Cannes Film Festival: environmental activists try to block air traffic with remote-controlled cars

This is an action that had not yet been seen in France. Activities of Extinction Rebellion (XR), ANV-COP21 and Attac "introduced on the tarmac of Cannes-Mandelieu airport remote-controlled cars equipped with smoke thus blocking the road to a private jet preparing to take off" to protest against the pollution generated by the Cannes Film Festival, announced this Saturday XR on social networks, photos in support.

In the middle of #FestivaldeCannes2023, #ExtinctionRebellion @AnvCop21 @attac_fr activists brought remote-controlled cars equipped with smoke bombs onto the tarmac of #Cannes-Mandelieu airport, blocking the way to a private jet preparing to take off 🛬 #Cannes2023 pic.twitter.com/7T9RISbtfw

— Extinction Rebellion France 🐝🌺 (@xrFrance) May 20, 2023

According to France 3, present on site, this action, which takes place this Saturday in the middle of the day, was intended to prevent the take-off of a jet to "highlight the absurdity of the lifestyle of the ultra-rich who burn liters of kerosene to come and climb the red carpet", on the occasion of the Cannes Film Festival which is held nearby.

VIDEO. Cannes Film Festival 2023: Extinction Rebellion activists block jet-privéshttps://t.co/uBqtzQdtUP #Cannes2023 @AeroportNice @xrFrance @PrivateFly_FR @MandelieuVille pic.twitter.com/5p0BQkm7DF

— France 3 French Riviera (@F3cotedazur) May 20, 2023

Symbolic, the action was not very embarrassing, notes the channel. The airport security services and the police intervened without any real disruption to air traffic on the runways.

Pollution denounced

For these environmental activists, the Cannes Film Festival is an ecological aberration. According to a recent survey published by Disclose, 80% of the CO2 emissions of the Cannes Film Festival are caused by the travel of the stars by plane, their stay on yachts moored in the bay as well as the accommodation of the public.

"The Cannes Film Festival is an indecent spectacle, with its stars arriving by private jet before going to have an aperitif on a yacht," Attac denounced in a statement published on the sidelines of another action also carried out Saturday in front of the mega-yachts of the Canoise marina.