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Sympathizers Of 'Squirrels' Against The A69 Highway Gather

A squirrel is holding a newspaper with the headline 'Our house is on fire' in Toulouse, France, on January 17, 2024. As construction on the controversial A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continues, four arborist-climbers, nicknamed 'squirrels,' are currently on trial at the courthouse in Toulouse for blocking the cutting of trees near Verfeuil by occupying them. Supporters have gathered to back the 'squirrels.' Sympathizers have constructed a mock concrete wall where they are painting 'A69 won't be built' and have burned a fake Earth. The 'squirrels' are trying to protect the remaining trees that the public works group NGE/Atosca has not yet destroyed. Trees are being cut by NGE/ATOSCA even though not all legal procedures have been completed. 'La Voie est Libre' (meaning 'The Way is Free'), opponents, and Thomas Brail are calling for the construction of the highway to be halted until all judicial decisions have been made. Not all expropriations for farmers have been resolved. Opponents of the project argue that reprofiling the N126 would be sufficient for the anticipated 6,000 vehicles per day and would cost significantly less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, and its construction is expected to destroy over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#10920772
Date Taken	17 January 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Alain Pitton/NurPhoto
Category	Social Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Alain Pitton/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

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