A view of a road blocked by objects left by demonstrators, in the "Deferred Development Zone" (ZAD) occupied by protesters opposed to a new international airport project near Nantes.
Farmers, environmental activists and opponents demonstrate against a project to build an international airport in Notre Dame des Landes, western France. The project was signed in 2010 and the international airport is supposed to open in 2017 near the city of Nantes.
A sticker of ACIPA association, who organized a demonstration against a project to build an international airport on in Notre Dame des Landes, western France.
kids playing during a demonstration to protest against a project to build an international airport.
Farmers, environmental activists and opponents take part in a demonstration to protest against a project to build an international airport.
Farmers, environmental activists and opponents take part in a demonstration to protest against a project to build an international airport.
Farmers, environmental activists and opponents take part in a demonstration to protest against a project to build an international airport.
Farmers, environmental activists and opponents take part in a demonstration to protest against a project to build an international airport.
A wooden house built by the militants opponents against a project to build an international airport at Notre Dame des Landes, western France. Over the years, numerous people came to support the cause of the habitants of Notre Dame des Landes.
Farmers, environmental activists and opponents take part in a demonstration to protest against a project to build an international airport.
Police forces stand guard after evictions from the site squatters protesting against a project to build an international airport, in Notre Dame des Landes, western France. The battle led by opponents against the airport is also judicial, with multiple legal recourses ongoing.
the houses of the inhabitants of Notre Dame des Landes moments before the evictions of police forces.
Police forces stand guard after evictions from the site squatters protesting against a project to build an international airport, in Notre Dame des Landes, western France. The battle led by opponents against the airport is also judicial, with multiple legal recourses ongoing.
Julien Durand, spokesman of an association opposed to the international airport project in the French western city of Notre Dame des Landes ACIPA.
A excavator removes Notre Dame des Landes sign as police forces stand guard after evictions from the site squatters protesting against a project to build an international airport, in Notre Dame des Landes, western France, on November. Two excavators and a large waste receptacle were deployed to clear an area where the protestors had set up shacks. The airport, which is scheduled to replace the current airport at Nantes in 2017, is a pet project of Socialist Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was the city's mayor from 1989 until this year.
French riot police face protesters as they seek to evict squatters from protected swampland where Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault wants to build a new airport. Clashes between police and protesters resumed at Notre Dame des Landes, outside the western city of Nantes, as officers fired tear gas and squatters threw stones and glass bottles at them in return.
A couple of villagers came to support the defenders of the new construction in the ZAD. Following the expulsion of the occupants of new buildings in the Chataigneraie, built as a result of the great demonstration of 17 November, the echauffoures between police force and defender of the ZAD erupted and during hard all day.
French riot police arrest a protester as they seek to evict squatters from protected swampland where Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault wants to build a new airport. Clashes between police and protesters resumed at Notre Dame des Landes, outside the western city of Nantes, as officers fired tear gas and squatters threw stones and glass bottles at them in return.
French gendarme ejected environmental activists and opponents during an important evictions operation of opponents against a project to build an international airport in Notre Dame des Landes, western France.
A girl gestures in front of a French gendarme during an important evacuation operation of opponents against a project to build an international airport.
French riot police face protesters as they seek to evict squatters from protected swampland where Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault wants to build a new airport. Clashes between police and protesters resumed at Notre Dame des Landes, outside the western city of Nantes.
A steam shovel destroys the farm squatted by protestors against a project to build an international airport, following its evacuation, in Notre Dame des Landes. The battle led by opponents against the airport is also judicial, with multiple legal recourses ongoing.
Protesters drive their tractors during a demonstration to protest against the international airport building project in Notre Dame des Landes.
Protesters clash with the French riot police on February 22, 2014, in Nantes, western France, during a demonstration against the project to build an international airport in the French western city of Notre Dame des Landes. The disputed project, signed in 2010, has been put on hold and will likely be postponed beyond the scheduled opening planned for 2017. The planned airport north of Nantes, which is scheduled to replace the city's current airport in 2017, is a pet project of Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was the city's mayor from 1989 to 2013.
Anti-riots policemen walk toward demonstrators protesting against the international airport building project in Notre Dame des Landes, in Nantes, western France.
A tramway station burn during the demonstration against the construction of the Notre Dame des Landes airport in Nantes.Protesters smashed shop windows and hurled paving stones at police, who answered with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Demonstration against the construction of the Notre Dame des Landes airport in Nantes.Protesters smashed shop windows and hurled paving stones at police, who answered with tear gas and rubber bullets.
A protester clashes with the French riot police, in Nantes, western France, during a demonstration against the project to build an international airport in the French western city of Notre Dame des Landes. The disputed project, signed in 2010, has been put on hold and will likely be postponed beyond the scheduled opening planned for 2017. The planned airport north of Nantes, which is scheduled to replace the city's current airport in 2017, is a pet project of Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who was the city's mayor from 1989 to 2013.
Erwan T leaves the Rennes' Court of Appeal, on January 7, 2015 in Rennes, after appearing for having wandering nude in front of police officers during a police operation at the new airport project site in Notre-Dame-des-Landes in March 2013. Erwan T and another opponent to the airport construction were convicted for "outrage" and condemned to 15 days of jail by a court of first instance.
Erwan T embraces a relative as he leaves the Rennes Court of Appeal on January 7, 2015 in Rennes, after appearing for having wandering nude in front of police officers during a police operation at the new airport project site in Notre-Dame-des-Landes in March 2013. Erwan T and another opponent to the airport construction were convicted for "outrage" and condemned to 15 days of jail by a court of first instance.
Fotografías de Jeremías González
El enfrentamiento es inminente. No hay duda que dejará varias decenas de heridos. En el oeste de Francia, cerca de la ciudad de Nantes, en el pequeño pueblo de Notre-Dame-des-Landes, un proyecto de aeropuerto internacional acecha 2.000 hectáreas de húmedo verde. Tritones, salamandras rayadas, pequeños cultivos, antiguos bosques y hasta el mismo pueblo hoy se encuentran amenazados por este ambicioso proyecto.
Propuesta hace 40 años, con el apoyo de autoridades locales y nacionales, y dirigido por la multinacional Vinci, la idea fue rechazada desde sus inicios por gran parte de la comunidad local. El supuesto beneficio económico que significaría su realización nunca fue demostrado. Además, a la vista de todos, el aeropuerto resulta inútil pues otro aeropuerto cercano, el de la ciudad de Nantes, ya ofrece las suficientes conexiones internacionales.
Desde el año 2008, para evitar que las obras comiencen, activistas y habitantes de la zona se organizaron para ocupar lo que ellos denominan “Zone à Défendre (ZAD)” o Zona a Defender, que en la jerga oficial, significa “ Zone d'Aménagement Différée” (Zona de Desarrollo Diferido). Dicen querer “aprovechar los espacios dejados al abandono para aprender a vivir en comunidad, cultivar la tierra y ser independientes con respecto al sistema capitalista”. De esta manera, los denominados Zadistas, como se autoproclaman los convocados, han engendrado estrategias de resistencia a través de campamentos improvisados, la reocupación de granjas y casa abandonadas en todo el territorio.
En Octubre de 2012 la llamada “Operación César” se puso en marcha a cargo de la Prefectura de la Región Loire-Atlantique, con el fin de expulsar a todos los ocupantes. Las excavadoras de la Gendarmería destruyeron varias cabañas, con ayuda de gases lacrimógenos y balas de goma la policía antidisturbios dispersó a los activistas.
El Resultado fue un fracaso total, decenas de ocupantes heridos y apresados dieron mayor visibilidad de la lucha a los ojos nacionales e internacionales. Por su duración, la violencia y la mediatización del conflicto, la ZAD se ha convertido en un símbolo de la lucha anticapitalista de la extrema izquierda, tanto en Francia como en otros países europeos.
Desde entonces, el movimiento se ha extendido, y al menos una quincena de ZAD florecieron en todo el hexágono, como la de Isère en contra del Centre Parcs de Roybon; contra la represa de Sivens en departamento de Tarn, al sur de Francia, entro otras.
Recursos judiciales y administrativos, peticiones, encuestas en contra de la viabilidad económica del proyecto, manifestaciones con tractores, huelgas de hambre, festivales alternativos y barricadas, son algunas de las formas de protección y lucha ante la inminente construcción del gigante que han intentado los zadistas.
Pero en julio de 2015, el Tribunal Administrativo de Nantes rechazó los recursos de amparo presentados, por los opositores al futuro aeropuerto, para anular dos decretos ambientales de la prefectura de la región Loire-Atlantique, los cuales permitían al Estado el desalojo de los ocupantes de Notre-Dame-des-Landes.
Durante el Verano de 2015, el Presidente de la Región, Jacques Auxiette, el Primer Ministro, Manuel Valls, y hasta el Presidente de la República François Hollande, sostuvieron que “el proyecto se llevará adelante” y que “el aeropuerto se construirá”.
La pulseada continúa y el enfrentamiento se anuncia cada vez más fuerte.
