Protest Camp — 4-10 April 2025 — Heidelberg, GER— #EndCementFestival
TOGETHER AGAINST HEIDELBERG MATERIALS & FOR REGENERATIVE CONSTRUCTION.
Why the Festival?
In spring 2025, we will gather in the hometown of the cement giant and Germany’s number one climate killer: Heidelberg Materials.
The cement industry pollutes our air, heats up the climate and destroys ecosystems and habitats worldwide. And for what? For ugly, loveless concrete blocks that make us feel isolated, heat up our cities and whose rents nevertheless remain unaffordable.
This must stop. We want wood and clay instead of concrete. We want affordable housing instead of speculative properties. We want community instead of isolation. In short: we want a turnaround in construction!
However, Heidelberg Materials is trying to pretend that everything can remain as it is with a few unrealistic technical measures to deal with the emissions. Day after day, the climate killer presents itself as a green pioneer and denies all of its numerous human rights accusations, such as in Togo, Palestine, Western Sahara and Indonesia.
That is why we organize the End Cement Festival parallel to Heidelberger Frühling, the cultural festival at which Heidelberg Materials is allowed to present itself as a do-gooder every year.
At our end cement festival, everyone is envited to join us for a few days of living in solidarity and enjoying culture that is accessible to all.
Info Channels during the Camp
Where is it?
Right in front of the Heidelberg Materials headquarters in the “Park an der Uferstraße”. It’s basically a 15 minute walk from Heidelberg main station. Alternatively you can take the tram lines 24 or 25 which takes about five minutes until you arrive at the “Jahnstraße” station.
Where can I sleep?
You’re not living in Heidelberg and lack a place to sleep? There are basically two options:
1.TENT
In the camp there’s free space for camping, as well as electricity, toilets and water. You don’t need to registrate, just bring a tent etc. yourself.
Though as a heads up: The camp is in the city centre of Heidelberg, so nearby there are loud streets. It may be helpful to bring earplugs. 😉
2. BED EXCHANGE
We’ve also just started a bed exchange, where people can offer or search places to sleep during the time of the camp.
You can put in your info in the following forms (currently only available in German):
What’s going on in the camp?
For one week, the park becomes a centre point for a turnaround in construction and against Heidelberg Materials.
1.EDUCATION & CULTURE
We are currently working on putting together an educational programme and cultural events.
The full programme will be available in the camp.
Would you like to contribute a programme item?
Would you like to offer a workshop or support us with art and music? That’s really great! Just write to us directly via our email.
2.FOOD FOR ALL
Together we provide ourselves with three vegan meals a day:
- Lunch: 8:30-9:30
- Breakfast: 13:00-14:00
- Dinner: 19:00-20:00
While people are already busy planning, during the camp they are happy about every person who helps chopping and leaves a donation between 0-10€ per day to cover the costs!
3. MEETING & NETWORKING
The camp should be a place for people to meet, for example at the joint morning plenary session or at networking meetings.
As a tip: there are table tennis tables in the park anyway and right next door are the skate park, a beach volleyball court and the Neckar meadow where you can make friends with geese.
If you want you can join the entire week, though every single day is already worth coming around!
Actions
At the same time as the camp, several groups in Heidelberg are planning activities centred around the building revolution. More information will follow.
How bout an action training?
Individual action trainings will be offered parallel to the camp. More information will follow.
How does one go into ation?
Large actions will be announced widely, other actions will be organised via affinity groups.
- Already organised as an affinity group? Then you can send a signal message to @alex.9923.
- No affinity group yet? Parallel to the camp, affinity groups will be offered. If you don’t have time then, please write a signal message to @alex.9923.
Action Consensus
There is a common, binding consensus on our behaviour within the actions:
- Our diverse forms of protest and action convey an image of diversity, creativity and openness. We endeavour to break down barriers in order to enable everyone to participate.
- Our actions encompass different levels of action with which we want to address all citizens. From demonstrations and petitions to actions of civil disobedience.
- The consumption of intoxicants in any form is prohibited at our actions and people are otherwise asked to move to the edge of the action or to leave the action altogether.
- We film and photograph our actions to generate attention.
- We are an open and peaceful campaign and welcome everyone who accepts our principles. The campaign should be a safe space for everyone, so we do not accept people who behave in an intolerant or discriminatory way towards other people. We reject racism, anti-Semitism, fascism, LGBTIQ* hostility and all forms of group-based misanthropy. That is why we do not cooperate with the AfD and other far-right forces.
- We respect the dignity of every human being. Accordingly, the use of violence of any kind, physical or psychological, outside the scope of our actions, is prohibited at our actions. We reject all forms of violence and always endeavour to find a peaceful solution to all conflicts. We reserve the right to civil disobedience. We are strictly non-violent in our actions and our communication with the public, the police and each other. We treat every person with dignity and respect.
- We organise ourselves into affinity groups for civil disobedience actions. Action training and legal workshops are offered for activists.
- We are a non-partisan campaign, so advertising for political parties at our actions, whether through flags or flyers, is prohibited unless expressly communicated otherwise in advance. We are happy to cooperate with all parties, associations, organisations, movements and NGOs that share our principles and goals and are happy to accept support.
- Speeches, flags, banners, posters, flyers, stickers and other signs that have no connection with our goals or contradict our consensus may not be displayed at our actions.
How can I help?
A camp doesn’t organise itself, we do it together, whether it’s cooking, awareness or camp security! Shift schedules will be posted at the info point and we will discuss the day together in the morning plenary session. There is also a group of helpers for short-term tasks.
And as a camp also costs money, we are happy to receive any donations that we can organise together.
Other Questions left?
How has Heidelberg Materials reacted to you so far?
On May 16, 2024, we presented our demands to Heidelberg Materials at their Annual General Meeting and clearly called for a compensation fund and an independent human rights report.
However, instead of responding to this, it was only emphasized that human rights were already respected as a matter of principle and that this was already sufficiently taken into account internally. The compensation fund was also too much to ask for, as they were already (no joke) renewing crosswalks in Bulgaria and were already doing enough for the local communities…
Since then, there has been no further response from Heidelberg Materials to the demands.
How else can I provide support?
Either sign up for the mailing list above or send us an email! We are happy about every helping hand!
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