Despite being prohibited by the prefecture, up to 10,000 people have gathered in Sainte-Soline, Deux-Sèvres, to protest against the “mega-bassines” project. The project consists of constructing 16 large reservoirs to store water for agriculture, a move supported by the state and 450 farmers in the area. However, opponents argue that the project would allow agribusiness to monopolize the water supply during climate change and call for a moratorium to launch a “real territorial project” on water sharing.
The protest, organized by the “Bassines non merci” collective, the ecological movement “Soulèvements de la Terre,” and the Confédération Paysanne, is expected to be heavily policed, with 3,200 law enforcement officials mobilized. However, the protest is also expected to draw 1,500 “violent activists,” some of whom have already launched actions, such as attacking police barricades and briefly occupying a TGV line. Weapons were seized before the protest, including petanque balls, slingshots, incendiary products, knives, and axes.
Droughts Are Expected To Occur More Often
According to climate scientists, due to climate change, the frequency of droughts is projected to increase in the coming decades. This is due to rising global temperatures, which can lead to more frequent heat waves and changes in precipitation patterns. In some regions, such as the Mediterranean, southern Africa, and parts of Australia, droughts have become more frequent and intense in recent years, causing severe social and economic impacts, including crop failures, water shortages, and forest fires.
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