A protest against lithium mining in Serbia is set to take place in front of the Futurium building in Berlin, coinciding with the congress of the German Association of Industrialists, which is themed “Environmentally Friendly Industrial Development.”
Activists from Serbia and other former Yugoslav countries, alongside German supporters, aim to highlight the contradictions in German industrial leaders’ statements. While advocating for sustainable production practices at home, they simultaneously endorse lithium extraction abroad, particularly in Serbia, despite its environmental consequences.
A proclamation will be read during the protest, articulating strong messages to German authorities. Here are key excerpts from the statement:
“We, Berliners from Serbia, oppose the environmental destruction in Serbia that is imminent if the international mining company Rio Tinto, in collaboration with the Serbian government, proceeds with planned lithium mining. This venture threatens not only the environment but also the livelihoods of farmers and the water supply for entire regions, including the capital, Belgrade.
Despite widespread resistance from local communities and the majority of the Serbian population, a region historically used for agriculture is at risk of becoming a lithium mining zone to meet the demand for lithium batteries from Western industries, particularly the German automotive sector. The Serbian government appears willing to prioritize the profits of German companies under the guise of ‘green industrial policy.’
This situation reflects a troubling alliance between a federal government that claims to champion environmental protection and the authoritarian regime of Serbian President Alexander Vucic, which responds to dissent with repression.
We, Berliners from Serbia, vehemently protest against this profit-driven, anti-environmental, and undemocratic collaboration between German and European industrial interests and the Vucic regime.
Down with Rio Tinto! Down with profit! Long live the environment!”
