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Sympathizers Of 'Squirrels' Against The A69 Highway Gather

Arborist-climbers, known as 'squirrels,' are currently on trial at the courthouse in Toulouse, France, on January 17, 2024, for obstructing the felling of trees near Verfeuil in protest against the construction of the A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres. Supporters have gathered to back the 'squirrels' and have constructed a mock concrete wall with the message 'A69 won't be built' painted on it, as well as burning a symbolic representation of the Earth. These activists aim to protect the remaining trees that the public works group NGE/Atosca has not yet destroyed. Despite ongoing legal proceedings, NGE/Atosca continues to cut down trees. 'La Voie est Libre' (The Way is Free), along with opponents including Thomas Brail, are calling for a halt to the highway construction until all judicial decisions are finalized, noting that not all expropriations for farmers have been resolved. Critics of the project argue that upgrading the N126 would be sufficient to handle the anticipated 6,000 vehicles per day and would be much less costly. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for a stretch of 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	#10920776
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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