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Only Turnips in Their Heads – When Politics Sacrifices Environment and Citizens – Vigil Against the IKIG (Intermunicipal Industrial Zone) in TeuchernThe planned establishment of the Intermunicipal Industrial Zone (IKIG) continues to spark protests in the Teuchern region and beyond. On December 17, 2024, farmers, environmentalists, and citizens gathered in front of Teuchern's town hall to raise their voices against the project. With six large tractors and around 30 determined citizens, the vigil aimed to remind incoming city council members of the consequences this project would have for agriculture and the environment. Marcel Schneider, mayor of Teuchern, was also on-site observing the situation—seemingly pensive, but offering no comment. 
The opposition to the IKIG has clear reasons. According to a flyer distributed by citizen initiatives, the project constitutes an attack on valuable agricultural land. 450 hectares—350 of which would be sealed off and 90 designated for so-called compensation measures—are set to be lost irreversibly. These are high-quality soils with an average value of 90 soil points—lands that have been used for regional food production for generations. Such soils are of inestimable value, both economically and ecologically. Political Decisions Made With No Regard for ConsequencesWhat is particularly concerning is that politicians are pushing these plans forward without solid foundations. For instance, the Hohenmölsen city council approved the IKIG and its administrative union even though no feasibility study was available at the time. It seems political will to implement the project outweighs a rational evaluation of its risks and consequences. District Administrator Götz Ulrich recently celebrated the decisions of the participating towns—Weißenfels, Lützen, and Hohenmölsen—as well as the district council, calling them “key hurdles” that had been overcome. However, he failed to mention the massive citizen protests that have shaped the region in recent months.This disregard for the concerns of citizens reveals a disturbing pattern: once again, economic interests appear to take precedence over the protection of the environment and basic livelihoods. The affected lands are not only vital for agriculture but also for maintaining the region's ecological balance. Farmers warn that losing these soils not only threatens their livelihoods but also harms livestock farming and the regional economic cycle. 
More Than Just a Local ProblemThe protesters’ criticism goes beyond environmental destruction. Social and economic aspects also play a role. The loss of over 80 agricultural jobs and additional positions in pig and cattle farming is at stake. The destruction of land and buildings would irrevocably alter the character of the region. Many citizens are asking: Who is this decision really for—and what is it really about?Another major point of criticism is the handling of funding from the coal phase-out. Instead of investing these resources in preserving existing structures, they are slated to be poured into a massive industrial area—a project driven more by delusions of grandeur than necessity. Alternatives, such as using already developed mining and industrial brownfields, appear not to be seriously considered. Speech at the City CouncilIn the city council meeting that followed the vigil/tractor demonstration on December 17, 2024, Andreas Krieg and other citizen initiative (BI) members addressed the council members with urgent appeals to live up to their responsibilities and to resist the immense external pressure being used to force through the IKIG plans.From the Press Release of Nature Friends of Germany, Saxony-Anhalt State Association, Sorbenaue 42, 06686 Lützen“We want to once again affirm our position: No IKIG on this valuable land. Our farmers are the first to suffer—if an industrial and commercial zone is built on the proposed site, they will lose their livelihoods through the loss of agricultural land,” said Diana Harnisch, state chair of the Nature Friends of Saxony-Anhalt and BI member. “We, as Nature Friends, have repeatedly and emphatically pointed out that valuable soil must be preserved—both as a food source and to protect our environment,” Harnisch continued.“We will do everything in our power to prevent this land sealing,” affirmed Arnd Helm, managing director of Osterland GmbH. Osterland GmbH and other agricultural businesses have presented the key points of how they would be affected to the city council members. Additionally, a BI representative made clear during the council meeting that the domestic production of food is crucial and must not be further endangered, especially in light of the weakening of globalization. Contact for the Citizens’ Initiative: BI_KEINBODENFUERSIKIG@web.de A Wake-Up Call to the CitizensThe vigil in front of Teuchern’s town hall was only the beginning. On January 21, 2025, when Teuchern’s city council is expected to make its final decision on the IKIG, a large demonstration is planned for the market square. Farmers and environmentalists are calling on the public to turn out in large numbers and make a stand together.“It’s about our homeland!”—reads the protest letter handed out on December 17. It’s a call not only to the city council but to all citizens. The time for passively watching politics override the will of the people is over. This isn’t just about the future of agriculture or a few communities. It’s about the fundamental question of whether economic interests should continue to be enforced at the expense of the environment and quality of life. 
To the City Council: Key Concerns from Osterland GmbH TeuchernFor the Intermunicipal Industrial and Commercial Zone Weißenfels near the A9 and B91, agricultural businesses in the region are to be stripped of 450 hectares of agricultural land. That’s 450 hectares taken from food production and stolen from nature!(Land sealing of approx. 350 ha plus approx. 90 ha of land loss for compensatory measures → 450 ha of agricultural land)
We’ve already had to accept land losses due to motorway expansion and now the widening of the B91 on both sides—projects that were indeed important and beneficial *for all*. But not for this “megalomaniac industrial zone,” aimed solely at squandering structural funds from the coal phase-out, without seriously considering alternative sites that *do* exist in the former mining and industrial areas (Deuben–Theißen–Profen). Let’s use these funds to preserve existing jobs—whether in agriculture, business, or services—and to create and maintain schools and daycare centers for our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. That would be a meaningful, purposeful investment for OUR FUTURE in rural areas We too are taxpayers—paying corporate, business, and income tax for decades! We call on our local political decision-makers in the city councils to recognize their responsibility and to vote *against* the creation of a special-purpose association, and thus against the industrial zone! “THIS IS ABOUT OUR HOMELAND!” — THANK YOU!! Author: AI-Translation - Michael Thurm | 20.12.2024 |
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