Ghent (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Activists are camping in Bloemekenswijkbos, Wondelgem to protest a new depot by De Lin. They believe it will harm the environment. Despite a court order to leave they stay due to asbestos risks.
In the Bloemekenswijkbos in Wondelgem a bunch of activists have been staying there for more than a month. They’re protesting against De Lijn a logistics company because they want to build a new depot in that area. These depot plans have been in the works for a few years and have been delayed a few times. The activists believe that building the depot would damage the natural environment of the Bloemekenswijkbos which they think is an important green area. They have been protesting against the project highlighting the forest’s ecological and community significance. The activists are camping in the forest to make people notice their protest and try to change the decision about the permit for the depot construction. They want to stop the project by showing how it could harm the environment and the community.
Why are Activists defying court orders to stay in Bloemekenswiikbos?
Even though a judge said they had to leave the activists are still staying in the forest and haven’t left yet. Since the activists are not leaving De Lijn can get a bailiff to make them pay fines of 250 euros per day up to a maximum of 50,000 euros. This is to try to make them go away. Since the police are busy with the Ghent Festivities they can’t make the activists leave right now. The activists are staying put for the moment even though they were told to go and might face fines.
De Lin wants the activists to leave the forest quickly because there is asbestos there which is dangerous. The judge said they had to go partly because of the health dangers of being around asbestos for a long time. Asbestos is not dangerous right away if you’re only near it for a day. But the activists have been there for weeks which makes it risky. When asbestos dries out it can float in the air and be harmful. Breathing in these particles for a long time can cause serious health issues including cancer. It has been said that this is a big health worry so it’s important for the activists to leave the area as soon as possible.
