"bonding through nature"

#11041299

2 March 2024

Activists are standing in front of riot police with a placard that reads ''torture'' in Saix, Tarn, France, on March 1, 2024. Following the report by Michel Forst, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, which demanded the resupply of 'Ecureuils' living in the trees of the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD (Zone To Defend), members of LVEL (La Voie Est Libre, meaning 'The Way Is Free') and other associations are attempting to get past the riot police to deliver supplies to the 'Ecureuils'. MPs, including Karen Erodial, have also tried unsuccessfully to pass through. The 'Ecureuils', or 'squirrels', are occupying trees to prevent them from being cut down for the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres. The Gendarmes Mobiles (riot police) have intervened to clear the ZAD of all opponents and are now standing guard near the trees to prevent sympathizers from supplying food and water to the 'Ecureuils'. Despite two days of police efforts, they have only managed to dislodge one 'Ecureuil'. However, new trees are now being occupied by 'Ecureuils' at a new location called 'Cal'Arbre'. The main collective, 'La Voie est Libre', is demanding that the highway project be halted until all judicial decisions have been made, noting that not all expropriations for farmers have been resolved. Opponents argue that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles expected per day and would cost significantly less than the A69 highway, which is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, and would result in the destruction of over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land.

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#11041300

2 March 2024

Activists are facing riot police in Saix, France, on March 1, 2024, after the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst, demanded the resupply of 'Ecureuils' living in the trees of the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD (Zone To Defend). Members of LVEL (La Voie Est Libre, or The Way Is Free) and other associations are attempting to pass through the riot police to deliver supplies to the 'Ecureuils'. MPs, including Karen Erodial, have also tried unsuccessfully to get through. On the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres, opponents have set up a ZAD called 'Crem'Arbre', where 'Ecureuils' ('squirrels') are living in the trees to prevent them from being cut down. Gendarmes Mobiles (riot police) have intervened to clear the ZAD of all opponents and are now standing guard near the trees to block the supply of food and water by sympathizers. Despite two days of police efforts, they have only managed to dislodge one 'Ecureuil'. However, new trees are being occupied by 'Ecureuils' at a new site called 'Cal'Arbre'. The main collective 'La Voie est Libre' is demanding that the highway project be halted until all judicial decisions are made. The expropriations for farmers have not been resolved. Opponents argue that reprofiling 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 over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land.

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#11041305

2 March 2024

A member of LVEL is posing for a picture in Saix, Tarn, France, on March 1, 2024. Following the report by Michel Forst, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, which demanded the resupply of 'Ecureuils' (squirrels) living in the trees of the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD (Zone To Defend), activists from LVEL (La Voie Est Libre or The Way Is Free) and other associations are attempting to pass through the riot police to deliver supplies. Despite their efforts, including those of MPs like Karen Erodial, they have not succeeded. The 'Ecureuils' are occupying trees to prevent them from being cut down for the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres. Gendarmes Mobiles (riot police) have intervened to clear the ZAD of all opponents and are now standing guard near the trees to block the supply of food and water by sympathizers. After two days of effort, the police have only managed to dislodge one 'Ecureuil', but new trees are being occupied by 'Ecureuils' at a new location called 'Cal'Arbre'. The main collective, 'La Voie est Libre', is demanding that the highway project be halted until all judicial decisions are made. The expropriations for farmers have not been resolved. Opponents argue that reprofiling the N126 would be sufficient for the anticipated 6,000 vehicles per day and would cost significantly less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, and its construction would destroy over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land.

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#11041306

2 March 2024

An activist is facing riot police in Saix, Tarn, France, on March 1, 2024. Following the report by Michel Forst, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, which demanded the resupply of 'Ecureuils' living in the trees of the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD (Zone To Defend), activists from LVEL (La Voie Est Libre, meaning 'The Way Is Free') and other associations are attempting to get past the riot police to deliver supplies. MPs, including Karen Erodial, have also tried unsuccessfully to pass through. Opponents of the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres have established a ZAD called 'Crem'Arbre', where 'Ecureuils' ('squirrels') reside in the trees to prevent them from being cut down. Gendarmes Mobiles (riot police) have intervened to clear the ZAD of all opponents and are now standing guard near the trees to prevent sympathizers from supplying the 'Ecureuils' with food and water. After two days of effort, the police have only managed to dislodge one 'Ecureuil', but new trees are now being occupied by 'Ecureuils' at a new site called 'Cal'Arbre'. The main collective 'La Voie est Libre' is demanding that the highway project be halted until all judicial decisions are made. The expropriations for farmers have not been resolved. Opponents argue that reprofiling the N126 would be sufficient for the anticipated 6,000 vehicles per day and would cost significantly less than the A69 highway, which is estimated to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers. The project threatens to destroy over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land.

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#11041308

2 March 2024

Riot police are standing in front of a megaphone with 'ACAB' written on it. Following the report by Michel Forst, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, which demanded the resupply of 'Ecureuils' living in the trees of the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD (Zone To Defend), activists from LVEL (La Voie Est Libre or The Way Is Free) and other associations are attempting to get past the riot police to deliver supplies to the 'Ecureuils'. MPs, including Karen Erodial, have also tried unsuccessfully to pass through. In Saix, Tarn, France, on March 1, 2024, opponents have set up a ZAD called 'Crem'Arbre', where 'Ecureuils' (squirrels) are living in trees to prevent them from being cut down. The Gendarmes Mobiles (riot police) have intervened to clear the ZAD of all opponents and are now standing guard near the trees occupied by 'Ecureuils' to prevent sympathizers from supplying them with food and water. The Gendarmes Mobiles have cleared the area of all opponents, and a special unit of police, CNAMO, has intervened to dislodge the 'Ecureuils' from their trees. After two days of police efforts, they have only managed to dislodge one 'Ecureuil'. However, new trees are now being occupied by 'Ecureuils' in a new area called 'Cal'Arbre'. The main collective, 'La Voie est Libre', is demanding that the highway project be halted until all judicial decisions have been made. The expropriations for farmers have not been resolved. Opponents argue that the reprofiling of the N126 would be sufficient for the planned 6,000 vehicles 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 over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land.

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#11041316

2 March 2024

A protester is confronting a riot policeman in Saix, Tarn, France, on March 1, 2024. Following the report by Michel Forst, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, activists from LVEL (La Voie Est Libre, meaning 'The Way Is Free') and other associations are attempting to pass through the riot police to resupply the 'Ecureuils' (meaning 'Squirrels') who are living in the trees of the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD (Zone To Defend) to prevent them from being cut down. Despite their efforts, and those of MPs like Karen Erodial, they have not succeeded. The Gendarmes Mobiles (riot police) have intervened to clear the ZAD of all opponents and are now standing guard near the trees to block the supply of food and water to the 'Ecureuils'. After two days, the police have only managed to dislodge one 'Ecureuil', but new trees are being occupied by 'Ecureuils' at a new location called 'Cal'Arbre'. The collective 'La Voie est Libre' is demanding that the construction of the A69 highway be halted until all judicial decisions are made. The opponents argue that reprofiling the N126 would be sufficient for the anticipated 6,000 vehicles per day and would be much less costly. The A69 highway project, with a budget of EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, threatens to destroy over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land.

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#11041317

2 March 2024

Protesters are facing riot police at the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD in Saix, Tarn, France, on March 1, 2024. Following the report by Michel Forst, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, which demanded the resupply of 'Ecureuils' living in the trees of the 'Crem'Arbre' ZAD, activists from LVEL (La Voie Est Libre) and other associations are attempting to get past the riot police to deliver supplies. MPs, including Karen Erodial, have also tried unsuccessfully to pass through. The 'Ecureuils' are occupying trees to prevent them from being cut down for the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres. The Gendarmes Mobiles have intervened to clear the ZAD of opponents and are now standing guard near the trees to block the supply of food and water by sympathizers. Despite two days of police efforts, they have only managed to dislodge one 'Ecureuil'. Meanwhile, new trees are being occupied by 'Ecureuils' at a new location called 'Cal'Arbre'. The main collective, 'La Voie est Libre', is demanding that the highway project be halted until all judicial decisions are finalized, and the issue of expropriations for farmers remains unresolved. Opponents argue that upgrading the N126 would be sufficient for the anticipated 6,000 vehicles per day and would cost significantly less than the EUR512 million estimated for the A69 highway, which would also destroy over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land.

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Commercial use is not permitted without prior authorization.
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