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ZAD – Reoccupation Demonstration November 17th. (France)

Notre Dame des Landes
Facing the evictions:
Demonstration of reoccupation !

To rebuild – against the airport!

Pitchforks, wooden beams, planks, nails and tools in hand…
Meeting Saturday November 17th in the morning.

Notre Dame des Landes
Facing the evictions:
Demonstration of reoccupation !

To rebuild – against the airport!

Pitchforks, wooden beams, planks, nails and tools in hand…
Meeting Saturday November 17th in the morning.

To read the call online or dowload posters, flyers… http://zad.nadir.org/

The struggle against the airport project of Notre-Dame des Landes kept on growing in the last years. Among other initiatives, an occupation movement has spread on the houses and farmland threatened. A year ago, facing
increasing threats on the different houses, huts and gardens, inhabitants of the ZAD and solidarity collectives called for a mass demonstration of
reoccupation in case of evictions.

When Caesar is floundering…

On Tuesday, October 16th the dreaded eviction offensive started. 1,200 policemen invaded the 1,800 hectares of the ZAD. They attacked gradually occupied houses and huts, destroying them and washing away every garbage
pieces out of the area, leaving nothing that could be used to rebuild. Occupiers and all those who joined them on the spot resisted, barricaded, reoccupied. Together, we have done everything to stop the destruction machinery and block police movements … We're still here!

Our determination was strengthened by a great wave of solidarity coming from the entire country and beyond: daily demonstrations in Nantes and in various cities, supplies and materials, support actions on representation
of socialist party, Vinci, airport manufacturers and other crushers of our lives…

While most homes have already been evicted as well as some huts, many other occupiers remain in the woods, in the fields, in the trees. New constructions are already underway. In addition to the occupiers, « legal » inhabitants and local peasants are also threatened to have to leave the ZAD in the coming months. This is to say that this XXL eviction attempt is going to last. Wise guys from the departmental authority officially called their military operation: "Caesar." It is up to us show them how the resistance against the airport is actually relentless, they will finally be defeated and ridiculous.

We keep on fighting, we are still here!

Beyond the call to join the area and continue the solidarity actions in the coming weeks, we confirm today that a mass demonstration of reoccupation will take place on Saturday, November 17th 2012, starting
from one of the villages near the ZAD.

After this first eviction round, we are looking forward to a time of broad, constructive and offensive mobilization, shared by the various parts of the struggle: occupiers, peasants, inhabitants, local people and from elsewhere, associations and solidarity groups… The objective is to reconstruct an open collective place on threatened lands, meant for
struggle organization. We want to make this place a hub for occupiers and people struggling against the airport, a starting point for new housing constructions, an antenna to organize resistance to future works: those of
the airport and its highway (which is the first stage of the project, meant to begin in January). They well may militarize the area; they will not prevent us from resettling here.

Ayrault, Vinci and others – the message is clear: Fuck off the land!

—- Additional and practical infos —-

– Occupiers from the ZAD and people from the network Reclaim The Fields launched this call for reoccupation. They previously had occupied wasteland with more than a thousand people in May 2012 in order to settle the vegetable farm "Le Sabot". Today we invite all people and groups to spread information on this initiative and to join November 17th organization.

– Beyond a demonstration, this is above all about a collective action that will gain power from a long and active presence of the greatest number of persons. Plan to be there for the weekend and more if you can: to begin the occupation, to continue constructions, to defend, and to generate ideas for the future.

– Bring diverse and varied tools and materials, overalls, sound, wacky creations, portable radios, pies to share and unfailing determination.

– It is possible to arrive the day before. Meeting and camping spots will be announced in the days before the event.

– Given the energy required to resist against evictions by then, and the consequent exhaustion of occupiers, success of this event depends crucially on the involvement of solidary individuals and collectives
everywhere. We call for public meetings, relaying information and car sharing in each village for November 17th.

– Posters and flyers to print and photocopy are available on the website, and on paper in nantes (B17) or in the ZAD (Vache-Rit). Any financial support is welcome (check payable to « Vivre sans aéroport » ("Living without an airport ?), La Primaudière – Notre-Dame des Landes 44130 ; bank transfer: 20041 01011 1162852D32 36)

As the situation changes every day, check information regularly on:http://zad.nadir.org/

For November 17th, we are looking for wooden beams, construction and climbing materials, kitchens, tents, musicians, batukadas, huts kits, tools, tractors…

For any exchange, help, relays, and proposals: reclaimthezad@riseup.net

— Why do we struggle? For the resistance to the airport and it?s world. —

At Notre-Dame des Landes, policy makers and concreters are working on anew airport to fulfil their dreams of voracious metropolis and economic expansion. For 40 years they have been wanting to destroy under concrete
2,000 hectares of agricultural land and habitats situated on the north of Nantes. The concerned area is called ZAD, originally named ?Zone d?Aménagement Différé? (Deferred Development Zone) by airport stakeholders is now ?Zone A Défendre? (Zone To Defend).

Since the beginnings of this project, resistances are organizing. This struggle is at the crossroads of issues on which unite and think of common strategies. Through it, we are fighting feeding on a drip, industrial
society and global warming, territory control and economic development policies, cities and ways of life standardization, privatization of the commons, myths of growth and the illusion of democratic participation…

Today as yesterday, the opponents are far from giving up and keep on struggling via: demonstrations, legal actions, links with other struggles, hunger strikes, circulation of newspapers, free tolls operations,
oppositions to drillings, sabotages, disturbance of impact studies and archaeological excavations, office and building sites occupations, etc.

To the detriment of the state and Vinci who buy and destroy to clear the ZAD, life and activity densified and diversified in the zone over more than three years. Many abandoned houses have been rehabilitated and
occupied, huts were built on the ground and in the trees, collectives occupy land to produce vegetables. Meeting spaces, a bakery, a library, homes, were open to all. More than a hundred persons were constantly living in the ZAD, supported by many other people, local and from elsewhere, who met and organised there. This presence on the ground has allowed rapid reactions against the works? process undertaken by Vinci. It is this creative and subversive pack that they seek to eradicate today in order to start the building sites.

We keep in mind the past victories against megalomaniac projects, from the nuclear industry to the military. As in the Carnet, in Plogoff or in the Larzac, we know that this airport can still be stopped. We look at the other side of the Alps where opposition to the construction of the high-speed train line Lyon-Turin mobilizes the entire Susa valley, where tens of thousands of people prevent the works. Here as well, any attempt to concrete the land will cost them dearly.

Day 7: Update and photos from No Dash for Gas

No Dash for Gas activists have now prevented over 14,500 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted, as the chimney they are occupying had to be shut down

They are saving over 2300 tonnes of CO2 emissions every day

No Dash for Gas activists have now prevented over 14,500 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted, as the chimney they are occupying had to be shut down

They are saving over 2300 tonnes of CO2 emissions every day

The Govenment's dash 4 gas is illegal because it will make it impossible 2 meet legally-binding emissions reductions targets under Climate Act

Just 2 activists left occupying the chimney as they head into day 8. Longest-running power station occupation ever!

They've had workers contacting them in private giving their support. Can't speak openly, fear for of jobs

Zombie Roads – Hastings

A Combe Haven Defenders protest against not only the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road, but all the 'zombie road' plans previously believed to be dead and buried but resurrected by the UK coalition government.

Combe Haven Defenders protested in the streets of Hastings today, culminating in a die-in outside the offices of local MP Amber Rudd, who is fervently in favour of the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road which will destroy the beautiful Combe Haven Valley if it is built next year.

The Zombie Roads, previously believed to be dead and buried but resurrected by the UK coalition government, did meet with some resistance, however….

(France) La ZAD prepares for another week of eviction NON A LA AEROPORT

In La ZAD, a zone occupied to stop the construction of a new airport for Nantes, the eviction looks set to continue from tomorrow. La Saulce is now evictable and it is possible the police will also target some of the places that require special forces to evict treehouses and such. Callout for solidarity actions against VINCI, the company who will be constructing. Callout for people here to help. All means to increase awareness.

The police have been evicting la ZAD for two weeks now, only stopping for lunchbreak and the weekends. and the nights.
We are still expecting them to return tomorrow to continue. Theyve been passing by with the helicopter today, having a look around. Since Saturday night la saulce has become legally evictable. La secherie won an appeal in court, and is now not evictable till december, and la rosier also is not evictable til the middle of november.
But it seems likely they will come next week for the places they can already evict, and havent already, mostly la saulce, sabot, and the other cabins that dont have a real 'house' on the property.
There is a lot more info on the website http://www.zad.nadir.org if you dont read french you can change the langue to english.
get in contact if you want to come over, or just arrive
or do something in your place, the company which build the aeroport is called VINCI ( http://stopvinci.noblogs.org/ ) and they have many things everywhere. They are also responsible for the destruction of the khimki forest ( http://www.khimkiforest.org/ ) in russia for the construction of a highway and the eviction of the protest camp there. There has already been a lot of stuff done to humiliate them in the last weeks it is very cheering.
Let everyone know.
The resistance wont end with eviction.
Need people to help with reoccupation.
Peace and love.

EF! Winter Moot 2013: 22-24th February, near Preston

A weekend get-together for people involved in ecological direct action, from fighting opencast coal, fracking, GM, nuclear power to road building. There’ll be discussions and campaign planning – with the emphasis on the tactics and strategies we use, community solidarity and sustainable activism.

Update: full transport details and programme at link below.

La ZAD- Largest Protest Zone in Europe Being Evicted

Europes largest protest zone is going through multiple evictions – all through much media silence! Over the past four days La ZAD, an anti-airport protest zone, composing of over 20 occupied sites has been putting up the barricades, opposing and protesting against the harassment and the evictions by a troop of police over a 1000 strong.

Largest Protest Zone in Europe Being Evicted

La ZAD (La Zone A Défendre)

Europes largest protest zone is going through multiple evictions (because there are numerous sites) – all through much media silence! Over the past four days La ZAD, an anti-airport protest zone, composing of over 20 occupied sites has been putting up the barricades, opposing and protesting against the harassment and the evictions by a troop of police over a 1000 strong. La ZAD is in the area of Notre Dame de Lande, just north of the city of Nantes, in the north-west of France.

Video of one of the earlier Police mobilisations:

Resistance aux expulsions from Résistances nddl on Vimeo.

Sit down protest in Bel Air: http://zebuzzeo.blogspot.fr/2012/10/a-notre-dames-des-landes-l-etat-ps.html

Good series of pictures of barricades and resistance: https://picasaweb.google.com/113382718807039752437/Expulsions#slideshow/5799932948346626882

Good info in English: http://en.squat.net/tag/zad/

Tear gas has been used against the barricades and the military have been mobilised to support the evictions.

Below are summaries and translations of their FLASH INFO / UPDATES (please excuse the bad english).

THEIR MESSAGE: And most importantly: there is plenty of places occupied (land and three houses with eviction deadline until October 27), and the the occupant-es are always on site, with lots of other people coming to defend the area, and full of messages and actions of solidarity everywhere! It is not their police pressure which make our protests impotent acts of resistance will continue until the project will not be removed.

October 16th

[Places evicted : la Bellich’, Bel Air, la Gaité, les Planchettes, le Tertre, le Pré Failli, la Pré Faillite et St Jean du Tertre.]

11h18 : // in his speech, the prefect declared that the operation is finished for today, that all went fine, without arrestations and that the military occupation will continue for several days to secure the destruction of the houses

13h15 : charge et tirs de lacrymo vers le Sabot ; arrivée de nombreux fourgons de CRS // Tear gas beeing shot around the Sabot, arrival of numerous riot cop cars

15:10 : les gens dans le Sabot se font gazer, dépanneuse et tractopelle en vue, 3 camions de CRS et 10 de gendarmes se dirigent vers le Sabot // people at the Sabot getting teargased, breakdown lorry and diggers been seen, 3 cop vans of riot cops and 10 military vans heading towards Sabot

15h20 : // barricade burning at the Sabot. It’s seems to getting hot for them

15h40 : // following a exterieur information, the Military are being mobilized for more 48h to prevent new occupations

18h15 : // a digger is arriving at the way to the Sabot to enter in the garden by the side, 40 people are still at the Sabot

October 17th

[Places evicted: les Planchettes, le Tertre.]

8h20 : // a convoy with a rubbish truck, digger and a road semi-trailer are arriving at the Planchettes, under a big escort, big spots lighting on the Planchettes

10:05 : // there is the proposition to meet up in the Sabot to discuss, bring water and food, 10 cop vans seen driving to the north direction Fosse noires/ Planchettes, medias saying that the destruction of the houses started 🙁 , there is demo in Paris in front of the ministery of environment

11h12 : // there are 30 cop vans in the region around the Tertre where they actually destroy the house :(, there are positioned at the end of the Chemin de sueze and at Chênes de Perrières, the destruction of the Planchettes got confirmed by the medias :(, at the Sabot it seems quiet but the helicopter is turning over the Phare Ouest

12h20 : la destruction de Planchettes dans les medias 🙁 sadness and rage…

14h48 : // there are cops arriving in front of the Phare Ouest vers the Chêvrerie
14h58 : // the cops stopped to go forward, people are behind the barricades
15h17 : // people juste got charged by cops vers the Planchettes

15h45 : // some 20 cop vans are in front of the Sabot, the cops came out running

15h50 : // callout for support at Phare Ouest, the cops taking off the tree blocking the road

16h15 : // the convoy which cut the tree is leaving, another one seems to arriving quickly from direction Ardillières

18h55 : // the cops broke down the barricade of the Sabot, they entered but they don’t charge yet

19h11 : pigs got charged by the people south of Sabot, defending their home, brave friends of us, keep on rocking against this terroristes…

20h04 : // the militarys start back shooting teargas

20h22 : // It seems the fuckers are winning some terrain on the field on the south, there are also hiding behind the chickens, fucking lame

MESSAGE TO THE PORCS : if you hurt the chickens, we’ll call the animal protection !!!

21h35 : // the Manitou ’ some destruction machine ) is heading in the direction of Phare Ouest, the Sabot still keeps resisiting !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we love you…….

22h07 : // 10 riot cop vans part vers les Ardillières, around the Sabot, they gas a lot, lot, lot..BUT THE SABOT IS STILL RESISTING !!! fuck you cops, fuck you ayrault, you dont get your airport !!

22h06 : // the working machine left with the convoi. We got confirmed that the cries we heard are not at all cries of fear but of rage and determination!

23h00 : // cops came back to the entry of the Sabot, they get stoned and leave…

October 18th

[Places evicted: la Pointe, la cabane collective de la forêt de Rohanne.]

9:05 : // the cops go into the Saulce, riot cops come closer to the barricade of the Sabot

9h12 : // cops continue to detstroy the barricade of the Saulce. 3 cop vans going towards the chemin de suez from the Saulce barricade

[The rest done with internet translate]

9h37 : it is reported to the police that there are people in the tree-tops of la Saulce. Cloud of tear gas.

10h25 : beginning of the expulsion of the great forest (Foret Rohanne) they are destroying the house collective. people in the trees/ cabins.

10h32 : they empty the house of the collective forest. They have a team of climbing.

11h22 : WE CALL ON ALL AND ALL TO MANIFEST THEIR SOLIDARITY WITH WHAT HAPPENS HERE AND SPREAD THE NEWS MOST WIDELY AVAILABLE Locally: 19h call to rally outside the prefecture of Nantes tonight / at 18.30 in front of the town hall of Rennes Friday evening.

12h00 : Rohanne in the forest: the excavator working and almost finished destroying the communal house, the person in the tree where the climbers are mounted refuses to go down, it is covered by a rubber bullets.

12h14 : From the online press, the prefecture announced the evacuation of the place called Point and Heath Rohanne, and mentions three arrests. To be confirmed.

13h10 : there are still many people in the trees in the forest. The cops are not climbing. There would be three arrested allegedly released. We hear again the helicopter.

16h01 : the GIGN has left the forest, they could not evict people still in the trees.

17h 34 : Lande de Rohanne: since this morning, destroying the collective hut surrounded by a handful of Gendarmes Mobiles. Some people in trees, others ground support. 4 people were descended from the trees GIPN. The remains of the hut were taken by a marabout. 17h cops to head further north to a second cabin floor, releasing those who were on their way, but regardless of at least 3 comrades still in the trees.

20h08 : We have information that a person is detained in police custody in La Chapelle sur Erdre from 4:20 p.m. for refusing to give his name. She was arrested on the road near Ardillères.

23h23 : The person arrested was released this morning, she has a meeting for January 22 at St Nazaire 14h (It is not the person arrested at 16.20, who is still in GAV.)

We learn that 500 people gathered at Nantes tonight in solidarity with the Zad. People's will!

19th October

8h53 : Nothing to report except a few patrols running on the Zad, Filter and roadblocks at certain points, this morning. The cops have massively left the area last night. We remain vigilant but it could be that it is the end of the first "wave" of operation here. It may resume in the coming days, and last …

10h30 : the operation is perhaps not finished for this phase … they expelled L'Isolette, and currently runs around the Fosses Noires.

10h35 : evacuation of the pile of rubble that became Le Tertre.

10h40 : Eviction of Coin en Cours underway, thirty people are around.

14h12 : We hope that our friends in the forest are doing well. The area is expelled and destroyed. Thank you Le Coin, we will miss you!

Received by mail: For tonight rally outside the prefecture of Nantes in 19h! It is proposed that we find in red and black! It brings songs, then bring your vocal cords! Song for all print here: http://www.deljehier.levillage.org/ … Otherwise, it also offers a meeting point for you to carpool morbihannais … Visit the Rond-Point du Petit Molac Questembert at 17:30. Will print some of the world! El pueblo unido, Lalalalalala …….

15h43 : difficult time to live without news of our friends in places management, we are still trying to get out, but our communication is difficult KLAXON!

(France) Communique from the ZAD

We live here, we’ll stay here!

After two days of resistance and solidarity, only seven houses and one plot were evicted at the ZAD, a threatened area meant to make place to an airport in Notre-Dame-des-Landes. Everywhere police forces met determinated opponents, inhabitants refusing to leave their houses, their roofs. Demonstrations. direct actions took place around several locations, roads we barricaded, activists keeping joining the ZAD area, etc…

Since hours, opponents are defending several plots, the Far West, the Sabot, a cultivable land back in use since May 2011. Right now, the Sabot in drowned under a cloud of tear gas, with a drumming samba band. Outside the ZAD, many solidarity actions took place, such a demonstration in front of the main state building in Nantes tonight.

Contrary to what was announced by the highest state representative of the region tuesday morning, the area is far from being empty. Around 20 houses remain occupied, this is even not including house owners, renters and farmers still living in the area. The pressure and acts from the police, such as the destruction by fire from one wood hut, without checking if it was still occupied, won’t silent dissent.

Without trying to compete with the military arsenal deployed by a state to protect its projects of “public utility”, acts of resistance will go on as long as the project isn’t abandoned.

Not only here, but from Atenco to Val de Susa, to Chéfresne, everywhere people are struggling. We’ll refuse to conform to what is forced on us!

Coming on the agenda :

– Saturday October 20th, midday, meeting point at la Pointe (le Temple de Bretagne): gathering with opponents to the airport project.

– in the coming months, demonstration to re-occupy the ZAD, date to be announced on the ZAD website.

More Information: http://zad.nadir.org

A259 Link Road one hour from London help us now

The Combe Haven valley is a unique habitat which was once the port of Hastings (pre 1066). Evidence is now being obtained from a small group of entusiasts which proves this unique valley, which is in the Parish of Crowhurst Sussex, was the site of the Norman Invasion and also the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Our group is fighting a battle with East Sussex County Council to stop the A259 Link Road cutting through one of the most important heritage sites in the land and also an invaluable enviromental reserve.

Bulldozers are already on the site digging trenches. An initial road protest is organised this weekend. Please familiarise yourself with the heritage story because this is important. 5000 Englishmen gave their blood in this valley and it should be preserved and not desecrated with a road that goes through open countryside – see the videos on our web site – see why we are fighting to save this place one hours drive from central London

http://secretsofthenormaninvasion.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/stop-the-road-camp-this-saturday-29th-september-2012/

Local residents camp & rally against Bexhill-Hastings link road

Local residents have released further details of the two-day programme of events- including a camp and rally – in Combe Haven Valley this weekend, 29/30 September, to protest against controversial plans to build a £100m link road between Hastings and Bexhill. The group Combe Haven Defenders have gathered experts and entertainers from across Sussex and beyond to join their 'Stop the Road' event.

Following a lunch and rally around 1pm, renowned transport campaigner John Stewart will lead a workshop on 'How to stop a road', drawing lessons from the successful '90s anti-roads movement [1]. Local people will also be able to attend an'Introduction to Direct Action with national group Seeds for Change, as they plan the next steps of the campaign.

Families will also be catered for with a workshop and play from environmental youth group The Otesha Project UK, shadow puppetry and story-telling. Local botany expert Judy Clark will be on hand and in the evening participants will be able to stargaze with a professional astronomer.

Local musicians have also rallied to support the campaign, with evening performances promised from Tim Hoyte, Eleanor Lynn, Anita Jardine, Las Pasionaras, Will Davis and Krysia Mansfield. The group have stated that there will be no amplified music and the event will be alcohol-free.

Guided walks to the Camp site will depart on Saturday 29 September from Bexhill Station and Bulverhythe (Sheep Wash bridge) at 11am, and from Crowhurst Station at 12 noon. Details of the Camp's location will also be available on the Combe Haven Defenders' web-site on Saturday morning: www.combehavendefenders.org.uk.

Spokesperson Abby Nicol said: 'We urge people to join us this weekend to see the amazing area that will be destroyed unless we take action to stop it, and to learn about practical ways in which we can all peacefully and effectively resist the construction of this road. The appalling traffic problems along the Bexhill Road need to be alleviated, but the building of a new road – which according to the County Council’s own figures will increase overall traffic by 14 per cent – is not a sustainable or financially viable solution. We have to look to more creative and sustainable solutions to traffic problems: the link road is not the answer. '

NOTES
[1] John Stewart was named "Britain’s most effective radical green activist" in the first comprehensive list of the country’s most effective greens, compiled by The Independent on Sunday – in part for his role in "co-ordinat[ing] protests that brought Tory plans for ‘the greatest road-building programme since the Romans’ to a screeching halt in the 1990s." For more info see www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=2244 Combe Haven Defenders

Twyford Down anti-road protests gathering, September

There is going to be a Twyford Down anti-roads protest reunion to mark that it is 20 years since the protests started. It's on 29-30 Sept, when it'll be the Harvest Moon.

There will be a camp run along the same lines as 20 years ago (bring what you expect to find… water butts, tents, food, etc). That said, there will be some domes and the @ teapot are going to be doing catering (Sat dinner and Sun breakfast) – hurrah! Camp location to be on top of St Catherine's Hill, near Winchester.

There will also be a protest / photo opportunity about this current Government's mania of roadbuilding.

Please spread this amongst your contacts who you think may be interestd. There is a Facebook page if you do such things called Twenty Years Since Twyford: http://www.facebook.com/events/344190508996315/

More details and flyer downloadable at http://bettertransport.org.uk/blogs/roads/100912-twyford-20