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Greenpeace dumps coal ahead of Merkel meet

The Local Germany
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Greenpeace dumps coal ahead of Merkel meet
Protesters are led away following the stunt. Photo: Greenpeace

Greenpeace has dumped a truck load of coal and 2,000 litres of "radioactive" water in Paris to demand that Germany and France seek greener energy solutions, before a summit between the two countries on Wednesday.

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Shortly before 7am on Wednesday activists parked a truck outside the presidential palace in the French capital and dumped five tons of coal and two tanks of "radioactive" water into the street.

“The idea was to send a strong message to François Hollande and Angela Merkel. We want them to give up nuclear power and coal, which are dangerous and energies of the past. We want them to go for a real energy transition,” Greenpeace France Nuclear Energry Attaché Sebastian Blavier told The Local. 

"The action was designed to coincide with the start of the Franco-German Council of Ministries and send a message to both countries about the need to come up with greener energy solutions than coal and nuclear power," he said.

Greenpeace said the two tanks of 2,000 litres of water were contaminated with tritium and taken from an area in Normandy, northern France.

They claim the water has been contaminated by leaks from a French nuclear waste depot. Greenpeace said the water was in sealed tanks and represented no immediate danger as long as it was not consumed or touched. 

"Mrs Merkel and Mr Hollande must reject the energies of the past, coal and nuclear . They have the power and duty to initiate energy transition in Europe,” Blavier added.

“We ask them to commit to using 45 percent renewable energy by 2030 in Europe, because it’s the only way from our perspective to engage a real transition in France, Germany and Europe.” 

Read more from The Local France here

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