Water war in France. Small farmers against large farmers and companies

Wojna o wodę we Francji. Drobni rolnicy przeciw dużym farmerom i spółkom

Large-scale protests have been going on in France since the end of last week and have been dubbed the "water war". On Saturday, more than 4,000 protesters stormed the grain port of La Rochelle. Ship traffic was blocked from the sea by small boats, motorboats and pontoons.

There were violent clashes with the police on the streets of the city. The security forces used water cannons and gas against the protesters. The angry crowd caused much destruction, broke windows and demolished shops, Reuters reported.

Water for the chosen ones?

Demonstrators are demanding the suspension of the construction of large water retention basins in agricultural areas in the south-west of the country. Investors – large farms and agricultural companies that have large corn plantations – want to build 16 large retention basins there with the support and blessing of the authorities.

The environmentalists' protest turned into a battle with the police. Opponents of these investments include both ecological organizations of all origins and small farmers who believe that large farms and agricultural companies want to appropriate water in a country that has been struggling with drought for several years.

Divisions among farmers

This issue has greatly divided the agricultural community in the country. Industry organizations have been trying to cool down the mood for two weeks. The protests were to be peaceful – that's what the organizers promised. However, they quickly lost control over the course of events. Also because the "water war" attracted crowds of various activists – ecologists, anarchists and leftists – from all over France and other Western countries.

Unfortunately, the escalation of violence is largely due to the police, some French media comment. For the duration of the Olympics, a ban on gatherings has been introduced in France, which the police want to enforce by force. Meanwhile, protesters believe that investors want to use this time to dig pools and present everyone with a fait accompli.

A few days earlier, mass protests took place in the Poitou-Charentes region, where a "water settlement" of activists was also established, and in the town of Melle in New Aquitaine, where 8,000 people demonstrated.