Europe's largest Postcapitalist Land Occupation

Europe's largest Postcapitalist Land Occupation

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Everyone on the ground expected the media to run images of masked youth throwing molotovs (3 in all were thrown!) and to play the “Ultragauche” card which would have scared people away and opened the door to harsher police repression. But this did not happen and instead solidarity began to flow and flow. Meetings, demonstrations and actions erupted from Toulouse to Strasbourg, Brussels to Besançon: Graffiti and banners appeared on dozens of motorway bridges, a clown army invaded the offices...

(visit the link for the full news article)

Amazing story of how locals, farmers and various activist groups have banded together to preserve a highly diverse ecosystem and farmland that is rightfully their by creating a post-capitalist society. Despite Vinci (world's largest multinational construction firm) pressing the government and the courts in order to build an airport and the onslaught of Operation Caesar, this group has built an unlikely alliance despite divergent views.

www.filmsforaction.or g
(visit the link for the full news article)

Here is the link to part 2 of the article:
Part 2 of Rural Rebels

Robbing the future to pay the present was the hallmark of every civilisation whose ruins now scatter the deserts.

When will they ever learn. That was an interesting read, the new tactic of re-grouping and re-building is new to me, and encouraging. Had a lot of friends in the traveller camps in the 80's, but they usually just moved on when they were evicted. Only read part one so far, uplifting reading, and I can't believe this isn't getting more attention. Off to read part 2 now, thanks for this.

Why will this commune survive? Its size doesnt guarantee long life and in fact makes its demise even more inevitable.

reply to post by 11235813213455


This resistance will survive because it is composed of a community brought together by a honorable cause. Of course their ability to survive causes an equal and opposite reaction from the government which also demotes its chances to survive.
In theory, this resistance will ultimately survive because their cause is not driven by money but by a higher purpose while the opposing force is only motivated by monetary gain. Given the groups perseverance, the cost function shifts and the net present value of building the airport becomes negative (unprofitable). Its just a matter of how much perseverance is required to set the NPV to less than 0.

Edit:
Note that the cost function is pretty complex since the presence of government involvement in this situation allows for negative NPVs to the government since these costs are external to Vinci (the construction firm). And we all know that governments have an affinity for deficits.