Greta Thunberg Instagram – South of France. While the French gouvernement intends to build a huge private highway (the A69) on fertile lands, wet zones and forests instead of improving the existing public roads, railways and bus, French activists from @lavoieestlibre and @gnsa_officiel organise to climb into the trees. They pacifically occupy the land in order to avoid the cutting – what’s more illegal at this time of year according to the protected species living there. Facing extreme violence from the police, as continuous tear gaz jet, siege to hinder their access to food and sleep privation, the locals made a complaint at UN. The special rapporteur on environmental defenders @forst.michel came yesterday on-site, but the situation is still tense. Activists should not face such persecutions while simply preventing illegal destruction and fighting for a liveable future for all. We need environmental democracy, not criminalisation of environmental defenders. #stopA69 Photo credits @gyppae & @alexis_pichot Saïx