One night they were improvising as vandals. But it’s for a good cause, they say. A few days ago, several environmental activists invaded two golf courses in Toulouse “Condemn this recreational industry’s hoarding of water for the most privileged”. Specifically, this led to the degradation of hand-torn lawns and the filling of holes with cement.
But why so much hate? The answer lies in the signs placed by the activists a few steps away from the looted places. “This pit drinks 227,000 liters of water per day. Do you drink that much? »on one of them it is written: “This hole could have sheltered roots, bourgeois pleasure decided otherwise”, can we read on the other? They will understand, these militants are scolding for watering the golf courses.
And, in fact, during this period of drought, greens are not subject to the same water use restrictions as other French companies and individuals. An incomprehensible deviation for these environmentalists, who decided to counterattack at their own risk. They can indeed be sentenced to a fine of at least €3,750 and up to 2 years in prison, as well as a fine of €30,000. “Act of Vandalism”..
Mediation
And yet, despite these heavy penalties, these activists do not hide it, publishing the results of their actions on social networks with the hashtag #StopGolf. The Toulouse branch of the Extinction Rebellion collective, which claims the action alongside the Action Kirikou movement, thus lamented on Twitter that watering the golf courses was allowed. “Because of the cost of maintaining these luxurious lands”.
“In addition, the drought leads to a total ban on irrigation in agriculture.”says Extinction Rebellion Toulouse. “So the food passes after a few hours of enjoyment of the bourgeois elite.in turn surprised by Kiriku’s collective, which has since launched a petition calling for an end to golf course irrigation, gathering 1,610 signatures out of the required 2,000.
These are people who are not well informed about our water consumption. we only water greens. it’s an area that’s only half the size of a football field
Nicolas Astier, director of the Garonne golf course
Is related Le FigaroThe two golf courses targeted by these operations, Garonne and Vieille-Toulouse, have confirmed damage. “These are people who are not well informed about our water consumption. we only water greens. it’s an area that’s only half the size of a football field.”Nicolas Astier, director of the Garonne golf course, assures AFP, noting that he wants to file a complaint.
condemning “the false class ecology debate initiated by some politicians” aiming to differentiate “artificially” Golf “Other grassroots team and popular sports that, without naming names, are not targeted”The president of the French Golf Federation, Pascal Grizo, confirms in a press release that“In case of severe and prolonged drought, only the greens are watered (this is necessary for the survival of the process);“.
“They make up only 1 to 2% of the total golf area. Like me, you therefore understand that 98 to 99% of the total surface area of the golf course is no longer irrigated, which sheds enough light on the sense of responsibility of all players in the golf industry.He adds, reminding that a complete ban on irrigation would de facto lead to an administrative closure and thus: “loss of production tool of management companies”.. But golfers around the world will try to counter these attacks, for environmental activists, this “Economic Madness” rather, it will be a source of future environmental difficulties.
Source: Le Figaro
