From 11 a.m., many activists against the mega-basin projects braved the cold in Orléans-La source this Thursday, December 15.
After the strong tensions and the demonstration in Sainte-Soline (Deux-Sèvres), their mobilization continues, this time calling on the Loire-Brittany Water Agency.
"Don't touch my tablecloth", "Basins, not a penny more", can we read on the banners hung on the gates of the building.
While the board of directors met the same day, the demands of the activists were clear: they demanded an end to the financing of the mega-basin projects, these immense artificial water reservoirs which are born in particular in the Vienne and the Sèvre Niortaise for crop irrigation.
“We will also ask for an inventory of basin projects paid for by the Agency and the results of these,” adds Julien Le Guet of the Bassines Non Merci collective.
Read alsoAgricultural irrigation: 5 minutes to understand the “basin war”
He is part of the small delegation which obtained to be heard by part of the board of directors.
With him, Benoît Biteau, MEP, insists on respect for the rule of law: “Some bedpan projects continue even though the appeals lodged have been won, it's illegal!
To strengthen transparency on this funding, activists also demand that the boards of directors can be followed by citizens in the same way as municipal councils.
“Other systems exist or have yet to be invented”
Those who await the return of the delegation in front of the Water Agency come from Limousin, Vienne or even Charente Maritime, like Dominique Mallet.
Flag of the peasant confederation in hand, he came to Orléans thinking “of future generations”.
As a retired market gardener, he knows the importance of water and assures us that “other systems exist or have yet to be invented”.
Cassandra is 19 years old.
These partials barely finished, she did not want to miss the opportunity to come and meet other activists.
“The basins are a symbol.
He gathers all the flags”, remarks his friend Lino while the colors of Greenpeace, France Insoumise, the NPA or even Europe ecology the greens float around them.
They promise to come back
"All our requests have been heard, to see if they have been listened to...", summarizes Benoit Biteau after leaving the board of directors.
According to him, the demonstration of the day will have made it possible to show that "citizen mobilization is national, watched even in the European commission".
“We will have to attack the governance of the Water Agency”, retains Julien Le Guet for his part.
Nearly half of the representatives who heard them are affiliated with the FNSEA and fought for the mega-basin projects.
However, Thierry Burlot, at the head of the basin committee, for his part defends the idea of a moratorium on the question, as demanded by the activists.
“Today, we grab his outstretched hand,” sums up Daniel Salmon, senator for Ille-et-Vilaine.
To close this morning of mobilization, Julien Le Guet assures him: “We will come back here.
The water house is our home!
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