Posted
Update
Article written by
/2021/12/14/61b8b9accb57c_france-3.png)
A particularly tense showdown between gendarmes and environmental activists began in Deux-Sèvres on Saturday, October 29. 4,000 opponents of the Sainte-Soline basin site want to prevent further work.
Slogans, and clouds of tear gas, in the fields of Sainte-Soline, in Deux-Sèvres. More than 4,000 anti-basin demonstrators gathered on Saturday, October 29. The situation grew tense quickly. 1,500 gendarmes were deployed, as well as several helicopters to counter the demonstration, banned by the prefecture. Opponents want to block the construction of a huge water reserve, intended for farmers. “We would like another agriculture, to return to economical crops at the top”says an activist.
They refuse the construction of a giant basin of water, the equivalent of 260 Olympic swimming pools, intended to irrigate agricultural land. Water would be pumped during the winter from groundwater or rivers. Elected environmentalists, including Yannick Jadot, came to support the action. Throughout the afternoon, police and demonstrators surrendered blow for blow. Injuries are to be deplored on both sides. The demonstrators have promised not to let go, over the weekend and beyond, if necessary. “How far will Macron want to go? He wants a water revolution? He is going to have a water revolution”, commented Julien Le Guet, spokesperson for “Basins No Thanks”. The authorities fear the establishment of a ZAD on the site.