Dear Colleagues,

Some of you may have read my piece about the anti-airport protests at Notre 
Dame des Landes, and the alternative communities that live there (the ZAD - zone à défendre).

https://mondediplo.com/outsidein/a-small-victory-in-notre-dame-des-landes

Yesterday the French government sent in the riot police to start the process of 
destroying the beautiful agrarian community that has been created there.

It is expected that they will continue their work of destruction today.

However, brave people have been resisting the police action.

See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-_yiQKy5U0

I have translated the press release from the ZAD. It is attached below.

If any of you would be interested to translate similar materials for circulation, please write to me.

Ed

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Eviction of agrarian resistance communities in Notre Dame des Landes - 9 April 2018

DATE: 09.04.2018 15:56

FROM: [log in to unmask]

SUBJECT: Press statement summarising a day of evictions at the ZAD, and a 
call-out for people to come to to the ZAD to help stop the operation.

The afternoon finished with the countryside of the ZAD asphyxiated by tear 
gas at the end of long hours of resistance to the destruction of living 
spaces and farms in the ZAD. At least 9 collective living sites have been 
destroyed, with their various special habitats broken up, their workshops 
smashed apart, their gardens trampled: These were the sites known as 
Planchettes, Planchouette, Lama fâché, Noue non plu, Youpi Youpi, Jessie 
James, Phare ouest, Chèvrerie, 100 noms.

The police invasion was met with various forms of resistance. Barricades, 
lines of tractors blocking the way, scuffles, people climbing onto rooftops, 
singing, linking arms. In the fields, facing the riot police and their 
deathly machines, there were old people, young people, neighbours, peasants, 
occupiers, comrades from all over France. Six of the protestors on the spot 
were wounded and seven people were arrested. In spite of the disproportion 
of the forces on the ground, and the absolute military superiority of the 
gendarmes, a little cunning and imagination was enough to set fire to their 
machines twice. The god of mud got another one stuck in the mud.

With every house that has been evicted and smashed by the jaws of the JCBs 
there is a piece of life that the state tried to eradicate here, and a solid 
surge of anger rising in us. Anger that has spread throughout the day to all 
those who have been watching these these events from a distance without 
having been able to come here in person. They will be more and more numerous 
in the coming days if the operation continues. They will come back en masse 
so that those who the state is thinking to evict from the countryside today 
will not remain homeless.

The destruction of the big barn, and the greenhouses, and the Sheepfold of 
the 100 Names. The eviction of the donkeys and the sheep reveal the absolute 
hypocrisy of the prefecture, including their statements about wanting to to 
preserve the agricultural projects. The prefect takes this opportunity to 
practise abject blackmail on other places that are agricultural projects: 
abandon the collective vision now, or you will suffer the same fate and the 
same destruction. The Maison des
vraies rouges, and the market garden, and the physic garden of Rouge et 
Noir, and many more, could well be the targets tomorrow.

Regarding this farm, a reference for assault will be filed by Me. Hurriet 
against the Prefecture. [...] Today, once again, the bailiff who was present 
at the eviction of these places refused to show the official eviction 
judgment and refused to give them his name.

Throughout the day, many supporters have already come forward. There have 
been press releases and appeals from various organizations (Sud Rail, 
Greenpeace, etc.), and an occupation of the town hall in Forcalquier, and 
rallies all over France.

The government has announced that the evictions will continue tomorrow. It 
is determined to eradicate the experience of the zad. We have to stop them, 
and take root, and stay. We are calling on everyone who is able, to come to 
the ZAD at dawn tomorrow, to block this operation. We call for mobilisations 
and determined protest actions everywhere in France.

The ZAD will stay!
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Zone To defend - http://zad.nadir.org/

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