An illegal camp set up by the Rainbow Family in the Harz region is being dismantled. Since Monday afternoon, the authorities, supported by the police, have been working to clear the camp, according to statements from the Goslar and Göttingen districts. The operation was expected to continue through the night, but it was unclear whether it had concluded by then. According to a participant, around 1,500 people were scattered throughout the forest area between Bad Grund and Clausthal-Zellerfeld on Monday morning.
The Rainbow Family, known for their advocacy for world peace, had been camping for several days on a 200-hectare area in a protected landscape zone. The Goslar and Göttingen districts had previously issued bans on entering the area. Violations of these bans could result in fines of up to €5,000.
Ritual fire planned for full moon night
The campers had planned to hold a ritual fire on the full moon night, which was intended to be prevented by the authorities. For days, efforts had been underway to find alternative, legal sites for the participants to move to.
According to the Goslar district, the campers had set up numerous fire pits in the forest area and had been ignoring a ban on open fires, posing a risk of forest fires. Additionally, vehicles parked illegally were blocking emergency routes and had been partly towed away.
Peaceful people from around the world
On Friday, the Goslar district reported that many people had voluntarily left the illegal camp. However, Thomas T., a participant, noted that many new arrivals had joined over the weekend. On Monday morning, the mood in the camp was described as peaceful, with campers meditating together for peace, according to a dpa photographer. The volunteer fire department had been surveying the area with drones.
New arrivals from around the world were continuing to join the camp. The participants planned to dance naked around a large bonfire on the full moon night. The fire was to be lit in a large, tree-free area. According to reports, the participants are highly environmentally conscious and plan to clean up all waste after the event.
