Arresting images documenting the resistance against Germany’s open-pit coal mines honoured in World Press Photo Contest

The 2024 World Press Photo Contest global winners have been revealed. Among the photographers celebrated in this year’s competition is Daniel Chatard for his project ‘No Man’s Land’: A portfolio recording the resistance against Germany’s open-pit coal mines.

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Published: Thursday, 18 April 2024 at 12:29 PM

The results of this year’s World Press Photo Contest have been announced.

The competition received over 60,000 entries from 130 countries. In total, there were 33 awarded photographers, one of which was Daniel Chatard for his long-term project No Man’s Land, a documentation of the resistance against open-pit coal mines in Germany.

No Man’s Land – World Press Photo Contest 2024

Photography and words: Daniel Chatard

“Germany positions itself as a leader in the transition towards renewable energy by 2030, yet remains heavily dependent on coal for energy production,” says Chatard. “In the Rhineland, forests have been cleared and villages demolished since the 1970s to make way for the Hambach and Garzweiler open-pit coal mines. In 2012, activists began occupying parts of Hambach Forest and later the village of Lützerath to resist these measures, managing by 2023 to save a remainder of the forest and five of six such villages scheduled for destruction.”

Demonstrators evade a police blockade, then climb back onto the road to reach the railroad track along which coal travels from the Hambach open pit mine to three power plants. Three local mines produce 100 million tons of coal annually. Bedburg, Germany, 26 August 2017. Credit: Daniel Chatard
Daniel Chatard
Police officers carry away a demonstrator after surrounding hundreds of activists in a field beside railroad tracks leading to the Neurath coal-fired power plant. Bedburg, Germany, 26 August 2017. Credit: Daniel Chatard
Daniel Chatard
RWE demolishes the Immerath parish church, as the village is destroyed to make way for expansion of the Garzweiler open-pit mine. The company offered to re-accommodate residents in a new village 8 km away. Immerath, Germany, 8 January 2018. Credit: Daniel Chatard
Daniel Chatard
An activist sits on a pallet in front of the tepee in Lützerath where he often spends the night. Together with many other local activists, he campaigned for the preservation of the village. Lützerath, Germany, 13 August 2021. Credit: Daniel Chatard
Daniel Chatard
Police officers clear Lorien, the last remaining tree-house occupation in Hambach Forest. Merzenich, Germany, 15 November 2018. Credit: Daniel Chatard
Daniel Chatard
An activist kneels on the ground after her arrest during the eviction of tree houses in Hambach Forest. Activists had occupied a section of the forest since 2012, building tree houses to prevent trees being cut down. Kerpen, Germany, 27 September 2018. Credit: Daniel Chatard
Daniel Chatard
Police and RWE energy company security officers block activists belonging to the Ende Gelände action alliance, who have entered the Hambach open-pit mine. Kerpen, Germany, 5 November 2017. Credit: Daniel Chatard
Daniel Chatard
Demonstrators walk along the advancing edge of the Garzweiler II open-pit mine near Lützerath on the last weekend they could legally enter the village. Lützerath, Germany, 8 January 2023. Credit: Daniel Chatard

Find out more about the winners of this year’s World Press Photo Contest.

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