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Sympathizers Of 'Squirrels' Against The A69 Highway Gather

An Earth model is burning in a newspaper, and a leaflet reads, 'A69, you too find it scandalous to cut centennial trees?' As the construction of the controversial A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continues, four arborist-climbers, known as 'squirrels,' are on trial at the courthouse in Toulouse, France, on January 17, 2024, for having blocked 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 set ablaze 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 down 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 the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles expected per day and would cost significantly less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, resulting in the destruction of over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#10920775
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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