Geef Tegengas finishes camp and announces new actions

The new action group Geef Tegengas has ended its action camp in Pernis, near the port of Rotterdam. From this camp, the group spent the past few days protesting against new (liquefied) gas infrastructure in the Rotterdam port. A blockade with more than two hundred people at the Botlek bridge towards the Rotterdam port on Saturday was the highlight. Geef Tegengas speaks of a successful launch and announces follow-up actions.

At the action camp, an elaborate programme took place with practical workshops on campaigning and, among others, content workshops on (liquefied) gas in Europe, the fight against gas in Congo and gas financing. Several actions were carried out from the camp. On Friday, concern workers and scientists blocked the mega-polluting Yara fertiliser plant, posters warning about the climate crisis were put up throughout Rotterdam, and a giant projection at Rotterdam Central Station addressed Shell's growing investments in liquefied gas. On Saturday, a 10-hour mass blockade of the Botlek Bridge took place, making the port of Rotterdam inaccessible to mega-polluting transport for a long time. Geef Tegengas is happy with its launch. Spokesperson Jesse van Schaik: ‘With this camp and our actions, we have put this issue on the agenda. But this is only the beginning. You can expect more actions from Geef Tegengas in the coming months!’

Geef Tegengas looks at the destructive gas industry from a broad justice perspective. Spokesperson Jesse: ‘There are three main reasons we are taking action against the gas industry. Gas perpetuates militarism, gas is unjust and gas is bad for the climate. Armies are among the biggest polluters worldwide and many wars are fought over fossil fuels. Moreover, by taking (liquefied) gas from dictatorships, we as the Netherlands keep dictators in power. Victims of the extraction and production of (liquefied) gas are mainly poor people and people of colour. And while energy bills are unaffordable for more and more people, the gas industry makes mega-profits. Finally, liquefied gas in particular emits extremely high levels of greenhouse gases, if you count the entire production chain often even more than coal.’