanswered the company is famous for not responding to media requests however what is know is that they built a brand The new industrial water filtration system allows the

gigafactory

to recycle almost all of its industrial wastewater, but despite Tesla's environmental efforts, the gigafactory continues to face strong resistance. In March a Power Mast was set on fire. A radical left group claimed responsibility for the attack that halted production. at Tesla for days, costing the company millions Elon Musk called the group the world's dumbest ECOT terrorists for stopping production of electric vehicles and visited the Hider heyck green plantation.

The attack was condemned by local authorities and marked the biggest escalation yet. I want to hear an expert's opinion on the environmental situation and meet water scientist Martin Push. He says the area has been hit hard by climate change and, despite recent rain, is typically one of the driest regions in Germany. Yes, water channels tend to increase in size. Small streams become larger streams which become small rivers The waterways in Brandenburg are getting smaller, at least in summer, which means that the land is consuming more water than the groundwater that flows last Ultimately, it is a sign that we no longer have a humid climate and are in fact The transition to a semi-desert climate drive says Tesla was given a lot of leeway to build the gigafactory, which increases the risk of contaminating bodies of water. crucial like this.

He claims that it is unusual to build a factory in a water protection area and people are worried about Tesla. Now the body of water where the factory is located is one of the few we have in this region, if it were contaminated there would be nothing to replace it with, but the factory also has followers among the local population. My name is Alber. K my name is Albert Kuler I am from Gruner Innovation and the future are important to me and I think it is important and good that Tesla is here. I Kula is part of a different citizen initiative together with his friend Tobias Lint, he follows and documents the development of Giga Berlin everyone talks about Tesla Tesla also influences everything Tesla makes many decisions that provoke debates that we cannot do without they say that one of its objectives is to combat the misinformation that has been spread by some of Tesla's opponents, its initiative is there to inform fellow citizens and allow for a fact-based and scientifically based debate.

They say that, like the protesters at the camp, they are also concerned about climate change. I also see global challenges, but I see Tesla as part of the solution, which is not the solution at all. For most people in the field, I am fully convinced that without Tesla we would not be as advanced in electromobility as we are now. Everyone always says that electric cars can't stop climate change alone. That's true, but public transportation is. Nothing alone can stop climate change either, we need many different solutions. Transportation is one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions.

Electric vehicles are seen by many as part of the solution. Tesla, which specializes in electric vehicles, is the most valuable car company in the world. There are currently five gigafactories operating around the world. The Tesla Gigafactory in Germany opened in 2022 and is the only one in Europe. I mean, Tesla will make sure that it is a gem for the area, for Germany, for Europe and for the world. The plant has generated economic growth in the region. Around 12,000 people currently work at Tesla and in Green Heida alone. Tesla is such a big name that even German ch Olaf Schz was present at the inauguration.

Electricity. Electric mobility will shape the mobility of the future. This is clear here. Today, despite support from the highest levels of government, the 9,000 people who actually live in Green Haida have very mixed opinions about Tesla. Many people we met who refused to speak on camera said there was a tear running through the fabric of the city. Families and friends are divided into separate camps, some are critical of Tesla, others are activists, yes I think it's a shame, but if it brings any benefit to Glida in the region, I would say yes. I was basically in favor of Tesla coming here.

I still keep it because it can only Advance in the region. I was actually a little against the expansion because I think they should use the space they already have first. You can't sell all the air, water, land, soil, everything should be sold instead of protesting, they should try to get one of the jobs that Tesla offers they probably never worked a day in their lives they should work for 48 years like I did it, they are all lazy people who are good for nothing, I have to start. Pamila Aishman is a local politician of the social democratic party SPD.

She says she feels the polarized atmosphere in the city. I think we have forgotten how to listen, how to reach out and talk to each other. I have also noticed, especially at our community meetings, that people who have a different opinion are yelled at no. Reason aan chairs the local council and will have a say in whether Tesla can expand the factory, but she is still undecided. She tells us that the millions of euros in tax revenue from Tesla have allowed the city to build a new school, while she acknowledges that many citizens are concerned because Tesla Tesla is both a blessing and a curse for Kida.

One blessing is increased tax revenue. A curse, on the other hand, is all the restructuring that affects the region where citizens are afraid to lie, afraid not to. Recognizing her son in the forest we see that the police have increased pressure and intensified their operations. The field has been there for almost 2 months. Activists registered this protest as a political demonstration, meaning the camp is protected by Germany's Constitution. right to assemble peacefully the police's hands are tied we try not to go too far but in theory I'm allowed to walk from here I can't see if maybe you've dug a hole in the ground back there From here I can't tell if there's a bonfire or garbage.

At regular intervals, squads of police patrol the area. They take photographs of the tree houses to check if new ones have been built or if protesters are breaking any laws. so far there is no indication that the camp could be linked to the arson attack environmentalists themselves say they prefer alternative means of protest have a nice day I would like to say a few more friendly words you know there is always the option to resign and so should you They have the right to disobey orders and we are much nicer when they do not come here in uniform have a good day the official registration of this protest will end in May if it is not renewed the police will be able to evict the protesters from the forest it is for this day that the activists are preparing some of the tree houses are up to 13 m high so that it will be as difficult as possible for the police to clear them it is important that we are here, no one but us will do it so that as many people as possible climb up to the trees, climbing lessons are given every day, make sure it is not crooked at the back and that it is straight and well run, since an experienced climber who has lived in the camp for more than a month wants to learn how to do it .

Rope traversal today, this method is used to cross from a treehouse to another structure when fleeing from the police. They are here to protect this patch of forest, but they say their protest is really about capitalism and its consequences. Now they could clear another section of the forest here. what has already happened up there to build electric cars, which at first glance seems like a better alternative, of course, you could argue that it is worth achieving further reductions, we are not here just for this forest, this whole supply chain, everything that happens around you. This means immense exploitation and environmental destruction.

This is where two worlds collide on the way to work at the gigafactory. Tesla workers have to walk past anti-Tesla protesters. Very few of them stop at information booths to chat with activists. What do you think? the protest camp without comment, excuse me. I wanted to ask you what you think about the camp. Hello, think about this. I camp here to get people talking from time to time. Roman hops on Tesla's shuttle service to drive to the factory where he seems out of place. the bus among all the people who go to work I just want to understand what moves people here, what they think is that I think it's veryIt's important to get out of your own bubble and talk to people and also be here and see what we're actually protesting against.

I'm from the protest and I try to get in touch with people because I'm always interested, you know, we're sitting in the woods and what people here think about us, so I was wondering, is there anything that you or what you think about the protest? I really have a meeting in 2 minutes okay don't worry sorry thanks have a nice day it's hard for Roman to find people to talk to so it's just him and the car except the funny thing is If you had asked me 5 years ago I would have said Tesla is amazing, now I have a different opinion.

I'm not that much of a car fan these days. I think we are just wasting a lot of opportunities too much. individual transport what does Tesla say stop Tesla okay filming in front of the main entrance a Tesla employee approaches us hello English uh I just wanted to ask me what are they filming, what are they doing, what are they about, yes, I'm from Tesla or are you from the Department or means we don't really have a press department at Tesla, so generally our policy is uh, I mean, everyone has their own will here, obviously, so they can do whatever they want, but generally we have the I maintain that no one really talk to the press, maybe this is one of the reasons why Roman's effort to dialogue is falling on deaf ears, today he goes home without getting answers I just think it's a shame because I think we gain a lot by talking to each other .

Roman says it will be difficult to find common ground when asked what a solution would look like and tells us the first step for him is to stop Tesla. expansion and then maybe one day end the production of electric vehicles and instead build trams, but buses and trains in what was once the Tesla gigafactory, but it is so realistic that there is such power behind this that a of the richest people in the world has decided that this should go here and people eat from his hand, he is also globally connected, the richest people in the world generally have much more leeway, many more contacts than we can have in our treehouse, so he's back in his world that's so different from the giant gigafactory the forest seems to have.

He be peaceful right now as he continues the fight against Tesla.