Editorial photo #11208996 Social Issue
XR'action Dubbed 'Hello Darkness' Against The Highway A69 Toulouse-Castres
A policeman is arresting a young activist in Toulouse, France, on May 4, 2024. Extinction Rebellion - Toulouse is organizing an action called 'Hello Darkness' in front of the town hall of Toulouse, the Capitole, to protest against the controversial A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres. They are also protesting against the construction of several bitumen plants along the A69 near schools and organic vegetable producers. Some activists have covered themselves with fake bitumen to symbolize the pollution from asphalt production. Police have intervened and are arresting five people. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' is demanding that construction of the highway be halted until all judicial decisions have been made. The expropriations for farmers have not 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 much less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, and its construction would destroy habitats for over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)
