Action groups Extension Rebellion (XR) and Kappen met Kolen intermittently blocked the access road to the Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee this morning. As a result, some visitors were delayed in getting to the tournament.
A spokesperson for XR and Kappen met Kolen informed NH this afternoon that about 20 activists were on their way. “We were temporarily blocking the road every time between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.,” he explains. During the blockade they distributed flyers explaining the action. “There is another group that has gone to the chess tournament itself to demonstrate there.”
The action groups had previously announced that they would conduct actions around the chess tournament. “We believe that Tata Steel’s coke and gas plants should be closed,” the spokesperson said. “They cause the problems and it is up to the government to pull the plug.”
Greening
According to demonstrators, the steel company should go green faster. “We see that Tata puts a lot of work into the chess tournament, which we have nothing against, but we would prefer to see that effort put into making changes. It’s about setting priorities.”
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To try to steer the action in the right direction, there is earlier consultation between mayor of Beverwijk Martijn Smit, police and Public Prosecution Service, Tata Steel and Extinction Rebellion. In it, Extinction Rebellion indicated that it did not want to make any agreements.
To assure
Tata Steel was very concerned about the accessibility of the event, where thousands of spectators are expected. On the last day the demonstrations do not appear to have caused any major problems. “There are people who have had some delays in getting here,” a spokesperson for the tournament said when asked.