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

Greta Thunberg (in red) is surrounded by activists as they prepare to visit the ZAD known as 'Crem'Arbre'. In the woods near Semalens in the Tarn Department, on the planned A69 highway route between Toulouse and Castres, opponents of this 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', which is a Zone To Defend, and is a call to activists and sympathizers to build huts for 'Ecureuils' ('squirrels'), who live in the trees to prevent them from being cut down. Greta Thunberg is expressing her concern, stating that it's insane to continue with such a project that 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', which means 'The Way is Free', is demanding that the construction of the highway be halted until all judicial decisions have been made. The expropriations for farmers have not been settled. 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 far less money. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, and its construction would result in the destruction of more than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields. In Saix, Tarn, France, on February 10, 2024. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#10981046
Date Taken	10 February 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Alain Pitton/NurPhoto
Category	Social Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Alain Pitton/NurPhoto

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