Editorial photo #11209015 Social Issue
XR'action Dubbed 'Hello Darkness' Against The Highway A69 Toulouse-Castres
An activist with false bitumen on him is standing near other protesters 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 denounce 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 received false bitumen on them to symbolize the pollution caused by asphalt production. Police have intervened and arrested five people. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free'), which opposes the highway, wants the construction to be halted until all judicial decisions on the matter are made. All expropriations for farmers have not been resolved. Opponents of this project argue that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned 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, and its construction would destroy more than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)
