German investments in green hydrogen in Namibia

“Nothing about us without us” is the central demand of leading representatives of the Nama with regard to the plans to further hydrogen production in Namibia. The “green hydrogen”-project is largely funded by German taxpayer money. In the scope of a workshop in former Lüderitz (now ǃNamiǂNûs) local politicians, researchers, and representatives and leaders of the Nama – together with the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) – discussed the impact of green hydrogen and developed a strategic paper. 
“In the name of the Nama, we are calling on the German Federal Government and German companies to involve the Nama in plans concerning the use of their traditional settlement areas,” stated Roman Kühn, the STP’s Director, in ǃNamiǂNûs on Friday.
A topic of particular concern and subject to questions was the possible damage to the Shark Island peninsula due to the planned expansion of the adjacent harbor. Under German colonial rule, 1000 to 3000 Nama and Herero lost their lives in a concentration camp there. Today, Shark Island is thus an important site commemorating the genocide (1904 – 1908). Research by the Forensic Architecture research collective suggests that remains of deceased Nama and Ovaherero individuals may lie on the seabed off Shark Island – precisely where the port is supposed to be built.
The demands of the Nama are:

• Participation in all relevant processes at all levels in accordance with the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC).
• Participation in the decision on whether and how to expand the port of ǃNamiǂNû (formerly Lüderitz), particularly taking into account the impact on the former concentration camp.
• Further research on the concentration camp, the seabed, and the surrounding area.
• Clarification of land rights on Shark Island and the Tsau National Park // Aeb 

“It is important to prevent a further desecration of the remains of the Hereo and Nama genocide victims in the course of the expansion of the port. Further financial support is needed for the process of coming to terms – and Germany must live up to its special responsibility,” Kühn stated. 

The workshop with the title “Indigenous reflections on green hydrogen production in southern Namibia” took place in ǃNamiǂNûs from April 9 to 11. 
Forensic Architecture had recreated the concentration camp on Shark Island in Namibia based on old and current photographic material, and they gathered new evidence of the genocide crimes.

Further dates following the workshop:
April 13: Genocide Memorial Walk on Shark Island and unveiling of a new memorial stone for the victims of the genocide crimes against the Herero and the Nama. The memorial stone was financed by the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) at the request of the affected individuals. A memorial stone erected the previous year has been destroyed.