A-Infos (en) France, OCL: New offensives against the ZAD of Notre-Dame-des-Landes (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

The inhabitants and farmers of the ZAD formerly coveted by the Grand 
Ouest airport project have recently been the subject in the press of a 
series of threats and incriminating and largely erroneous comments from 
the mayors of the bordering towns of Vigneux de Bretagne and 
Notre-Dame-des-Landes. ---- Behind this media attack we find the choice 
of initiating on the part of the mayor of Vigneux a process aimed at 
obtaining from the administrative court of Saint-Nazaire a judicial 
title which could lead to the destruction of habitats rebuilt after the 
violent destruction of Operation Caesar in 2012.

Six years after the abandonment of the airport project at 
Notre-Dame-des-Landes and the destruction of numerous living spaces 
("huts") - which had been installed at different points in the area over 
the long fight against this project of environmental absurdity - the 
mayors of Vigneux and Notre-Dame-des-Landes (supported or exploited by 
an LR Senator, Madame Garnier who does not hide her intentions to win 
the town hall of Nantes) were received at the Ministry of the Interior 
by Darmanin to discuss the situation of the Zadists established without 
a lease or building permit. These two mayors are exasperated by "new 
arrivals with no agricultural projects installed in the ZAD in recent 
years" and speak of "incivility", "caravan camps and illicit electrical 
connections".
These mayors had already tried to intervene by calling on the Prefect 
via an open letter to Darmanin reminding him that following the 
"evacuation of the area to be defended at Notre-Dame-des-Landes in 2018, 
there would no longer be a ZAD In France ". This first intervention had 
no follow-up.

Historical review
In April 2018, as part of negotiations with the State, the latter 
rejected the movement's proposal to manage the post-project in a 
collective form, drawing inspiration from the Larzac model.
The State requests (imposes) the presentation of individual agricultural 
projects. A majority of Zadists organize themselves to present projects 
covering the maximum amount of land (240 ha) thus securing all living 
spaces and avoiding any further destruction or expulsion, by overlapping 
uses, allowing the coexistence of numerous subsistence, artisanal and to 
the Zadists wanting to perpetuate this original project, to stay there.
Since then, other peasant projects have emerged (fruit growers, snails, 
etc.), to date more than twenty peasant installations have been 
developed by residents of the former ZAD. Likewise, other craft projects 
have been created.
I will not return to the difficulties, the different approaches and 
visions which went through this period of transition, which also saw the 
Zadists tear each other apart and some leave the area.
By imposing these projects, the State hoped to reduce the number of 
inhabitants in the area and avoid the creation of a protest 
(revolutionary) center. I remember a response from the prefect on what 
motivated the refusal of the collective project (Larzac model), and I 
was surprised by one of her arguments: "the ZAD of Notre-Dame-des-Landes 
is too near Nantes.
Did she want to suggest that maintaining a number of protesters of the 
dominant model in the area could create a center of resistance? In this 
case she would have been right, because the Uprisings of the Earth were 
born in Notre-Dame-des-Landes and took into account the experience of 
the struggle which took place there by associating different movements: 
Confédération Paysanne, Extinction Rebellion, and various associations, 
to put the spotlight on local struggles in France, by organizing, always 
with local actors, important resistance events as we see with the 
struggles against mega-basins, against highway concreting (A69), against 
Lafarge, the Lyon-Turin project etc....
Mayors who do not play politics...
The mayors of the two municipalities are hiding behind the PLUI (Local 
Intercommunal Urban Planning Plan) which was updated after the 
abandonment of the airport project, which allows them to assert that 
they have no political intention but that it is only an administrative 
subject in connection with town planning.
Overnight, the PLUI classified almost the entire territory as a Natural 
or Agricultural Zone without taking into account what existed, trying to 
deny that life had continued, that the hamlets had been reoccupied 
(negation of the presence of residents who spent eight years of their 
lives fighting to save this area from concreting) that homes destroyed 
in 2012 had been rebuilt. The PLUI written after the abandonment acted 
as if all these inhabitants, their buildings, their practices - 
artisanal, social, cultural, naturalist, forestry, etc. - did not exist 
and had no reason to exist.
A legal appeal was filed by the association NDDL Poursuivre Ensemble and 
the AACB, Association for a Common Future in the Bocage, given the 
impossible dialogue, in particular with Gwénola Franco, mayor of 
Vigneux, who refuses any building permit and who states: "there is no 
subject on declared farmers. The question is people settled illegally, 
particularly on agricultural or natural land.»
The mayor of Notre-Dame also mentions "a good atmosphere with 
agricultural project leaders" but would like the rest to be "cleaner". 
He refuses the construction of peasant housing (proposed by the 
Departmental Council) as long as other "illegitimates" occupy historic 
housing. Wanting to sort out the Zadists and denying their history in 
this struggle is a very political position, instead of considering 
exchanges, as has been happening for 4 years now with the Department.

Obstacles posed by town halls to regularizations
For more than five years, residents and farmers have been working with 
the Departmental Council (CD44) and the State to regularize land, 
buildings, habitats and activities on the former ZAD, step by step. 
Agricultural leases (with high environmental implications) were able to 
be signed on part of the land, and statuses relating to their activities 
were obtained. The CD44, which remains the owner of the majority of land 
and buildings to this day, is today ready to sign leases with the 
residents of historic farmhouses as well as those who benefit from 
building permits (PC) on houses destroyed by the airport project and 
newer constructions. But there is still obstruction, notably by the town 
hall of Vigneux-de-Bretagne, in obtaining PCs or network connections 
(water and electricity) for a certain number of homes:
* While Jean-Paul Naud, Mayor of Notre-Dame-des-Landes, has allowed the 
reconstruction of farms and habitats destroyed due to the airport 
project in her town, Gwenola Franco, Mayor of Vigneux, has so far 
refused permits linked to this type of reconstruction.
* There are also experiments in the construction of lightweight, 
reversible and biosourced habitats in the ZAD. This innovative approach 
is a valuable avenue in the face of an increasingly glaring housing 
crisis, and in particular the lack of social housing. This type of 
ecological solution is also the subject of growing interest in certain 
municipalities of the CCEG (Community of municipalities of Erdre and 
Gesvres). Frameworks (STECAL[1]) exist today to regularize them in 
compliance with town planning law. The residents concerned have asserted 
them without result to date.
* The possibility of PC (Building Permit) for peasant housing planned 
within the framework of the PLUI for established farmers also seems 
blocked by the mayors. The farmers concerned can neither complete their 
installation nor stabilize their project, and are thus kept in 
precarious circumstances. At a time when we are becoming aware of the 
difficulties of the peasant profession as well as its essential nature, 
it is unthinkable that additional obstacles would be imposed on these 
new settlers.

Mayors refuse to recognize
what the inhabitants of the former ZAD
bring to the life of their communities
While we are today alerted to the lack of agricultural vocations, the 
inhabitants of the former ZAD have developed around twenty farming 
installations (360 ha) since 2018. These agro-ecological farms maintain 
the bocage and avoid chemical inputs which alter the water resources and 
land of the communes. They promote biodiversity with the support of 
naturalist associations. They supply the short circuits, AMAPs, local 
stores and markets that local residents frequent.
But like many rural areas, the former ZAD is not inhabited only by its 
farmers. Against a vision of the countryside with isolated farmers, we 
must affirm, support and guarantee that the other inhabitants of the 
bocage are just as legitimate to stay and live here and maintain their 
activities in the communes of Notre-Dame and of Vigneux.
Let us testify that all these people have greatly contributed to 
protecting the numerous nuisances which would have been caused by the 
airport project and to preserving the environment of this territory. 
They have lived here for years, have rebuilt and maintained the houses 
demolished by the police, and are implementing inspiring ecological and 
social experiments. Their choice to stay there is due to a deep 
attachment to this territory, and their various activities participate 
directly in the life of the communities. But we are in rural communities 
where we hear "these zadists are not from the country", the question of 
foreigners is a social phenomenon
The old ZAD is also made rich and alive by the arrival, these last 15 
years, new people with multiple skills and their activities which 
jointly intertwine and radiate: forestry management in the local sector, 
manufacturing of insulating plates made of straw or hemp, making of 
pancakes and pancakes, cannery, brewery, bakery, architecture, carpentry 
, roofing, pruning, logging, home care, catering, mechanics, 
blacksmithing, metallurgy, printing, screen printing, craft workshops 
and other interventions at the ecomuseum, etc. Passionate about their 
profession and about transmission issues, many offer training spaces, 
participatory projects and welcoming moments for children from 
surrounding communities - in school and after-school settings as well as 
for summer camps.
It is also a culturally dense place: Taslu library, multipurpose rooms 
for seminars, screenings, shows, artistic residencies and exhibitions, 
nature walks, etc. The places that allow these activities have their 
place in a living rural territory.
150 to 200 residents have their own organization, and are in 
negotiations with the departments to resolve life issues, without going 
through the uncooperative town halls. But the latter have enormous power 
over obtaining (or regularizing) building permits. The granting of 
permits entails significant costs for town halls, due to connections to 
the electricity and water networks even if the department is committed 
to paying for half of the installations.
The inhabitants of the former ZAD have created a lot of activity and are 
establishing themselves in the communes (especially Notre-Dame) and are 
perceived and experienced as a community within the (communal) community 
while all this which lives on the ZAD is open to the populations 
(purchases of products from the fifteen organic farms, participation in 
training outings on the forest, use of the Qplomb inn, open day every 
year at the end of May (May 26 for 2024), etc.

Counterattack at the media level
An open letter was sent to the mayors and made public during a press 
conference organized by the coordination of organizations supporting the 
ZAD projects[2].
"Is the arrival of new people in your communities a problem? Whether it 
is the fight to save the Guérande salt marshes in the 1980s, the Larzac 
struggle, or the struggle for the abandonment of the airport project at 
Notre-Dame-des-Landes, these The arrivals energized the struggles and 
largely contributed to the victories.
First of all, while residents go from step to step to respond to 
administrative requests and move forward with their projects, it seems 
to us as counterproductive as it is irresponsible to let situations drag 
on in which projects are blocked by endless ping-pong around building 
permits and network connections. Even the most dynamic people can become 
discouraged when their projects have been blocked for 5 years. Wouldn't 
a dialogue between the different communities concerned and the project 
leaders be the best solution?
This is why we do not understand the current recurring difficulties in 
obtaining building permits which should be right on places which had 
been built before 2012. These old farms and buildings were destroyed by 
the State: the latter should have , after abandonment and at your 
injunctions, because it was your responsibility, finance the 
reconstructions to maintain the social potential and restore the 
dynamics of the sector concerned.
The people affected by the regularization process and targeted by your 
declarations have actually been living in this territory for years. They 
helped protect him. They contribute to making it dynamic.
Stakeholders of our collective victory of 2018, and of what is now 
happening in the area, we advocate dialogue in the face of difficulties 
and misunderstandings. Because we refuse to give up hope, we will not 
allow these places of life where a desirable future is created to be 
destroyed.»
What about this desire for dialogue on the ground? Despite the press 
conference and the letter sent to them, the Mayors still refuse to meet 
a delegation made up of farmers and residents. They only want to discuss 
with established peasants.
A Tribune is therefore being signed. The idea is to make it public once 
we have collected enough signatures, through a press conference or a 
rally, by also sending it to the elected officials of Vigneux, 
Notre-Dame and other town halls of the community of communes (CCEG). It 
will support the various ongoing attempts to move mayors from their 
current perspective and the problems they pose to the ZAD locations.

Joël Quélard
co-president of NDDL PE (Pursuivre Ensemble)
and representative of the association in coordinating the movement for 
six months.

NOTES
[1]Sectors of limited size and reception capacity (STECAL) are sectors 
delimited within the non-building zones of the PLU, such as agricultural 
zones, and within which certain constructions or installations can be 
built in an exceptional manner.
[2]The letter can be read in full on the website 
www.nddl-poursuivre-ensemble.fr/ The signatories are: NDDL Poursuivre 
Ensemble, ATTAC 44, friends of the Confédération paysanne 56, la 
Confédération Paysanne 44, les Écologists 44, Solidarités Ecologie (La 
Chapelle sur Erdre), Solidaires 44, LPO 44, Ensemble 44...

A Tribune in support of the inhabitants and farmers of the 
Notre-Dame-Des-Landes bocage

"We - members of associations, unions and agricultural organizations, 
AMAPs, parents of students, residents of neighboring communities - 
consider that these residents, on the contrary, bring a beneficial 
dynamic to our territory. We are concerned about the obstructions 
currently being made to their regularization by these municipalities and 
regret the tensions caused by the threats of legal proceedings and 
expulsion. We wish to point out possible and beneficial solutions to 
this exceptional situation, both for the municipalities and for the 
targeted residents and farmers.

Renew dialogue and find solutions rather than re-emerging a climate of 
tension
The exceptional nature of what happened in the territory formerly 
threatened by the airport, the lasting settlement of dozens of people at 
a time when any demand license was impossible, now requires 
rehabilitation. It requires taking into account the reality of this 
territory rather than a policy of denial.
Town halls have perhaps not always been as well supported as they 
wished, by the State or the Departmental Council, in the possible 
restoration of the territory, its networks and buildings after the 
abandonment of the project. 'airport. Despite everything, today it is up 
to the elected officials of our municipalities as much as other local 
authorities to take steps.
Recent public calls from mayors for the "liberation" or destruction of 
habitats are therefore absolutely inappropriate.
No one in this territory should have the desire or interest in reliving 
moments of tension and a police presence such as we experienced a few 
years ago. The steps aimed at obtaining from the administrative court "a 
judicial title for expulsion" renew a climate of unnecessary threats 
when there are simple solutions, with a little good will, for a peaceful 
outcome.
We consider that the procedures of criminalization and media 
stigmatization must stop.
Today we are pleading for the municipalities to agree to open up, with 
the first parties concerned, to a constructive dialogue on the different 
possibilities for regularizing housing and buildings in the former ZAD.
We ask that the Departmental Council, as owner, continues to work in 
this direction by supporting the municipalities, so as to break deadlock 
situations and become consistent with its agricultural, social and 
environmental project."

http://oclibertaire.lautre.net/spip.php?article4161
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
Subscribe/Unsubscribe https://ainfos.ca/mailman/listinfo/a-infos-en
Archive: http://ainfos.ca/en