BUIR: Thousands of anti-coal demonstrators descended on Germany’s Hambach forest on Saturday, celebrating an unexpected court victory that suspended an energy company’s planned razing of the woodland to expand a giant open-cast mine.

The ancient forest near Cologne has been occupied by activists for the past six years and become a symbol of resistance against coal energy in Germany, a country that despite its green reputation remains heavily reliant on this dirtiest of fossil fuels.

Basking in early autumn sunshine, young people, families and pensioners flocked to a field next to Hambach forest, a day after a court in Muenster said it needed more time to consider an environmental complaint against RWE’s upcoming clearing operations.

Organisers said 50,000 people had turned out for what they called the region’s “biggest-ever anti-coal rally”. Police however did not confirm the figure.

Chanting “Hambi bleibt!” (Hambi stays) and cheering loudly, the crowd listened to live music and speeches in a festival-like atmosphere. Many held up banners and balloons demanding an immediate exit from coal energy.

“The mood is great,” said Greenpeace spokeswoman Gesche Juergens, welcoming “the strong signal” sent by the court.

“But it’s only a first step. The battle goes on to start phasing out coal.” The forest’s days had appeared numbered after its owner RWE announced plans to clear half of the remaining 200 hectares (500 acres) from October 15 to expand its massive nearby open-pit coal mine.

Police last month began dismantling activists’ treehouses in a forced eviction that took nearly three weeks and fanned public sympathy for the activists’ cause.

Tragedy struck when a freelance journalist covering the evictions died on September 19 after falling through a walkway suspended between two trees.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2018