New action group Geef Tegengas shuts down Port of Rotterdam

The new action movement Geef Tegengas has literally shut down the entrance towards the Port of Rotterdam. 250 activists blocked the Botlekbridge for hazardous cargo transport. They were protesting against the expansion of polluting fossil gas in the port of Rotterdam and its deadly consequences all over the world and in favour of a fair, democratic and sustainable energy system.

The Dutch government is expanding the Gate liquefied gas terminal at the Port of Rotterdam. Spokesperson Jesse van Schaik (19): ‘Expanding the (liquefied) gas infrastructure is a climate crime. The fossil industry does its best to portray gas as a ‘clean’ transition fuel, but let's be honest: liquefied gas is extremely dirty. If you include the entire production chain including drilling, transportation and processing, liquefied gas is even more polluting than coal.’

By betting fully on liquefied gas, companies like Shell are managing to reduce declining revenues from other fossil fuels. Hundreds of billions arm made in this trade. Jesse: ‘Western fossil fuel companies profit at the expense of the health and autonomy of local communities and indigenous peoples. By importing gas, Europe funds wars in Ukraine, Nagorno-Karabakh and Gaza, for example.’

Geef Tegengas is deliberately stepping up the climate fight by taking direct action, for example in the port of Rotterdam. Jesse: ‘From the dam breach in war-torn Sudan, to the forest fires in Greece, to the floods in the Netherlands. Climate chaos is everywhere. We are also facing far-right governments across Europe that are repressing peaceful activists and blocking even miniscule steps in climate policy. For any chance of a liveable planet, we need to step up the climate fight. That is why we are taking direct action against the fossil industry.’

The actions at the port explicitly target the powerful top of mega-polluting companies, not workers. Geef Tegengas has blocked the Botlekbridge for toxic transport, but passenger transport can still reach the port via a tunnel. Jesse: ‘A few ultra-rich bastards are destroying our planet. They are bent on making as much money as possible at any cost, including the welfare of their own employees. By taking action together, we can stop this exploitation and destruction.’

Since last week, Geef Tegengas has protested with an action camp in the Pernisserpark in Rotterdam harbour. Several small actions were organised from this camp. For instance, activists from XR Zorgprofessionals and Scientist Rebellion campaigned against mega-polluter YARA on Friday morning with a creative blockade, posters warning about the climate crisis were hung throughout Rotterdam, and artist collective The Artivist Network, in collaboration with Fossielvrij NL, raised the issue of Shell's growing investments in liquefied gas with a giant projection at Rotterdam Central Station.