Peace demonstration in Bergen: 500 for peace, 12 against!

Peace demonstration in Bergen: 500 for peace, 12 against!

In Bergen auf Rügen there was a very special event on the market square on Saturday, November 5th, 2025. Organized by Mayor Thomas Gens and spa director Vanessa Marx, a peace demonstration took place that captivated around 500 participants. Among those present was Uwe Steimle, a cabaret artist, who opened the event with a funny satire of Erich Honecker. Tino Eisbrenner, rock poet and member of the legendary GDR band Jessica, then sang the peace songs, which further lightened the mood.

But not everyone agreed with the central message of the demonstration. On the sidelines of the event, around 12 members of the group “Fridays for Future Rügen” (FfF Rügen) protested decisively against the planned LNG terminal off the coast of Rügen. Malte Paschirbe from FfF Rügen made it clear that the counter-event was intended to set an example for democracy and peace. This was not about silencing other voices, but rather about speaking out against right-wing narratives and Kremlin propaganda.

Controversial LNG terminal

The “Neptune” LNG terminal, which is responsible for the landing and regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has been causing unrest among the people of Rügan for some time. With a length of 283 meters and a height of 26 meters, it represents a massive phenomenon and is responsible for the weekly deliveries of LNG tankers. In addition to the technical aspect, there are also serious concerns about noise, environmental hazards and the impact on tourism in the region. Various demonstrations, including by FfF Rügen, Jusos and the citizens' initiative “Lebenswerts Rügen”, have already drawn attention to these problems.

During these protests, the origin of the LNG, which primarily comes from the USA, is also often discussed. Luisa Neubauer from FfF has urgently pointed out that the health impacts of the LNG industry in the USA particularly affect poor people and people of color. In addition, the transport and regasification of LNG causes higher emissions than Russian pipeline gas. Despite these concerns, the federal government is planning to build more LNG terminals, which is met with distrust among the population.

Back to the peace demonstration in Bergen: Mayor Thomas Naulin (AfD), who represented the absent mayor Anja Ratzke, emphasized in his speech that Bergen is a city of peace. At the same time, he criticized the decision to use American fracking gas to supply energy via the planned LNG terminal. This is met with resistance as many Rügan residents fear dependence on fossil fuels.

The event ended after about an hour and a half without any notable incidents. Although it looked like peaceful coexistence that day, the situation around the LNG terminal on Rügen remains tense. The loss of trust in the governments in Schwerin and Berlin is growing and calls for a rethinking of climate policy - this was also shown by the voter turnout at the last federal election, in which 35.5% of voters on the island voted for the AfD.

The market square in Bergen not only became a venue for peace songs, but also reflected the worries and needs of the people of Rügan - between hopes for a greener future and the challenges of the energy transition.