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No Airport Expansion! is a campaign group that aims to provide a rallying point for the many local groups campaigning against airport expansion projects throughout the UK.
Huge gathering at Notre Dame des Landes – 20,000 + expected – this weekend against new Nantes airport
Date added: 5 July, 2014
A huge gathering is taking place this weekend, at Notre Dame des Landes, in western France, against the planned airport at Nantes. This airport has been proposed for years, to replace the existing Nantes airport. It has been bitterly and fiercely opposed, not only by those whose land and farms will be expropriated by the plans, and other local people who do not want their area and their countryside destroyed. It is also opposed by thousands of people from across France. This weekend is now becoming a regular annual protest, each summer. Between 20,000 and 30,000 people are expected for a huge festival, with music, poetry, speeches, fun and food sharing. Caravans of supporters have been making their way to Notre Dame des Landes, on foot and bike (as well as by car) for several weeks, some walking huge distances. The airport planning is bogged down in legal challenges and legal details. Though work was expected to start this spring, nothing has happened. This airport project is one of a number of Grands Projets Inutiles Imposés which are being fought not only in France, but in other European countries. . Tweet
Notre-Dame-des-Landes (Ouest-France)
4.7.2014
The festive weekend and activist began a march with participants from all over France
On foot, by bike or car, they came from all over France. Opposed to the waste of land and what they call unnecessary and imposed major projects, these activists converged on Friday by late afternoon, at Notre-Dame-des-Landes.
The retired farmer Michel Tarin, a figurehead of the anti-airport movement, led a three-kilometer walk in the bocage. As farmers of Larzac did in 1978, participants were provided with walking sticks, and these resonated rhythmically as people walked down the small roads towards the gathering..
All weekend takes place at Notre-Dame-des-Landes activist and festive gathering around the slogan “abandonment, it is now!” Supporters of anti-airport movement, Miossec, Sanseverino, or Pigalle must occur Saturday on the big stage. Sunday, we will hear Filoche and Heads Straight.The morning meeting will bring together twelve political stakeholders, including MEP José Bové.
Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport: thousands of opponents expected this weekend
3.7.2014 (Metronews.France)
AIRPORT – Opponents organize their large traditional festive weekend Saturday and Sunday at the site of the future airport of Nantes. Program debates, concerts, political speeches.
Last year, the gathering drew 9-25 of 000.Photo: Jean-Sebastien Evrard / AFP
“Notre-Dame-des-Landes: abandonment, it is now!” This is the slogan adopted by opponents for the big festive weekend held Saturday and Sunday at the site of Notre-Dame-des-Landes. The summer appointment, now held every year to demand the abandonment of the airport project, has become a tradition. the program , discussions, information and exhibitions, conferences, political speeches and stands in a relaxed and symbolic hundreds of balloons, lanterns and kites will thus released into the sky. Bands and artists are also show their support through concerts.
[Le rendez-vous estival, organisé maintenant tous les ans pour réclamer l’abandon du projet d’aéroport, est devenu une tradition. Au programme , débats, stands d’informations et expositions, conférences, et discours politiques, dans une ambiance détendue et symbolique : des centaines de ballons, lampions et cerfs-volants seront ainsi lâchés dans le ciel. Des groupes et artistes viennent aussi afficher leur soutien à travers des concerts.]
Rally turned to the “useless projects”
Thousands of people from all over France, are expected. Last year, the gathering was held on August 3 and 4 between 9 000 and 25 000 people had attended the event. This new collection is also used to address “other unnecessary projects, whether small, medium or large,” said Dominique Fresneau spokesman of ACIPA, leading association of opponents. The airport project is, for the moment, on stand-by. Indeed, on February 28, Jean-Marc Ayrault, then Prime Minister, announced that the work of the airport has to wait to start, until the end of legal proceedings that are under way.
[Un rassemblement tourné vers les “projets inutiles” Plusieurs milliers de personnes, venues de toute la France, sont attendues. Ce nouveau rassemblement doit aussi permettre d’aborder “les autres projets inutiles, qu’ils soient petits, moyens ou grands”, a précisé Dominique Fresneau, porte-parole de l’Acipa, principale association d’opposants. Le projet, pour l’instant, est en stand-by. En effet, le 28 février, Jean-Marc Ayrault, alors Premier ministre, avait annoncé que les travaux de l’aéroport attendraient la fin des recours juridiques engagés pour démarrer.]
The project standby
According to the original schedule, the work of the airport tarmac, the concession was awarded to Vinci group, should have been started in the spring. But the aborted removal of the airport’s opponents in autumn 2012, reinforced by a strong legal challenge to each bit of advance of the project, froze any progress. The last episode of this challenge was marked by the demonstration of 22 February which was attended by between 20,000 and 50,000 opponents in the streets of Nantes . The parade was peppered with intense fighting radical anticapitalist activists with police. Final assessment: dozens injured both on the side of police and of the demonstrators, three of which have lost the use of one eye, and one million euros of damage.
[Le projet en stand-by Selon le calendrier initial, les travaux du tarmac de l’aéroport, dont la concession a été attribuée au groupe Vinci, auraient dû démarrer au printemps. Mais l’expulsion avortée des opposants à l’automne 2012, renforcée par une intense contestation juridique de chacune des avancées du projet, a gelé toute avancée. Le dernier épisode marquant de cette contestation a été la manifestation du 22 février dernier qui a rassemblé entre 20 000 et 50 000 opposants dans les rues de Nantes. Bilan final: plusieurs dizaines de blessés du côté des forces de l’ordre et du côté des manifestants, dont trois ont perdu l’usage d’un oeil, et un million d’euros de dégâts.]
Opponents of the proposed airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes emerge from hibernation
4.7.2014 (Le Parisian)
by Florian LITZLER
[Apologies for very ropey English translation ….)
All hands to battle for the opposition to an airport. 30,000 people are expected Saturday and Sunday, on the site of the future – and contested – Airport Notre-Dame-des-Landes, near Nantes (Loire-Atlantique), at the festival “Abandonment is right now! “Organized by opponents of the project.
[30 000 personnes sont attendues samedi et dimanche, sur le site du futur – et contesté – aéroport de Notre-Dame-des-Landes, près de Nantes (Loire-Atlantique), à l’occasion du festival « L’abandon c’est maintenant!]
On site, they still occupy the “Zone à Défendre” (ZAD) without which the authorities cannot move. “This is the status quo,” says Dominique Fresneau ,president of ACIPA, an association of opponents, “there is a moratorium until the end of legal proceedings, we look while supporting several projects on the ZAD ” 76 use officially registered.
[« C’est le statu quo » explique Dominique Fresneau, président de l’Acipa, une association d’opposants, « il y a un moratoire jusqu’à la fin des procédures judiciaires, nous attendons tout en faisant vivre plusieurs projets sur la ZAD » 76 recours officiellement déposés]
It was decided by the Prime Minister of the day in February, signs of abating while numerous appeals against the airport had been filed in court .
There are currently 76. Until they are all treated, which will take several months, the authorities have not trigger work … that should have been launched last spring
while the airport was supposed to open in October 2017. “lead us Redo actions on the ground to a communication that is not desired,” says soberly prefecture of Loire-Atlantique.
[On en compte actuellement 76. Jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient tous traités, ce qui prendra plusieurs mois, les autorités comptent ne pas déclencher les travaux… qui auraient dû être lancés au printemps dernier tandis que l’aéroport était censé ouvrir en octobre 2017. « Relancer des actions sur le terrain nous entraînerait vers une communication qui n’est pas souhaitée », explique sobrement la préfecture de Loire-Atlantique.]
who argue that renovating the existing airport would save € 349 million, are all elements that Dominique Fresneau see play for the challenge. “We did not win, but they, they lost. It just takes the ghost of Jean-Marc Ayrault finish leaving Matignon.”
[L’État a choisi d’attendre, mais « si le projet est validé par la justice, continuer à s’y opposer reviendra juste à de l’acharnement… » ajoute-t-on. Le spectre d’un redémarrage des travaux Le départ de Jean-Marc Ayrault , la sortie de Manuel Valls – qui avait proposé à la ministre écologiste Cécile Duflot d’abandonner le projet si elle restait au gouvernement – l’ étude de deux architectes publiée fin juin pour le collectif d’opposant CéDpa qui argue que rénover l’aéroport déjà existant ferait économiser 349 millions d’euros, sont autant d’éléments que Dominique Fresneau voit jouer en faveur de la contestation. « Nous n’avons pas gagné, mais eux, ils ont perdu.]
“But others, yet also opposed to the project, are more cautious. As Françoise Verchère, General Counsel of Loire-Atlantique, a member of CEDPA: “I do not read in the coffee. Justice can give us wrong. In this case, the authorities may well say “Enough Iroquois and thugs” and force the start of work. ” No authorization submitted to the prefecture Until this event, the ZAD will vibrate to the sound of concerts this weekend for the festival. No application for permission has also been made to the authorities.”And why do authorization? This place, these fields, these farms, it is considered that this is our home! “Retorted Dominique Fresneau. At the Prefecture, they close their eyes, “We’re not supposed to know that something will happen … But we will be attentive to security conditions”.
[A la Préfecture, on ferme les yeux « Nous ne sommes pas censés savoir qu’il va se passer quelque chose… Mais nous serons attentifs aux conditions de sécurité ».]
ACIPA – the campaign at Nantes against a new airport at Notre Dame des Landes, is having another huge gathering and protest on 5th and 6th July
Des forums, des débats, des conférences, des stands, des concerts, des animations…. Retenez d’ores et déjà votre weekend des 5 et 6 juillet 2014. Plus d’informations à venir…
[Forums, debates, conferences, stands, concerts, animations …. Keep free your weekend on 5 and 6 July 2014. More information to come …]
Thousands across France will converge on Nantes for 5/6th July – many marching with walking stick relay
June 4, 2014
Over the weekend of 5th and 6th July , there will be another massive mobilisation at Notre Dame des Landes, against the planned new airport – to replace the existing Nantes airport. Thousands will attend from across France. There are around 200 support committees across the country, working to oppose the airport. Now there will be “convergences” from across France, where people are already setting out to walk to the protest. Others will travel, by bike, and many also by vehicle – having attended protest rallies in the areas from where they start. The chosen symbol for these marches, or “caravans” will be their walking sticks. Remembering the civil protests in the 1970s against a military camp at Larzac, those walking will bring with them a walking stick (engraved with their name, and the region from which they come), and the rhythmic noise of these clacking on the tarmac will be, as with the Larzac march to Paris in 1978, the sound signature of this part of the protest. Those who cannot complete the whole march will pass on their walking sticks as a relay, so they arrive at Notre Dame des Landes.
