La ZAD, an autonomous resistance zone in fortress Europe

Finding info about struggles in far away lands can be challenging if you don’t speak the language of the local resistance. I’ve been hearing about the La Zad struggle in France for some time, and thankfully someone wrote a very useful account of what is “Europe’s largest Postcapitalist land occupation” with the goal of stopping the construction of an airport. One of my viewers who’s over there right now, sent me some links to videos with short explanations. I’ve corrected their English, but the email is pretty much intact.

-Vainquons Vin$$i à Notre Dame des Landes (video at the top of the page)
It shows the first two week of eviction and the beginning of larger mobilization. Operation Cesar started on October 15th. Their purpose was to destroy all the houses a soon as possible to prevent any reoccupation. In a week they evicted and destroyed 8 squats.

#ZAD #NDDL : Quand les arbres s’agitent (When the trees shake)
Documentary about the forest occupation on la ZAD of Notre-Dame-Des-Landes and the violent evistion on the October 30-31th This one is mostly in English.


Following Operation Cesar the opponents called for a large mobilization for reoccupying La ZAD. On November 17th, 30,000 people gathered in the countryside with 300 tractors, bringing an enormous amount of building materials to rebuild collective space that got destroyed in the last raid.


On the morning of November 23rd,  the police raided one the last squatted cabin on La ZAD.This was followed by two days of intense fighting.

There has been a trial in which the sate claims the cabins had been build illegally, so they can be destroy and evict the people. But since the 23-24th attack a round of tractors surronded one of the cabins, and several barricades have been built. The state has had to mobilize a large amount of police from around the country to try to put down this rebellion. While the goverment refuses to change their position regarding the airport, support for La ZAD is growing all over France and people are joining the fight and helping to organize.

A retrospective of the La Zad Struggle:

http://en.squat.net/tag/notre-dame-des-landes/

Below is a list of links to articles in English from the capitalist media.

Tuesday 30 October 2012
French police teargas anti-airport protest
http://www.english.rfi.fr/node/139683

Saturday 17 November 2012
Thousands gather for anti-airport protest that highlights splits in French government
http://www.english.rfi.fr/economy/20121117-thousands-gather-anti-airport-protest-highlights-splits-french-government

Friday 23 November 2012
French police teargas airport site squatters ahead of new demo
http://www.english.rfi.fr/environment/20121123-french-police-teargas-airport-site-squatters

Battle lines drawn over new airport for Nantes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20502702

Tuesday 04 December 2012
Protest grows against new French airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes near Nantes
Part 1 http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20121204-airport-squatters-notre-dame-des-landes
Part 2  http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20121205-protest-grows-against-new-french-airport-notre-dame-des-landes-near-nantes-part-2

Wednesday 05 December 2012
French farmers join environmental activists in protest against Notre-Dame-des-Landes airport
http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20121205-french-farmers-join-environmental-activists-protest-against-dame-landes-airport

Wednesday 12 December 2012
French court orders eviction of anti-Nantes airport protesters
http://www.english.rfi.fr/economy/20121212-french-court-orders-eviction-anti-nantes-airport-protesters

Monday 10 December 2012
French airport protesters seek safety in the trees
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/10/french-airport-protesters-squat?INTCMP=SRCH

Sunday 16 December 2012
Clashes with police as airport protesters plan next move
http://www.english.rfi.fr/economy/20121216-clashes-police-airport-protesters-plan-next-move

 

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    This entry was posted on Thursday, December 27th, 2012 at 1:17 pm and is poested under OTHER SHIT category.

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