ON A DEADLY MISSION – ENVIRONMENTALISTS IN MORTAL DANGER

A ZDF documentary about the fight of courageous people against environmental pollution, for climate protection, and against the ruthless exploitation of nature. But the number of threatened environmental activists is rising worldwide. In many countries, they are sued, threatened, and even murdered.

I traveled to Nigeria for this. The country is known for its oil wealth. But the population in parts of the Niger Delta suffers from the consequences of leaking pipelines. Vast areas, as large as the German state of Saarland, are contaminated with oil. Fishing, poisoned water, contaminated fields, and high mortality rates are the consequences. People are starving. And they are almost defenseless. Because those who oppose the oil mafia, against major corporations like ExxonMobil or Shell, are threatened or even killed. I accompanied environmental activists who have been fighting this oil pollution for 40 years. Among them was a priest of the Catholic Church, Dr. Peter Egielewa. He offers people in the Niger Delta help to build a new existence far away from the oil-contaminated areas. But his mission is also in danger, since many priests who took a stand against the oil multinationals have already paid with their lives.

The non-governmental organization Global Witness reports that in 2020 alone, more than 227 environmental activists were murdered. The real number is likely much higher. Indigenous people fighting against illegal land grabbing and journalists reporting on environmental crimes are also under threat.

In Peru, NGOs and Indigenous groups are fighting against international corporate conglomerates that exploit the rainforest. Illegal palm oil, cocoa, and coffee plantations are tearing huge holes into the jungle. On top of this, there is the ruthless logging of tropical timber, and more recently, the cultivation of cocaine. The work of activists who want to protect the Amazon rainforest is extremely dangerous.

But even in Europe, the pressure on environmentalists is growing. Due to rising wood and energy prices, illegal logging in Romania’s forests is becoming increasingly profitable for criminals. Clear-cutting threatens unique ecosystems. Those who expose these operations no longer live safely. Environmental activist Tiberiu Bosutar and investigative Romanian TV journalist Alex Nedea uncovered numerous cases showing how the timber mafia ruthlessly went after them. The two were threatened, beaten, and received death threats.

The fight against environmental pollution, illegal logging, and the exploitation of nature is dangerous. As long as the global greed for raw materials continues to generate good business, nothing is likely to change.