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Woodlands occupied in Flobecq (Belgium)

emma @ partidonenhum.zzn.com | 28.04.2003 09:53

A group of around thirty activists set up camp in the Hoppe woods in Flobecq on Sunday 27 April.
Walkways are in place, campaigners have already spent one night in the branches, and the direct action and information campaign is going full swing.

The occupation was the culminating point of a day of songs, poetry and pantomime : this festival (Patdagach) celebrated springtime in the woodlands, but was also a protest against the destruction of the Hoppe woods. The Hoppe has been transformed into a rubbish dump and sand quarring has replaced one of the main features of the landscape by a desert-like crater. Previous actions against Fort, the company responsible for this, have resulted in violence and injury to activists and to journalists. Patdagach is fighting for the end of illegal constructions in the woodlands, free access for all and wants the woods to be declared protected grounds.


For more information about the struggle in Flobecq and the ecological disaster in this power game involving corrupt politicians, an all-powerful garbage baron, violent 'security' services, frightened local people, threatened campaigners and beaten-up journalists see  http://www.foert.org (in French and Dutch)

Background on previous campaigns :  http://belgium.indymedia.org/news/2002/10/33640.php

emma @ partidonenhum.zzn.com
- Homepage: http://belgium.indymedia.org/news/2003/04/59776.php