Dear Ende Gelände activists,

It won’t be long before we kick off our action in the Ruhr region. As in previous years, we’d like to share a few tips on anti-racism ahead of the action.

Disclaimer: We are not anti-racism trainers or racism experts, but rather activists with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. If you have any comments or feedback, please feel free to email us at redaktion@ende-gelaende.org (PGP) or awareness@ende-gelaende.org (PGP).

We’ll be updating this page with more information, especially over the next few days!

But feel free to get a head start by using our brochure (also available in french).

1. Introduction
2. To white people
3. To BIM_PoC
4. Materials
5. Explanation of terms

1. Introduction

For the past few years, even within predominantly white (1) German climate justice groups, the connections between the climate crisis and racism have increasingly been recognized and addressed. This process, which was often initiated by supportive criticism from BIM_PoC (2) groups, must be strengthened and continued.

We believe it is essential for groups within the climate justice movement to highlight the substantive connections between racism and climate injustice. Modern racism emerged as an ideology to legitimize the enslavement and exploitation of non-white people and the land on which they live. This exploitation continues to this day, and the immense scale of this destruction is a direct cause of the climate catastrophe.

As part of the German climate justice movement, it is also up to us to reflect on and critique our own entanglement in the power dynamics of racism and to challenge white dominance. Combating racism goes hand in hand with preventing the further expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure and the fight for a climate-just world. A climate-just world can only be built on an anti-racist foundation, and this foundation does not arise out of thin air….

If we are to build a society based on solidarity and anti-racism, we must not shy away from taking a critical look at our own structures—good intentions are not enough; it is our actions that count.

2. To WHITE People

The following section is primarily intended for white people.

You might think: Isn’t the goal of climate justice inherently based on solidarity? We believe: Power dynamics, injustice, and discrimination also play a role in our actions.
People experience varying degrees of privilege in society and are affected by racism in different ways. Racism—an issue that has long been raised by BIM_PoC within the German climate justice movement—is also present in radical left-wing structures (e.g., at Ende Gelände). A process of reflection on racism has been underway at Ende Gelände for some time now; at the same time, we do not view this process as complete and are aware that it is a long journey that must be pursued and considered over the long term.

Most Ende Gelände activists possess white privilege. This includes being unaware of these privileges and needing others to point them out. It also includes (unconsciously) extrapolating from one’s own experience to others, meaning they fail to consider that not everyone has these white privileges. This becomes apparent during actions, for example, when white people fail to recognize racist situations or do not realize that there is a greater risk of repression for BIM_PoC.
Below, we have compiled a few tips (this list is not complete) to help everyone involved in the action and the climate movement feel more comfortable:

1) Self reflection
Part of BIM_PoC’s criticism of Ende Gelände is that many people have not yet reflected on their white privilege. So: engage with (anti-)racism and your whiteness. Because critically examining whiteness is also part of anti-racist practice. Also question who you mean when you speak of “we.” Reflect on the assumptions you hold in your mind.

Here you’ll find a small collection of links and resources for self-reflection, most of which were created by BIM_PoC.
The Berlin Ende Gelände anti-racism working group had also created a sheet for individual and group reflection, which you can find here (even though it’s a bit older, it is still worth looking into). Links to books and podcasts can be found below.

2) Cultural Appropriation
One topic you’ll come across is cultural appropriation. We’ve provided a more detailed explanation of this in the past.

One example of the importance of cultural appropriation in the German climate movement is that many BIM_PoC do not feel comfortable in a plenary session or at an action where white people are wearing locks. We use the word “locks” because the word “dreads” can evoke negative associations. Often, these white people haven’t considered that dreadlocks are a symbol of Black resistance and that it is hurtful for many Black people when white people appropriate this symbol. Or they have considered it but choose to ignore it. While Black people who wear locks face racism, white people retain their privileges even when they wear locks. Cultural appropriation is a complex issue closely tied to colonial violence and capitalism. Therefore, it is not limited to simply wearing dreadlocks. We encourage you to explore cultural appropriation and the critiques surrounding it so that we do not perpetuate structures of colonial violence. Below, you will find recommended readings to help you delve deeper into the topic.
Here you’ll find guidelines on how we handle white locks at the camp in Hamm. The Awareness Concept calls for locks to be covered with scarves or tube scarves.

3) Repression & Racist Police Violence
BIM_PoC are affected by repression (3) and racist police violence far more often. During Ende Gelände actions, many white people feel protected from repression by the crowd. Racist stereotypes increase the risk for BIM_PoC of standing out even in a crowd and ending up in the police’s crosshairs. The police are a racist institution. Together, we must find ways to ensure that BIM_PoC also feel safer in large groups.
The first step for a white person might be to become aware that they have white privilege even within a large group. This is not something to be taken for granted. Since BIM_PoC are more frequently subject to racist police violence, it can be painful for them to witness white people interacting “friendly” with the police. Please be aware that not everyone can enter this without difficulty. This year’s action consensus therefore explicitly reiterates: “Since we live in a discriminatory system, it is important for socially privileged people to reflect on their behavior. This applies especially to interactions with the police, who act in ableist, racist, queer-hostile, and sexist ways. Decisions about the necessity and form of such interactions are made in the delegates’ plenary.” If contact with the police is necessary, one should reconsider and reevaluate their motivation, attitude, and goal beforehand….

Where is the rest…?

Unfortunately we couldn’t finish the whole translation with updated documents and links in time, we are really sorry for this. You can find most of the relevant info on “behaviour”, context, etc. for orientation on our site from the previous Hamburg Action, but more up to date info concerning e.g. safer spaces and our structures at the Campsite here.
If you’re in doubt and you need more questions answered, feel free to call the Camp’s infopoint at the following number: +4915216223771