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Sympathizers Of 'Squirrels' Against The A69 Highway Gather

A squirrel is blowing into the torch to extinguish it near a leaflet against the A69 highway in Toulouse, France, on January 17, 2024. As the construction of the controversial A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continues, four arborist-climbers, nicknamed 'squirrels,' are currently on trial before the courthouse of Toulouse for having blocked the cutting of trees near Verfeuil by occupying them. Supporters have gathered to back the 'squirrels.' Sympathizers are constructing a fake concrete wall where they are painting 'A69 won't be built' and burning a faux Earth. The 'squirrels' are aiming to protect the last 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. The group 'La Voie est Libre,' along with 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 will result in the destruction of over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#10920774
Date Taken	17 January 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Alain Pitton/NurPhoto
Category	Social Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Alain Pitton/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

ecology highway protest la voie est libre lvel environment nature law btp collective national road n126 A69 public works politics opposition opponent objector protester climate nge climate change global warming 6th extinction castres concrete toulouse france bats nature birds destruction concreting atosca activist arborist climber trees Saint-Germain-des-Pres public money waste farmer farming food smda occitanie public interest trial justice ecureuils squirrels tgi wall concrete wall

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