Click image to zoom

Swedish Activist Greta Thunberg Speaks Against The Decried Highway A69 In The Tarn Department

Protesters are facing riot police who are blocking the railroad between Toulouse and Castres. In the woods near Semalens in the Tarn Department, on the planned A69 highway route between Toulouse and Castres, opponents of the project are organizing a weekend of protest called the 'Cabanacade' with Swedish ecological activist Greta Thunberg. The event is taking place near the ZAD known as 'Crem'Arbre' (i.e., ZAD: Zone To Defend) and is a call to activists and sympathizers to build huts for 'Ecureuils' ('squirrels') who are living in the trees to prevent them from being cut down. Greta Thunberg is stating that maintaining such a project is insane as it will compromise the quality of life of the inhabitants and will destroy not only nature but also agricultural fields. The riot police 'Gendarmerie Mobile' are intervening several times to block the railway between Toulouse and Castres and are using tear gas canisters to intimidate the protesters, as the protest is taking place on private lands. The main collective 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free') wants the construction of the highway to be halted until all judicial decisions on the matter are made. All expropriations for farmers have not been cleared. Opponents of the project are arguing that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles expected per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields are at risk of being destroyed. In Saix, Tarn, France, on February 10, 2024. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#10981041
Date Taken	10 February 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 castres concrete toulouse france nature destruction concreting atosca activist arborist climber trees zad crem'arbre public money waste occitanie tarn gendarmerie mobile public interest gathering activistes nature pacifism occupation tree forest woods oaks oak cutting clear cutting toulouse sewedish greta thunberg semalens saix

License This Photo

Digital Basic Editorial use on digital platforms only (websites, social media). Single use, up to 1 million monthly UVs. Worldwide distribution. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€35.00

Editorial Print & Digital For editorial use in print and digital publications such as newspapers, magazines, and textbooks. Single use, up to 10,000 copies or 1 million UVs. Worldwide distribution. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€99.00

Broadcast (TV & Digital) For editorial use in TV production or streaming platforms. Single use, all media rights excluding theatrical, with worldwide distribution in perpetuity. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€399.00

Total Price

€35.00

Secure checkout

Need a custom license?

Contact Sales