Coordinated by Kathrin Henneberger, member of the environmental justice group Ende Gelände, over 6,000 protesters were separated into groups in order to cover the most ground. One group rushed the coal mines, another camped out on rail tracks leading to a coal-fired power station, blocking trains from entering or leaving the area. Several of these demonstrators were detained by The Aachen Police force.

Have we collectively forgotten that seeking asylum in this country has long been a basic right? Are we simply too distracted by our own reflection to care? People seeking refuge being treated so shamelessly, detailed illegally, and turned a blind eye to collectively is a sad and inhumane retelling of history. One that is now happening now in droves within the occupied continent of the United States. It will continue, unless the public decides to take it upon themselves - ourselves - to enact change.

Contained here is a brief resource guide on what to do during this time.

Author Ta-Nehisi Coates spoke to lawmakers at a recent House committee hearing that the debate over reparations is “a dilemma of inheritance.” Coates eloquently rebutted against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for stating a day earlier for speaking against reparations, with reason being that no one currently living is responsible. Coates’ speech reflected the inequalities created by slavery persist today, including in the form of economic and health disparities.

The plants have more to teach us besides what they are good for superficially. We need to stop looking at the earth in terms of profit. We need to stop looking at plants in terms of just how they benefit us. By ignoring the indigenous people who had connections with specific plants, we are doing a disservice to the plants as well.

— written by Rodi Bragg

As a human family, what is going on? The 1% of the world live in a constant state of self-importance that causes the turn of an infinite blind eye to the truth. And what's worse is that the system we're in can't really be escaped, because it was built around us. We never walked through any gates to get here, we were just born right into it, and raised to believe it's normal.

— written by Sera Lindsey

We need a humanitarian revolution that addresses the root causes of ecological destruction. This can only happen if we come together in communities to reckon with our situation. We must choose to live differently on the Earth. To confront climate change, we need a single-minded effort similar to what the US did in World War Two. After Pearl Harbor, the entire society shifted to war-time production and aggregated its resources for a shared goal.

— written by Daniel Pinchbeck