@AirportWatch
RSS feedNantes Airport News
Nearly 40,000 people form a 25km human chain surrounding site of proposed new Nantes airport
May 12, 2013 
A huge number of protesters from across France organised themselves into a human chain in the early afternoon on Saturday. There are likely to have been almost 40,000 though the authorities give a lower attendance figure. The human chain surrounded the site of the proposed new Nantes airport, at Notre-Dame-des-Landes, with its two planned runways and new passenger terminal. The airport has been intended as a replacement for the current Nantes airport. Large numbers of people had come long distances to be there, many travelling overnight by bus, and then shared their picnics in a good natured event with a festive, but determined, spirit. The opponents of the new airport say that it is not needed, the economic arguments don’t stack up, it will increase carbon emissions, and will destroy valuable farmland and biodiversity. At the moment, the project is considerably delayed, but it is still going ahead. Its opponents want it stopped, and they show no sign of reducing their intense opposition. Click here to view full story… with many more photos …
Dialogue Commission on Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport reports: project delayed but confirmed
April 10, 2013 The dialogue commission looking into the Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport project at Nantes has produced its report. There were also two reports on the impact on water and wetland and impact on local agriculture. The commission has said that substantial adjustments are needed to the original draft of new airport designed to replace the existing Nantes Atlantique airport. This means there is an indefinite postponement. It had been planned to open in 2017. The dialogue commission has had to decide on the usefulness of the project , and also on changes and improvements needed to the project, to which is strongly opposed locally – and also by many across France. There now needs to be a new assessment of redevelopment costs of the existing Nantes Atlantique airport, and whether it could be adapted to take larger planes. Also the impact of a new airport on other airports nearby. The commission has questionned the way in which wetland would be dealt with, and the impact of loss of farms and farmland. Opponents now believe their concerns and opposition has been vindicated, but they will continue to occupy the land and fight the plans. Click here to view full story…
Critical week for the “Ayraultport” at Nantes – with report by dialogue commission
April 7, 2013 The dialogue commission looking into the proposed new Nantes airport is due to give its report on Tuesday 9th April, to Jean-Marc Ayrault – the Prime Minister and ex-Mayor of Nantes. There have been about a hundred evidence sessions to the commission over the past 4 months. The commission’s chairman remains of the opinion that an airport is needed in due course, though there are some doubts about some or the arguments in favour of it. Opponents know of the apparent bias, but hope that at the least, the recommendations will be for more studies, for example on future air traffic. Two other reports are expected in the next few days. One is on the validity of the method of compensation for environmental damage proposed by the developer of the airport, Vinci. The other is to analyse its agricultural impact. On 15th April the French government will meet the EU about breaches of EU directives on water and environmental assessment. Click here to view full story…
Notre-Dame-des-Landes: Court authorizes the expulsion of some opponents from Bellevue farm
March 28, 2013 At Notre-Dame-des-Landes, the site of the proposed new airport for Nantes, the opposition goes on. Each week more people from across France come to take turns in occupying the proposed airport site, living in mud and discomfort in shacks. Bellevue farm had been empty, but has been reoccupied and the protesters have worked hard to set up a farm there, with animals and real farm work. They are determined to stay. The court in Saint-Nazaire has ruled that the people on the farm must leave now. However, a report from a commission of dialogue is awaited next month, so it is not likely the farm occupants will actually be evicted before then. After the judgment, nearly 150 opponents gathered at Bellevue farm to show their determination. “We expected this decision. We’ve been here two months and we’re staying.” Work on the airport had been expected to start before now. The legal processes are causing long delays for the airport company. Click here to view full story…
WWF France says Nantes airport at NDDL should not proceed without many more environmental studies
March 25, 2013 After several months of study of the various arguments about a new “projet d’aéroport du Grand Ouest”airport plan for Nantes at Notre-Dame-des-Landes, WWF France has now made public its position. They say the project should not go ahead without a lot of further studies being done. They are urging the French government to implement a number of additional studies to quantify the actual project impacts on ecosystems and people. Studies already show the importance of the biodiversity of the site but still contain many gaps (flora, birds, insects, reptiles …). Further studies are also needed on the airport’s wider environmental impacts. WWF also considers that flood risk has been underestimated and more work is needed to investigate this. There are also important issues about hydrological impacts on drainage, water supply, and catchment areas on which work is needed as the airport may have negative impacts. Natural areas provide valuable “ecosystem services” at no cost, and these should not be put at risk, just for an airport. Click here to view full story…
Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport decision delayed by at least several months
March 10, 2013 It is now certain that the construction of the new Nantes airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes – if it starts at all – will at least several months delayed. It should have started this spring. A Committee on dialogue has been set up, and has been taking evidence from proponents and opponents of the airport scheme. The Chairman of the commission is careful not to take sides, but has said that after going on for so many years since first proposed, the arguments for the airport have changed and other arguments now have greater priority. More information is needed on the alleged economic and employment benefit of the scheme, and on the transport network. He says.”Our report will present the advantages and disadvantages of the new airport, and the government will decide.” A prominent member of the National Assembly said it is necessary to continue dialogue but before starting any construction work a national plan of airport infrastructure.should be developed. Click here to view full story…
Nantes: Opponents apply to European Commission to look into breaches of EU law by French government
February 22, 2013 The opponents of a new airport at Notre Dame des Landes, near Nantes, have applied to the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament on breaches of European law, by the airport project. They have submitted petitions to the European Parliament asking them to get the French government to look possible infringements of Community law. Opponents say there has been non-compliance with the Directive on the assessment of environmental, the water framework directive, and the directive says on “Birds” and “Habitats.” Brussels confirmed it has requested information from the French government. Sandrine Bélier, a Green member of the European Parliament) said the Commission shared their analysis of a potential breach of Community law and they have launched a pre-litigation procedure called “EU Pilot” Sandrine said there is still time for legal, economic and environmental sense to prevail and for the repeal of a costly and mammoth project, which is contrary to the law. Click here to view full story…
Nantes airport opponents plan 25 km human chain around proposed airport site on 11th May
February 11, 2013 The opponents of the planned replacement airport for Nantes, at Notre-Dame-des-Landes are planning to make a massive 25km long human chain, on 11th May at 2pm. The chain will surround the ZAD (what they call the Zone á Dèfendre) where the airport is planned, and which the opponents have fought hard to occupy over the past 6 months. It will go along local roads and lanes. The organisers hope to get at least 40,000 people and perhaps 80,000. The chain will demonstrate the extent of the opposition to this new airport, which is regarded as unnecessary, hugely damaging to the environment and local farming, a white elephant and economically unjustifiable. Planning has been going on for several months already. Click here to view full story…
Nantes: Legal victory for opponents in Notre-Dame-des-Landes – delay in expropriations of perhaps two and a half years
February 6, 2013 The Supreme Court in France has ruled that no expulsions will be made at Notre-Dame-des-Landes (for the planned new airport at Nantes). Lawyers say the delay could be for at least two and a half years. The Court made its judgement on January 29, and this means is put on hold until the outcome of the other legal remedies. There are at least 5 legal appeals to be decided. The company, Vinci, that plans to build the airport, will not be able to move the protesters – for a long time. The expropriate orders cannot be valid until the administrative judge confirms the legality of previous judgements listing the plots of land to expropriate people from. The company AGO (Airports Great-West), wanted the immediate rejection of the appeal, without waiting for the completion of administrative remedies. Meanwhile, farmers and their animals have re-occupied Bellevue farm, which had been cleared earlier. Click here to view full story…
Commission to start dialogue on the future Nantes airport – but expects it will be difficult
December 20, 2012 After a week of sometimes violent clashes between opponents and police on the site of the future airport, near Nantes, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced on November 24 the creation of a commission, which will begin its hearings this Friday in Nantes. The hearings will continue till March 2013, and its report will take the form of proposals to the Prime Minister that will be made public. The commission will be chaired by Claude Chéreau – an experienced negotiator. ACIPA, the main opponents, have not yet agreed to take part, but can decide to do so over the next few months. They need as a prerequisite for their cooperation with the commission in early 2013 “the withdrawal of police forces from the area,” they need them to “stop evictions and destruction” and especially they want “a written confirmation that it is indeed possible to without restriction tackle substantive issues of the case.” The group that plans to build the airport, Airports Great West (AGO), a subsidiary of Vinci, say the talks cannot question the airport project. Click here to view full story…
Guardian report on the huge protests against planned Nantes airport and the battle against evictions
December 10, 2012 The Guardian reports on the battle against a new Nantes airport. On 11th December a French judge will decide whether to authorise a fresh round of forced police evictions of the squatters who live on the area of the proposed airport. Previous attempts to dislodge protesters brought hundreds of French riot police who fired teargas and rubber bullets, some climbing trees and teargassing people down from tree-houses, sparking dozens of injuries and what locals described as “war scenes”. In recent months, police swoops have razed wooden huts and vegetable gardens, immediately inspiring hundreds more squatters to arrive from across Europe to rebuild the camps and strengthen the protests. The protesters, including farmers, locals and green politicians, argue that building a brand new airport for France’s sixth largest city, which already has an award-winning airport, is both an environmental disaster and a waste of public money during an economic crisis. Support groups have sprung up across France. Click here to view full story…
French farmers join environmental activists in protest against Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport
December 7, 2012 Useful article in English about the protests at Notre Dame des Landes, against a new Nantes airport. It says since mid-October, the number of occupiers has grown from 150 to as many as 500 at any given time. Today, they appear ubiquitous on the roads, in the fields and in the woods, building tents and cabins. With media attention now focused on Notre-Dame-des-Landes, Ayrault has pledged to form a commission to reopen talks on the airport. It is unclear what the commission will be able to accomplish. So far, the many evictions have made Notre-Dame-des-Landes headline news across the country, drawn increasing numbers of occupiers and strengthened links between the squatters and the farmers, who are determined to stay put. “We cannot fight and look for another farm,” says Marcel Thébault. “We can do one or the other, but not both. So today, we have not looked for another farm”. “If we fight, the main reason is not because it is our farm and because we have put in so much work here. It’s difficult to leave a farm, but we could do it if the project was good. But on every level, [this airport] is bad. Also, we are so many together to fight this project. So, we stay.” Click here to view full story…
Blog on Nantes: How far is the government entitled to go in enforcing the building of a new airport?
28.11.2012 This is a personal blog on the subject of the proposed building of a new airport at Nantes, and gives both some background of the opposition and a personal account of being subject to tear gas. Apparently the sequence of events was as follows: some demonstrators tried to climb into the grounds of the Prefecture in Nantes The police then used the water cannon on them. Stones were then thrown at the water cannon operator. The police then let off a tear gas grenade. He says “If any structure can only be built by the state enforcing its will by violence on protesters, should it be built at all? And when that structure is as pointless as an airport for millions as the time of peak oil means air travel must diminish, who is benefiting by its construction? http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=2262
Anti-airport activist sentenced to five months in prison
28.11.2012 Three anti-airport protesters appeared in court in Nantes. They were judged for gathering, violence against persons exercising public authority carry weapons (slingshots, catapults) and rebellion. A fourth militant anti-airport was brought before the court. The latter is the subject of an open information because he refused to give his identity. More details One got a 5 month sentence, and the two others got suspended sentences. Details….
BBC finally reports on “Battle lines drawn over new airport for Nantes”
November 28, 2012
With the story finally getting front-page treatment in the press, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault is under pressure to explain how – at a time of growing environmental concerns and dwindling financial resources – building a €550m (£445m) airport in a city that already has one is the right course of action. As a former mayor of Nantes, Mr Ayrault is one of the airport’s most vociferous supporters. Protesters have dubbed it the “Ayraultport” in his honour. But he presides over a coalition government whose other main participant – the Green Party – opposes the scheme. To defuse the tension, Mr Ayrault announced over the weekend a moratorium on work at the site. A “dialogue commission” is to be created so that opponents can once again express their concerns. The figures given by the proponents of the airport are hotly disputed by opponents of Notre-Dame-des-Landes, who argue that with proper investment the existing airport at Nantes could be sufficiently enlarged. Click here to view full story…
Activists at Notre Dame des Landes use tractors to try to prevent demolitions – and set conditions for dialogue
November 26, 2012
Dozens of people attended Monday morning’s call by ACIPA, the main association of opponents to the project of the future airport of Nantes, on the site of Notre-Dame-des-Landes, “to protect the reoccupied huts”. On Sunday night 45 tractors were positioned and chained around the new cabins built by the project’s opponents, during the fourth day of very high tensions and a forceful police presence. Since Friday, the police have re-intervened in larlge numbers to expel and destroy all the settlements that had been rebuilt since the first wave of destruction in October. There have been sharp clashes causing injuries to both sides. The protesters have said they will not enter into dialogue until the police presence is removed. They say they may be prepared to talk to government about stopping the airport but not just on slightly limiting its environmental impact. Click here to view full story…
Motion de soutien à la Zone à Défendre de Notre Dame des Landes (FASE)
26 novembre 2012
Encore hier nous apprenions que les forces de police ont attaqué très violemment les militants et les habitants de la zone à défendre (ZAD) de Notre Dame des Landes (NDDL), dans la soirée le gouvernement agitait le leurre d’un nouveau temps de dialogue, se donnant ainsi un court délai avant d’imposer un projet inutile économiquement, socialement et écologiquement. La FASE réitère son soutien à la lutte des opposants au projet de ce 146ème aéroport, qui ont fait la preuve de l’aberration de cette conception obsolète du transport. Les chiffres prouvent encore une fois que ces projets de nouvelles infrastructures, pensées il y a plusieurs décennies, s’appuient sur des projections de flux complètement erronées. See full article
ACIPA Notre Dames des Landes – Réoccupation de la Z.A.D:http://youtu.be/qud2DbeLP0I via @youtube #nddl montage photo This is a montage of a great many pictures of the reoccupation of the ZAD (Zone a Defendre) on 17th November. With song (in French) about it.
Update from ACIPA on 19th November:
Notre-Dame-des-Landes: Citizen mobilization against the airport project extends
ACIPA finds that citizen involvement has greatly increased in recent weeks in response to legitimate human desire to oppose a ruthless state and AGO / Vinci emptying the area in 48 hours!
As many as 30,000 demonstrators from across France in peaceful protest against Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport
November 17, 2012
On Saturday perhaps as many as almost 40,000 people (estimates range from 13,500 to 40,000) – and some 400 tractors – gathered to protest against the proposed airport Notre-Dame-des-Landes. Despite the strong mobilization, socialists politicians do not want to abandon the project – which was supported strongly by Jean-Marc Ayrault. – who used to be Mayor of Nantes and is now Prime Minister. This was the reoccupation demonstration, aiming to try and reoccupy some of the land evacuated forcefully by police last month on the site of the future airport. Behind a large banner: “Against the airport and its world the struggle takes off”, the protesters gained a wooded area where they built a small house to shelter opponents, using a human chain and tractors to bring in the wood for construction. The prefecture has reiterated that these buildings were will not be allowed to remain, but the protesters intend to stay. They have set up a tent on land loaned by a local farmer as a new headquarters for the opposition and a first meeting to define “strategy” to follow in the coming days, is scheduled for Sunday. Click here to view full story…
A personal blog on what’s behind the proposed new airport at Notre Dame des Landes.
November 17, 2012
This is a blog explaining many of the issues behind the development of a new airport at Nantes, by an Englishman living in France – working as a translator. He sets out some interesting facts relating to the values of land, the deal done with Vinci, the pressure to move the existing airport to a new site including spurious arguments about safety, the rising price of oil as forecast by no less a body than the IMF, and the misguided use of large amounts of public funds that could be better spent elsewhere. On the day when thousand of brave French people will attempt to win back some of the land in the “Zone at defendre” at Notre Dame des Landes, this background is interesting. Click here to view full story…
Notre Dame des Landes. The ZAD. One person’s account of what is going on and why.
November 14, 2012 This is a long, personal account of what is going on at Notre Dame des Landes, by someone there with the anti-capitalists who are fighting the police and the authorities to defend the site. Vinci want to start work on the new airport and the roads for it by the end of November. The activists hope to take back some land on 17th November. The anti capitalists have moved in to fight with the local people and local farmers who have had their land expropriated for the airport work. This account is long, but makes a fascinating read, revealing the passion and determination of those fighting this development – which they see as hugely socially and environmentally harmful. Click here to view full story…
Airport protesters at Notre Dame des Landes, at Nantes, are preparing for a huge push to re-occupy land on 17th November
November 13, 2012
Around 2,000 hectares of mostly farmland at Notre Dame des Landes in rural western France are set to be the stage for what is likely to be a violent confrontation on Saturday 17th November, when anti-airport activists square up to riot police. Protesters, battling plans to build a new airport near Nantes have organised a mass “re-occupation” rally when they will attempt to reconquer part of the proposed site after scores of them began being unceremoniously evicted by police last month. Although their campaign dates back many years, it has taken an ugly turn in recent weeks, with riot police using tear gas to break up camps of protesters who responded in kind by throwing Molotov cocktails and setting up burning road blocks. By evicting people to silence the dissent, the government has succeeded in making the situation worse. Opponents of the airport do not believe the economic justifications being made for it, and are angry about the harm that will be done to the eco-systems of the local wetlands and the rise in pollution that a new airport would bring. There are also farmers who are furious after having had their land expropriated to make way for the airport and a proposed new road system. Much of the opposition’s anger is directed towards Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who as former mayor of Nantes was a key supporter of the project, and the company Vinci, who will operate the new airport. Click here to view full story…
Le bocage nantais entre en guérilla à Notre-Dame-des-Landes
18.11.2012 Le doux bocage nantais est entré en guérilla. Face à face, deux camps se préparent à un combat de longue haleine qui pourrait tourner à la véritable guerre de tranchées. D’un côté, le gouvernement, Jean-Marc Ayrault en tête, premier ministre, ancien maire de Nantes, promoteur local de la nouvelle infrastructure depuis de longues années, et Aéroport du Grand-Ouest (AGO), filiale à 85 % de Vinci Airports, exploitant du futur aéroport qui doit accueillir ses premiers vols fin 2017. De l’autre, une alliance détonante d’opposants au projet : des agriculteurs, des élus, des riverains promis ou non à l’expropriation qui doit permettre la construction de l’aéroport et des dessertes routières sur 1 650 hectares. Mais aussi des squatters, installés depuis deux ou trois ans dans plusieurs maisons vidées de leurs occupants et des “écoguerriers”, arrivés récemment, militants rompus aux luttes “contre le système”, ou “touristes”, souvent jeunes, comme ces Australiennes ou cette Italienne croisées dans les chemins du bocage nantais. (Le Monde. http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2012/11/08/le-bocage-nantais-entre-en-guerilla-a-notre-dame-des-landes_1787742_3244.html
A Notre-Dame-des-Landes, la bataille continue
17.10.2012 Filiale du groupe Vinci, la société Aéroport du Grand Ouest (AGO), porteuse du projet, promet de “porter plainte en cas de nouvelle occupation des espaces libérés”. “On goûte avec désagrément le changement tant vanté par François Hollande et mis en musique par Jean-Marc Ayrault, premier ministre défendant un dossier qu’il portait déjà en tant que député-maire de Nantes, raille Sylvain Fresneau, agriculteur depuis vingt-huit ans. Mais on ne lâchera pas. On est chez nous ici, les forces de l’ordre non. Sitôt leur départ, on reprendra possession des lieux.” (Le Monde. http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2012/10/17/a-notre-dame-des-landes-la-bataille-continue_1776642_3244.html
Update on the evictions and demolitions at Notre-Dame des Landes
Date added: October 25, 2012
Some 150 to 200 anti-capitalist protesters – some from other parts of France and of Europe – continue to try to delay and interfere with preparations for the start of work on the new Nantes airport at Notre-Dame des Landes. Some seven people have been arrested. They accuse the State of being the aggressors against them. Some said they had only thrown corn cobs and carrots at the police. About 10 houses have been pulled down. According to the prefecture, these squatter evictions are justified due to the imminence of the preparatory work for future road access to the airport, which should start in January. The work on the airport itself should begin in 2014 for commissioning in 2017. Click here to view full story…
NDDL : les opposants poursuivent la lutte anti-aéroport
t
18.10.2012 There is a short video clip, in French unfortunately, about the protests and others coming from other areas to join the opposition to the demolitions. http://pays-de-la-loire.france3.fr/2012/10/18/nddl-les-opposants-poursuivent-la-lutte-anti-aeroport-122409.html
NDDL / Shortage of housing, ecological crisis … : Yet the state destoyed the habitablehouses in the bocage of Notre-Dame-des-Landes!
17.10.2012 La Coordination des Opposants au projet d’aéroport de Notre-Dame-des-Landes (45 associations, partis politiques, syndicats et collectifs) est absolument révoltée et scandalisée par ce qui se passe actuellement sur le site prévu pour construire l’aéroport inutile dit “du grand Ouest” porté par l’ex-maire de Nantes aujourd’hui Premier Ministre. Indignation légitime, devant le passage en force que constituent les expulsions des habitants de la ZAD qui maintenaient une vie riche en échanges et solidarité (à défaut de capitaux) sur ce secteur. Rien ne peut justifier cette urgence à vider la zone : il n’y a pas de travaux prévu sur ces lieux avant des mois. Whole article in French at http://amitie-entre-les-peuples.org/spip.php?article2782
Operations forces, many who have carried out the expulsion of some 150 squatters Tuesday anti-airport around Notre-Dame-des-Landes continues today.
Many protesters evicted from homes to be demolished for future Nantes airport. Eleven homes being destroyed.
October 16, 2012
A major evacuation operation by security forces of houses squatted by opponents of the proposed airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes, north of Nantes took place on Tuesday morning. Eleven houses and land that had been occupied land on the site of the future airport were evacuated without incident by more than 500 gendarmes. At the first home some 150 protesters, some of whom are locals and some anti-globalisation activists, had gathered. Homes that have been evacuated are now subject to enhanced surveillance before being demolished “in the coming days.” The airport developers want preparatory work for road improvements serving this “inter airport” between Nantes and Rennes to begin by the end of the year. Work on the airport itself must begin in 2014 for commissioning in 2017. The airport plans have been approved by the State and local socialist party, but the new airport’s usefulness is disputed, on economic grounds as well as its environmental impact. Click here to view full story…
Nantes. Projet d’aéroport: le préjudice moral évoqué devant la justice
(Airport Project – moral compensation discussed in court)
Imperfect translation below. Original French
27.9.2012
How much is the value of the houses, buildings and business facilities for farmers affected by the airport project Notre-Dame-des-Landes? The issue was discussed yesterday by the tribunal de grande instance de Nantes, on the occasion of a hearing to determine the compensation to be paid to farmers, subject to expropriation.
Inevitable battles of figures. Estimates of goods easily differ by €100,000, depending on whether they come from the owners whose property is threatened, or from the Aéroport du grand ouest (AGO), a subsidiary of Vinci, promoter of the project.
Above all, the lawyers of the campaign against NDDL have called for recognition of non-pecuniary damage suffered by all farmers. The judgment will be delivered on 24 October.
No doubt it will be dissected by construction giants, communities and all major project developers. Because if they win, the notion of moral (non-pecuniary) damages can be claimed at the end of each expropriation proceedings initiated on the national territory. ”No French court has yet recognized these damages in this type of case , according to Stephen Boittin, one of the lawyers for the operators. The Nantes court has a tremendous opportunity to advance justice. ‘
The approach is also a tactic. The purpose is to obtain a legal judgement about the recognition of the moral prejudice. And also to gain time. As long as all avenues are not exhausted, there cannot be any evictions. See also cost of compensation (in French).
Massive “Save The Planet” and “STOP” human frescoes by Nantes protesters against “projets inutiles”
July 9, 2012 The airport campaigners at Nantes have produced a spectacular visual image, created by hundreds of people in a green field. Their message, in English this time, to get to a wider audience than only France, reads “Save The Planet” and “STOP!” They are opposing not only the unnecessary and highly damaging airport planned for Notre Dame des Landes, but have joined with other campaigners from other parts of Europe opposing other bits of, what they call “projets inutiles” (useless projects), which they describe as “white elephants”. Some of these are HS2 in England; a rail line in Stuttgart; and the Lyon-Turin TGV in Italy. Susan George, attending the protest, said these bits of infrastructure were damaging and costly for communities, and there are better things to do. Click here to view full story…
Anti airport campaign at Notre Dame des Landes protests against inadequate public inquiries
June 22, 2012 Several public inquiries are to be held into the proposed airport at Notre Dame des Landes, at Nantes in western France. These have been hastily announced, to start on 21st June with insufficient notice. They inquiries are only due to last for 4 weeks, and the timing coincides with a busy farming time of year, and the holiday season. Opponents are protesting that the inquiries should be held in September, and should last for 8 weeks in order to fully take account of voluminous evidence papers. Opponents tried to prevent the commissioners entering the town hall, and there were scuffles, use of police force and tear gas, and an arrest. The protester are continuing to try and get the inquiries delayed. Click here to view full story…
Nantes airport building plans, set back by 2 years by the hunger strike
May 14, 2012 The hunger strike at Nantes, against the Projet d’ aéroport du Grand Ouest, Notre-Dame-des-Landes, ended last week. Now the legal procedures continue, against compulsory purchase of land from farmers and others living in the site, some 30 km north of Nantes, where the airport would be sited and where work would have soon started. The Mayor of Nantes, Jean-Marc Ayrault, had been a keen supporter of the airport for years. He is still very much in favour of it. There is bitterness that he did not once visit the hunger strike over its 28 days, until pressure was put on him by Francoise Hollande’s office to meet one of the campaign. The planned airport would be the main airport for Western France and have up to 9 million passengers per year eventually (current airport has 3 million passengers). Click here to view full story…
After 28 days the Nantes hunger strike ends, with concession from authorities to reconsider land expropriations
May 9, 2012
After 28 days of hunger strike, which Michel Tarin endured to the end, and 5 others fasted for slightly shorter periods, the strike has ended. At last there have been concessions from the local authorities that the compulsory purchase of land owned by farmers and other local residents will be suspended for the time being. The expropriations will not now go ahead until the outcome of several legal proceedings that have been filed against the proposed airport. It is likely that these legal challenges will take up to two years, giving the campaigners two more years in which to continue their opposition. The hunger strikers ended their fast with bowls of soup, and though exhausted, they are delighted with the result. Drinking their soup together, surrounded by a huge an efficient network of support, the hunger strikers emphasized the quality of support they received each day and the climate of affection and solidarity that has buoyed them up during their ordeal. Click here to view full story…
May 8th. The 28th day of the Nantes airport hunger strike – 5 hunger strikers are still continuing.
May 7th, 2012
There are now 5 hunger strikers. Michel (aged 64) is on his 28th day of hunger strike, and one person has recently had to give up, on health grounds
Details each day and updates on the ACIPA website
On 3rd May the campaigners against the proposed airport outside Nantes in South West France occupied the centre of Nantes with a convoy of tractors and 1,000 people – and 15 young cows. They are supporting the peasant farmers whose land would be compulsorily purchased for the new airport, and who have nearly completed their 4th week of a hunger strike. They are relieved that Hollande has won the Presidency. The campaigners had earlier forced Hollande, who has supported Nantes Airport, to agree it will not go ahead until all the legal cases have been heard. Sarkozy had just said the area is just a wasteland without the airport! The protesters see that as an insult to the beautiful farming area and especially to the farmers on hunger strike. The 5 hunger strikers are getting weaker, and finding the exhaustion more difficult. They are brave people. Click here to view full story…
23rd day of the Nantes airport hunger strike, and protest demonstration of around 1,000 in the town. 6 hunger strikers
May 3, 2012
There are now 6 hunger strikers. Michel is on his 23rd day
The campaigners against the proposed airport outside Nantes in South West France have today occupied the centre of Nantes with a convoy of tractors and 1,000 people – and 15 young cows. They are supporting the peasant farmers who have moved into their 4th week of a hunger strike and are making their voices heard before Sunday’s Presidential Election. Already the campaigners have forced Hollande, who has supported Nantes Airport, to agree it will not go ahead until all the legal cases have been heard but Sarkozy, when questioned, said the area is just a wasteland without the airport! That is an insult to the beautiful farming area and especially to the farmers on hunger strike. Click here to view full story…
Nantes: 20th day of the hunger strike against the airport plan, 4 strikers.
April 25, 2012 On the 15th day of the Nantes airport hunger strike, one of the farmers has lost 11 kilos and the other 12 kilos. They are determined to continue, and have been joined by two other hunger strikers. They have also been visited by José Bové, the famous campaigner and now an MEP, who will keep them company overnight. He says the presidential contenders, Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, must end their silence on the airport protest now the hunger strike is entering its 3rd week. They can no longer ignore it and they need to find a way to suspend the compulsory purchase of land and resume talks. Bové says the politicians have all the means they need to find a way out without losing face. Click here to view full story…
Nantes: 15th day of the hunger strike against the airport plan, 2 more strikers, support from José Bové
April 25, 2012 On the 15th day of the Nantes airport hunger strike, one of the farmers has lost 11 kilos and the other 12 kilos. They are determined to continue, and have been joined by two other hunger strikers. They have also been visited by José Bové, the famous campaigner and now an MEP, who will keep them company overnight. He says the presidential contenders, Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, must end their silence on the airport protest now the hunger strike is entering its 3rd week. They can no longer ignore it and they need to find a way to suspend the compulsory purchase of land and resume talks. Bové says the politicians have all the means they need to find a way out without losing face. Click here to view full story…
Nantes airport protest: Faut-il encore construire des aéroports ?
April 18, 2012 Several Europe Ecologie members have written on why they are opposing a new airport at Nantes, when the existing airport is not full. They argue against it on climate grounds, and on economic and social grounds. They say “If they persist, it will be in defiance of warnings from climatologists and economists, in addition to the contempt of the citizens. If, instead, they decide to abandon it, preferring to invest in training, colleges and high schools, or public transport, then we will highlight their political courage.” Click here to view full story…
A third hunger striker has joined the two local farmers opposing Nantes airport
April 17, 2012 At Nantes, the two local farmers have completed 7 days of hunger strikes, and say they are in good health. They have been joined by a local left wing politician, so there are now three of them. There is a lot of local support for these farmers who are putting their health at risk to save their land and their employment. They say the maga airport project is a devourer of agricultural land and public money, for the most great advantage of VINCI (the company building the airport) shareholders. This project goes against the current social issues and current ecological good of the area. Click here to view full story…
Two local farmers from Nantes on hunger strike and supporting occupation in the town, against the airport
April 12, 2012 The campaigners against the proposed new NantesAirport just outside the city at Notre-Dames-des-Landes have entered Nantes with sheep and tractors and “plan to stay a while” ! They are supporting two peasant farmers who have gone on hunger strike because they have had papers served for the compulsory purchase their land to make way for the airport. What is particularly dreadful about this is the fact that the authorities who want to build the airport are still facing legal challenges from the campaigners. If these legal challenges are successful, the airport make be stopped but peasant farmers will have lost their land and their livelihood. Click here to view full story…
NOTRE DAME DES LANDES : GRÈVE DE LA FAIM DE 2 PAYSANS
Grève de la faim
Nantes. Plusieurs milliers de personnes contre l’aéroport
24 mars 2012
Plusieurs milliers de personnes – entre 3.000 et 10.000 selon les sources – ont manifesté ce samedi après-midi à Nantes contre le projet de nouvel aéroport de Notre-Dame-des-Landes, sous haute surveillance policière, de crainte de débordements.
Les manifestants, au nombre de 3.000, selon la préfecture, et de 10.000, selon les organisateurs, dont certains sur quelque 200 tracteurs, ont défilé de 13 h à 16 h avant de tenir meeting au milieu du Cours des 50 otages, une des principales artères nantaises.Devant une reconstitution en terre, arbres et végétaux d’un “coin de bocage”, avec vaches et chevaux, les organisateurs de toutes obédiences, autant agriculteurs qu’écologistes ou anarchistes, ont parlé sur une même tribune, pour demander l’arrêt du projet d’aéroport et de tous les “grands projets inutiles”.
Nantes. Manifestation anti-aéroport sous haute surveillance [vidéos]
24.3.2012
Trois cortèges de militants, opposés à l’aéroport de Notre-Dame-des-Landes, se sont retrouvés ce samedi midi à Nantes, où ils ont manifesté dans le centre-ville, sous haute surveillance policière. Des incidents ont eu lieu en fin de journée, après la manifestation.
Après s’être regroupés au bout du cours des Cinquante Otages, les trois cortèges, composés de plusieurs centaines de tracteurs, ont commencé à défiler vers 13 h 30. Selon les organisateurs, ce sont précisément 237 tracteurs ont investi la rue de Strasbourg.
[There are 3 video clips].
Des centaines de tracteurs dans le centre de Nantes
Saturday 24th March: Tens of Thousands expected at Nationwide Protests against Airport Expansion in Germany
March 22, 2012 Same Day: Major demonstration in Nantes in SW France
UK airport campaigners have sent messages of support to their fellow campaigners in Germany and France who will be staging major demonstrations against airport expansion on Saturday 24th March. In Germany tens of thousands of people are expected to turn out in at least five cities. In Frankfurt as many as 20,000 people could occupy the terminal. And, in Munich the campaigners against the proposed 3rd runway will hold as picnic in the terminal. In Nantes the demonstrators will occupy the centre of the city. There will also be protests in Berlin, Cologne and Leipzig. This gives the lie to the impression always given by the UK aviation industry that airports in Europe will continue to expand. They will not do so without immense and powerful opposition. Click here to view full story…
Large demonstration in Paris against building of airport at Nantes
Date added: November 14, 2011
Thousands of demonstrators descended on Paris on Saturday, arriving there from the Nantes area by tractor or bicycle. They were protesting about the building of a new, huge, airport outside Nantes at Notre Dame des Landes. There is already Nantes Atlantique airport near Nantes. It plans go ahead, work will start in 2014 and it may be finished in 2017. Campaigners have commissioned an economic study by CE Delft, which shows there would be little economic benefit. Click here to view full story…
French campaigners against a huge new airport at Nantes to hold rally for cycles and tractors in Paris on 12th November
The campaigners against the building of a new airport outside Nantes in South
West France will be travelling by bicycle and tractor to Paris – leaving Nantes
on 6th November and arriving in Paris on 12th November where there will be a big
rally.
Campaigners from other countries are invited to join them on the cycle ride or
for the rally in Paris. Details in French at http://tractovelo-ndl-2011.blogspot.com/
This is the biggest campaign against airport expansion in Europe. It is possible
that the campaigners can win. John Stewart, who lead the campaign against at third runway at Heathrow said: “We hope that campaigners from all over Europe can join them for the rally in Paris. Let’s make this an international rally against airport expansion. We
stopped a new runway at Heathrow. If we can stop a new airport in France as well,
it will make it more and more difficult for the aviation industry to expand anywhere
in Europe. Join us!” http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/news/detail.php?art_id=4576
Nantes International Airport – not yet built
A new airport – to be called Nantes International – has been given permission,
and work is due to start on it in 2012, for completion in 2015. In June 2008, several campaigners from the UK were asked to go to meet the campaigners fighting plans for a new two-runway airport to be built outside Nantes in South West France (Nantes International !) and to speak at their rally. Five of the Nantes campaigners came to the Heathrow Rally on May 31st.
Nantes campaigners set off by bike and tractor on 400km journey to get to Paris by 12th November 2011
CE Delft economic study shows cost of building a new Nantes airport would exceed its benefits
Date added: October 28, 2011
Campaigners fighting the building of a new airport at Nantes (France) have commissioned a report by CE Delft, looking into the economics of building the airport, and whether there would be a financial benefit. This finds that, when correcting for the extremely high valuation of time and taking oil price projections and inclusion of aviation in the EU ETS into account, the costs of the new airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes exceed the benefits. Click here to view full story…