"Thomas Brail, the founder of the GNSA, is filming with his s..."

#11317346

9 June 2024

Activist climber Thomas Brail, founder of the GNSA (Groupement national de Surveillance des Arbres), is filming himself as he shows riot policemen. Nearly 5,000 people are participating in a weekend of action called 'Roue Libre' in the Tarn department against the controversial highway A69 between Toulouse and Castres. The farmers' union, Confederation Paysanne, is planting trees and seeds on a portion of a field that will be destroyed by the A69 highway. Several political parties, unions, and NGOs (Attac, LVEL, Confederation Paysanne, GNSA, XR, etc.) are calling for this weekend of protest. Police are trying to block the exit from the camp to protesters. Several processions are taking place and going to different locations. Protesters are trying to reach several objectives and are being blocked by 1,200 riot police, two helicopters, two armored vehicles, and a deluge of tear gas canisters and explosive grenades. More than 20 protesters are being injured by riot police, with two being driven to the hospital due to their injuries. The main association 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free') is demanding that the construction of the highway be stopped until all judicial decisions on the content are given. All expropriations for farmers are not cleared. Opponents of this project are saying that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway is costing EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 54 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields are being destroyed. Puylaurens, Tarn, France, on June 8, 2024.

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#11096574

25 March 2024

Thomas Brail, the founder of the GNSA, is filming with his smartphone Reva, one of the three 'Ecureuils', in Saix, France, on March 24, 2024. After 37 days in the trees, the last three 'Ecureuils', who have been living in the trees of the Crem'Arbre ZAD (Zone To Defend), are climbing down as the French Justice has recognized that the Crem'Arbre must be protected and the trees cannot be cut until September 1st. People, sympathizers, and LVEL members are coming to welcome the 'Ecureuils' on the ground. Riot police are present but only to avoid public disorder. The 'Ecureuils' and their trees have been besieged by police for more than a month. Opponents of the planned A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres have installed a ZAD dubbed 'Crem'Arbre', and the 'Ecureuils' are living in the trees to block their cutting. The main collective 'La Voie est Libre' wants the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions are made. All expropriations for farmers have not been cleared. 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 53 kilometers, and its construction would destroy more than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields.

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