Greta Thunberg joins protest against motorway construction in France

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg joined this Saturday in a demonstration against the construction of a highway in the southwest of Francewhich was marked by clashes between militants and security forces, AFP journalists noted.

“We are here in solidarity with those who resist this project and this madness“, declared the young Swedish activist, who came to Saixnear the city of Castres, in the south of the country, together with an international delegation of Belgium, Sweden and Spain.

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The 21-year-old militant was wearing a pink raincoat, a gray hood and kufiya Palestinian on the neck, denounced a project that “will not only destroy nature and priceless landsbut it will also lock us in a toxic system based on exploration, extraction and pollution.”

““This must stop”he added, speaking in English, before saying in French: “Stop A69!”. He also indicated that on Sunday he will be in the region of Bordeaux to support opponents of a project oil exploration.

Activists oppose the controversial constructionongoing, of the A69 motorway between the cities of Toulouse It is Castres.

The project, which aims to promote the connection of a rural area, divides the political class and encountered strong opposition from environmentalistswho have demonstrated there several times in recent months.

The protest action takes place on private forest land, which is the subject of litigation regarding its expropriation due to highway construction.

On Friday, local authorities banned weekend demonstrations, citing “risk of major public disorder”.

Shortly afterwards, when the activists were preparing for these events, the police stationed there fired tear gas and arrested two people, according to AFP journalists.

On Saturday, in Saixaround fifty police officers clashed for hours with activists who occupied a “ZAD”(area to be defended), consisting of huts built in trees along the route of the future highway, to try to prevent its construction.

The agents used tear gas, but were unable to enter the “ZAD”, located on private land.

The activists sheltering there rejected the tear gas bombs against the police, as well as other projectiles using tennis rackets, according to an AFP photographer.

“A hundreds of individuals blocked the railway between Toulouse and Castres and they set up obstacles.”indicated the local city hall in a statement.

“The individuals installed three barricades and set one on fire, but the police managed to reopen the building. municipal road which was blocked”he added.

Organizers hope bring together between 500 and 1,000 people this weekend, to participate in workshops, round tables and shows.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.