"SMD"

#10920775

18 January 2024

An Earth model is burning in a newspaper, and a leaflet reads, 'A69, you too find it scandalous to cut centennial trees?' As the construction of the controversial A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continues, four arborist-climbers, known as 'squirrels,' are on trial at the courthouse in Toulouse, France, on January 17, 2024, for having blocked the cutting of trees near Verfeuil by occupying them. Supporters have gathered to back the 'squirrels.' Sympathizers have constructed a mock concrete wall where they are painting 'A69 won't be built' and have set ablaze a faux Earth. The 'squirrels' are aiming to protect the last trees that the public works group NGE/Atosca has not yet destroyed. Trees are being cut down by NGE/ATOSCA even though not all legal procedures have been completed. 'La Voie est Libre' (meaning 'The Way is Free'), opponents, and Thomas Brail are calling for the construction of the highway to be halted until all judicial decisions have been made. Not all expropriations for farmers have 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 significantly less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, resulting in the destruction of over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land.

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#10920776

18 January 2024

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.

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#10650680

17 October 2023

Helpers of the 'Ecureuils' (ie 'squirrels' or arborists climbers) try to salvage what can be still salvaged after the intervention of Gendrames mobiles to dislodge and arrest 'Ecureuils'. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650682

17 October 2023

Gendarmes Mobiles stand guard to 'protect' the cutting of 'centenarian' trees for the A69 highway. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650684

17 October 2023

A centenarian plane tree falls for the building of the A69 highway. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650686

17 October 2023

Gendarmes Mobiles stand guard to 'protect' the cutting of 'centenarian' trees for the A69 highway. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650690

17 October 2023

Police tries to dislodge a 'Ecureuil' (ie 'Squirrel or arborist climber) with the help of firefighters during the evening. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650696

17 October 2023

Police tries to dislodge a 'Ecureuil' (ie 'Squirrel or arborist climber) with the help of firefighters during the evening. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650698

17 October 2023

A young boy living near LA Bourelie stays during the day to see the trees falling for the A69 highway. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650700

17 October 2023

A policeman tries to arrest and evacuate an arborist-climber ('Ecureuil' ie 'squirrel') in the pine tree whrer Thomas Bral begun his hunger strike. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650702

17 October 2023

An old man, Jerome, 89 yo, lives near the trees occupied by the arborist-climbers ('Ecureuils' ie 'squirrels'), his house has been seized for the highway. His house with fields was valued at EUR640,000, NGE/ATOSCA gave him only EUR200,000. Not enough for him to buy another house. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650704

17 October 2023

The pine tree (left) where arborist climber Thomas Brail begun his hunger strike is under surveillance. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650706

17 October 2023

Gendarmes Mobiles come to block the 10 protesters in the field to go to the trees 'ecureuils' (ie arborist climbers) occupy. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650708

17 October 2023

A 'Ecureuil' (arborist climber) in the tree he tries to protect against cutting for the A69 highway. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650710

17 October 2023

Gendarmeres Mobiles to 'protect' the destruction of centenarian trees for the building of the A69 highway. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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#10650712

17 October 2023

Protesters against the cutting of centenarian trees for the building of the A69 highway. As the public works to build the decried A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continue, arborists-climbers occupied trees in three places: La Bourelie, La Prade and Bernazobre. Under heavy police protection, arborist climbers of 'La Bourelie' have been dislodged by police herlped by firefighters. Trees were cut immediatly after the arrest of the arborists-climbers. They wanted to protect the last trees the public works group NGE/Atosca hasn't already destroyed. Journalists aren't allowed to approach at less than 200m Environmentalists occupied three places (La Bourellie, La Prade and Bernazobre) where trees are cut by NGE/ATOSCA even if all justice procedures are not cleared. 'La Voie est Libre' (ie 'The Way is Free'), opponents and Thomas Brail want the building of the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content to be given. All expropiations for farmers aren't cleared. Opponents at this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be suffisant for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 millions (in 2018 euros without the inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400ha of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Tarn. France. October 16th 2023.

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