In response to the escalating protests against the construction of the new A69 motorway in France, two activists from France's National Tree Monitoring Group (GNSA) have climbed up a tree opposite the European Parliament in Brussels.
The French activists, who go by the nicknames 'Jibon' and 'Ubac' and who are known as the écureuils (squirrels in English), have been at the top of the tree since 06:00 on Monday. They were accompanied by GNSA founder, Thomas Brail, who remained on the ground, and are both hoping to attract the European Union's attention.
"After having tried everything to no avail, turning to a higher authority than France is the natural step to follow," they said.
The pair's action is part of a wider ongoing debate in France regarding the construction of a new motorway between Toulouse and Castres in southwestern France. The protestors have established a Zone to Defend (ZAD) since November last year in Saïx. The action has been met with violent confrontations between police and demonstrators.
The écureuils in Tarn, southern France. Credit: Courroux / Instagram
Several écureuils resisting the project, which involves cutting down trees, climbed up into some of them to slow down the works. The group is accusing the French authorities of illegal actions. "Petrol has been poured near the trees and fires set by the police" told Jibon the Brussels Times.
According to the GNSA, the conditions of the protestors are deplorable. The French police is blocking food and water supplies to force the activists down. As Jibon described us on a phone call, his comrades up the trees are compelled to eat "packets of salt, sugar and plane tree buds."
He explained that the main reason why he and Ubac climbed up the tree was to enable the squirrels to access food and water supplies, "which they have been deprived of for 34 days."
"We do this before anyone dies, and a simple phone call can solve it. It is the role of the European Parliament to ensure that human rights are respected," he continued. He stated they will not come down until at least this demand is met.
The climbers also seek a meeting with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, during the period of Belgian presidency of the European Council. They expect a Belgian response to their demands. Several Belgian and French MEPs have already come to talk to them.
'An anachronistic project'
While they are aware that it may take some time, they hope for a resolution from the European Union to compel France to suspend the works on the A69 motorway.
More broadly, these two climbers are speaking on behalf of GNSA and would also like to point out that this motorway project is "anachronistic." Building this motorway requires concrete over 400 hectares and evicts 150 farmers.
According to GNSA's founder, Thomas Brail, the proposed A69 motorway would only shorten travel time by 10 to 12 minutes compared to the existing national route, which sees minimal usage with just 8,000 vehicles per day. Additionally, Brail highlighted, the project, touted as a "social project", would cost €17 for a 53-kilometre round trip.
The two écureuils stress that they are using "exactly the same methods" as those protesting in France, and that their peers should get equal treatments as them. To date, there are still three squirrels in the treetops out of the original 18 in the ZAD.
