The environmentalists poured fluorescein, a powerful organic dye that turns green when it comes into contact with water, into the Lauch River. Extinction Rebellion claimed responsibility for the action. The action group wanted to protest against plans to bury toxic waste in a former mine in Wittelsheim. The controversial project recently received the green light. The waste would be surrounded by a concrete structure to prevent contamination of groundwater.
The ‘innocent’ dye had already been used in previous actions, but this time the mayor of Colmar and local residents noticed a large number of dead fish on the water surface of the river. “More than 48 hours after the protest, the water is still green,” Mayor Éric Straumann told ‘Le Figaro’ on Monday afternoon. “I was able to see with my own eyes the effect this dye, which was spread in large quantities, has on aquatic fauna.”
For the time being, he has not yet decided whether he will file a complaint against the environmental group. “We will see how the situation evolves and will then decide whether or not to take further action. The visual pollution alone is enormous,” said the mayor. He pointed out that the arrested person has not been taken into custody for the time being, but has only been fined.