Activists from the environmental movement Greenpeace entered the site of steel giant Tata Steel in IJmuiden, the Netherlands, on Saturday. This was in spite of an emergency order from the town’s mayor that banned access.
A preliminary count puts the number of activists on the site at several hundred. They hung banners on the gates before chanting slogans such as “We did it! We can party now!”, emboldened by supportive citizens on the edge of the site.
Tata Steel, which scaled back its activities in anticipation of the protest, deemed the action “illegal, irresponsible and dangerous”.
“Our protest is peaceful and safe,” responded Greenpeace. “We know what we are doing and why we are doing it, here at this major polluter. We are shocked by the stench that hangs over the site and to which Tata employees are exposed. We absolutely must shut down the most dangerous (to health) parts, immediately.”
Via het water kwamen zes rubberboten aan bij de kade van Tata Steel, waar de schepen met kolen binnen komen. De actievoerders hebben een banner opgehangen aan de kade: We zijn #ziekvandezefabriek! pic.twitter.com/cZTqw84LkB
— Greenpeace Nederland (@GreenpeaceNL) June 24, 2023
Extinction Rebellion, another environmental movement, also joined the protest. Activists chained themselves to a railway track running alongside the site.
The Tata Steel plant, located at the mouth of the River Ij, has long been criticised by locals and health authorities, who accuse it of polluting the air, soil and water in the area and causing illness.
