It is a road project in the south of France which, for months, has attracted international attention: the French state wants to build a highway between Castres and Toulouse to promote the economic development of the region. A 53 kilometer project against which part of the local population and environmental activists are fighting, who denounce the harmful consequences for the environment. This weekend of March 23-24, the French Biodiversity Office (OFB) agreed with them and suspended the cutting of the last trees.
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We call them “Squirrels”. After 39 days hoisted into trees to protect them from felling, these environmentalists can return to dry land this Sunday, March 24. The OFB in fact ruled on Saturday that the woods occupied by the activists are indeed “ an area with high environmental challenges ” Who ” has not been decommissioned “. “ Its clearing is therefore illegal », Indicates the public establishment.
For opponents of the A69 motorway, who denounce an anachronistic project in contradiction with the ecological commitments of the French government, it is a bitter victory. Indeed, 17 hectares have already been deforested, and the OFB has only suspended the felling of the remaining trees until the end of summer, as explained by Thomas Brail, founder of the National Tree Monitoring Group :
“ Until September 1, these trees will not be affected. We hope that the appeals on the merits, which are currently being studied by the courts, will be positive. Because otherwise, it’s certain that by September 1, these trees will be on the ground. »
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Two weeks ago, the United Nations special rapporteur on the protection of environmental defenders, Michel Forst, denounced the action of the police, which prevented the supply of water and food to ecologists in the trees. This greets a “ good news » after the decision of the OFB, which thus recognizes that the fight of the “Squirrels” is “ justified »:
“ I am not commenting on the project itself, but only on the way in which the activists were treated. It was really something that is not acceptable in a democracy – deprivation of sleep, particularly through the efforts of the gendarmerie or CRS, deprivation of water, of food. I was stunned to see that a French authority was flouting the most basic rules of international law in this way. It is peaceful, non-violent resistance, which effectively protests against an unjust practice or order. This is called civil disobedience. And it actually shows that the fight led by environmentalists, led by climate activists, using unconventional forms of activism, can actually pay off. What interested me was to see that finally, we recognize the legitimate fight of the “Squirrels” and that illegal police practices will now stop. »
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