Back in 2020 the locals of Lutzerath, a small municipality of around 1,400 people in Western Germany, sprang to action alongside climate protectors and began to resist multinational energy firm RWE, which wanted to strip-mine much of the local area for coal. It would become an iconic multi-year battle for the soul of the region, raising serious questions about Germany’s self-image as a leader in the fight against climate chaos.

Initially, the protectors were blocking a road RWE had its eyes on, and this action later transformed into a roadside camp. Over the next couple of years the movement grew organically. Comrades from near and far heard a calling and came running. With numbers came the expansion of the occupation, which created this inclusive hub for international activists who fight for climate justice. “One struggle, One Fight”.

As time went on the company struggled to deal with an increasing number of occupiers until, infamously, in 2023 it faced off against thousands of occupiers and forced people out of their homes last year in a violent mass eviction.

If you saw the Mud Wizard, that was Lutzerath. And Tempest Valentine was there.

The alarm rings. It’s 1am, 0°C outside, and I’m forcing myself out of bed for a night shift to protect my comrades, stumbling about in the dark, trying to find my thermals, jumper, fleece, and salopettes but attempting my darndest not to wake my roomies. Bear in mind that I’m totally night blind and utterly clumsy. Dressed and ready to embark on my mission to get the best coffee in town before clocking in.
Finally, my shift begins, and that 750ml of Nespresso will be very handy, trust me. The fire burns away in the background as I and others build lifelong bonds. A car may drop by because they are lost; we will help redirect them back. All of us are standing by in case anything menacing approaches, ready to sound the alarm and defend. Luckily, this night shift ends peacefully, for a live occupation.

Standing side by side with comrades from across the globe fighting against a system, the destruction of our planet, and the police empowers me greatly, giving me a new lease on life. Doing nothing allows the oppressive State to further our suffering and weaken our resolve. This is me taking control of a dire situation. Coming to occupations gives me hope that we will have a better and equal future for all one day. Coming into these spaces allows us to see how a society could be. It offers us hope at a time when politicians are deciding the fate of us all with only profit in mind.

“I fight cops, but food destroys me!” I scream in the ‘warm room’, frustrated that all I want to do more than anything is eat some food. I desire nothing more than to feel the heat it will later provide me — to just be able to function and to thrive! Every single comrade supports me in that moment. I’ll forever be grateful for their friendship. For me, this place has been deeply healing.

Everyone here is willing to pass knowledge on for no personal gain. Learning could be free and with no strings attached; imagine that?!

Abbie Hoffman, the 20th-century social activist who came up with “flower power”, believed we should “steal it all” — including our education. Eliminate the capitalistic, business-motivated middleman who dominates our corrupt education system, specifically universities. For many people like myself who grew up in hardened austerity under the Tories, this led to our education being piss poor and lacking opportunities.

People believe if you study and work hard, you will be able to escape poverty, shorthanded as “the American dream”. I call bullshit, as have many other revolutionaries throughout history and indeed today. Since getting into activism I’ve been offered so many amazing opportunities, whereas in mainstream society, doors were slammed shut in my face.

No place is perfect—even the progressive need to be more progressive. Every occupation is phenomenal in its own right. Yet, they all still have so much to learn from other sites, including occupations contemporary and historical, even the ones who had struggles, because we all have much more to learn, but it’s a start. Conflicts arise everywhere; you learn, and you grow as a collective and individually. It’s just the beginning. It’s better than what we have. The revolution doesn’t just happen overnight. Every revolution throughout history took time.

~ Tempest Valentine

This article first appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of Freedom Journal.