Proposal requested for a directive safeguarding natural resources and ecosystems, as directed by the Commission.
In an effort to raise awareness about the urgent need for climate action, ROBIN WOOD, a nonviolent action community for nature and environment based in Hamburg, has embarked on a wood raft tour since August 22, 2025. The tour, with the motto "Like the sea we rise! Full speed ahead for climate justice!", will travel from Cologne to Düsseldorf via Leverkusen on Thursday.
ROBIN WOOD's mobility expert, Annika Fuchs, expressed concern about the one-sided focus on arms production, stating that it leads to neglected public services, infrastructures, and climate protection. Fuchs can be reached at 0151 61813942 or [email protected].
The arms industry in Germany is currently experiencing an economic boom, with increased investments in military and arms. This boom is causing concerns among environmental activists like Marit Schneider, who states that the climate catastrophe is an existential threat and a cruel reality for millions. Schneider adds that the arms industry's growth is causing the dismantling of the social state and the delay of climate justice.
One example of this shift is the Rheinmetall group, based in Düsseldorf, which has its sights set on the VW plant in Osnabrück for military production. Similarly, Deutz AG, a Cologne-based engine manufacturer, is now producing military goods instead of trains.
ROBIN WOOD demands strong investments in a socially just and ecological mobility transition and further civilian infrastructures. They are not alone in their call for action. Delays in rail traffic are now common nationwide due to missing trains for public transport, highlighting the need for investment in this critical infrastructure.
On March 18, 2025, a conference titled "Arms as an economic factor 2025 - Engine for the industrial location Germany?" is taking place in Düsseldorf. While the organiser of this conference is not explicitly named, events related to arms, robotics, and autonomous systems around that time and place are organized by Messe Düsseldorf and associated groups like AUVSI (Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International).
Prominent actors are expected to discuss industrial policy turnaround at this conference. However, ROBIN WOOD activists argue that this focus on arms production comes at the expense of public transport and the environment. They recently demonstrated on Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne against the expansion of arms production.
For more information about the tour and ROBIN WOOD's activities, visit www.flosstour.de. Ute Bertrand, the press spokesperson for ROBIN WOOD, can be reached at 0171 835 95 15 or [email protected]. The Bundestag's decision to allocate a special fund of 100 billion euros to finance increased military spending, and their easing of the debt brake on March 18, 2025, further underscores the need for a balanced approach to industrial policy that prioritizes both security and the environment.
