"Le Camp Climat" concept is taking off over the channel, just as it is in the UK. Activists campaigning against the proposed construction of a new airport 16 kilometres north of Nantes (Loire-Atlantique, 44) have announced a camp from the 3 - 9 August 2009. The airport plans have a long history, with the origins of the plan to construct a "hub" for north-west France, dating from 30 years ago. The proposed airport will concrete over 2000 hectares of traditional bocage: pastoral land divided by traditional hedgerows. By contrast Britain's second busiest airport Gatwick occupies a site of only 300 hectares. And all this despite 3 airports already operational (Nantes, Angers, Rennes) within 100 kilometres of the proposed sites. None of the existing airports are operating at anything like full capacity at the moment, nor will they in the future if current air tickets sales continue their present downward trend. Despite being beyond any reasonable concept of utility, the Pharaonique</> project rolls forward, with forced sales of farms, homes, and land. Surveys and geological sampling of the site began in October 2008. Opposition to the project is centred on two main organisations: the Camp Climat, and a coalition that unites resident groups called ACIPA, which has long pursued a civil campaign amongst the French bureaucracy. As the threat becomes more imminent, many acts of resistance have already occurred: with tractor roadblocks and sabotage of survey works. A visiting official from the prefecture, come to announce the loss of land and homes, was flanned. The survey workers now work alongside an escort of up to sixty gendarmes. Eight activists face fines of up to 15,000 euros and sentences of 2 - 4 months for their part in the resistance.

Le camp fonctionnera de manière autogérée, avec pour principes de base : une empreinte écologique minimum, des actions à fort impact auprès de la population locale et/ou des médias, des échanges de savoirs sur les pratiques alternatives et écologiques, la mise en commun des bénéfices, la pratique du prix libre ou coûtant et le développement de réseaux. Il s’inscrira dans le cadre d’une semaine de résistance sur le site et fera suite à deux moments forts sur place : le festival « Le Plancher des Vaches » (samedi 1er août) et le pique-nique annuel des opposants au projet d’aéroport (dimanche 2 août).

( The basic principles of the autonomous camp are: a minimal ecological footprint, strong local links, strong media impact, educational activities and exchanges, development of networks, and communal living with food at prix libre (contribute as you can afford). The camp forms part of a week of resistance at the site with a music festival on the 1 August, and an annual local picnic on the 2 August.) Notre-Dames-De-Landes is 202 kilometres from the ferry terminal at St. Malo, which makes for a pleasant two day ride to be here, but Nantes is also well served by rail: the TGV from Paris (1 train/hour) takes 2h 20mins. More news at Nantes Indymedia.