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| In France, Dam Is the Catalyst for a Flood of Young People’s Anger | In France, Dam Is the Catalyst for a Flood of Young People’s Anger |
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| LISLE-SUR-TARN, France — The protests began a year ago in this quiet corner of southwestern France, as a small and peaceful gathering of hippies, environmental activists and utopians of all types set up tents to oppose the construction of a nearby dam. | |
| In August, after local authorities sent diggers and then crushing machines to level the soil and destroy trees, clashes erupted between protesters and the police, turning this vast stretch of woodland into what many here called a war zone. | In August, after local authorities sent diggers and then crushing machines to level the soil and destroy trees, clashes erupted between protesters and the police, turning this vast stretch of woodland into what many here called a war zone. |
| More than a hundred protesters, joined by a minority of violent groups, responded to tear gas and rubber bullets by throwing fire bombs. They built makeshift checkpoints, roadblocks and two watchtowers. Finally, last weekend, a 21-year-old student, Rémi Fraisse, was killed after being hit by a stun grenade that protesters say was thrown by a police officer. | More than a hundred protesters, joined by a minority of violent groups, responded to tear gas and rubber bullets by throwing fire bombs. They built makeshift checkpoints, roadblocks and two watchtowers. Finally, last weekend, a 21-year-old student, Rémi Fraisse, was killed after being hit by a stun grenade that protesters say was thrown by a police officer. |
| The death of Mr. Fraisse, which resulted in the temporary suspension of the construction work, has now turned what had been a local protest into a national drama, spawning vigils and front-page news coverage, while prompting criticism of the government of President François Hollande for its lack of response. | The death of Mr. Fraisse, which resulted in the temporary suspension of the construction work, has now turned what had been a local protest into a national drama, spawning vigils and front-page news coverage, while prompting criticism of the government of President François Hollande for its lack of response. |
| But the death has also focused attention on the government’s seeming failure to engage a broad segment of France’s next generation, and the increasingly violent nature of protests inspired by antiglobalization movements, such as Occupy Wall Street, that have spread across France in recent years. | But the death has also focused attention on the government’s seeming failure to engage a broad segment of France’s next generation, and the increasingly violent nature of protests inspired by antiglobalization movements, such as Occupy Wall Street, that have spread across France in recent years. |
| Initially fueled by environmental concerns, the protests have come to embody the disenchantment and anger of young people who see few future opportunities and feel little kinship with the government. | Initially fueled by environmental concerns, the protests have come to embody the disenchantment and anger of young people who see few future opportunities and feel little kinship with the government. |
| Many of those who gathered to oppose the dam call themselves “Zadistes,” or partisans of the ZAD, the French acronym for zones à defendre, or areas to defend. They say they have come to build an independent society. Increasingly, they are seen as environmental extremists, or “green jihadists,” as Xavier Beulin, the president of the main agriculture union, put it. | Many of those who gathered to oppose the dam call themselves “Zadistes,” or partisans of the ZAD, the French acronym for zones à defendre, or areas to defend. They say they have come to build an independent society. Increasingly, they are seen as environmental extremists, or “green jihadists,” as Xavier Beulin, the president of the main agriculture union, put it. |
| “For once, we are fighting a project that represents symbolically what we reject,” said Jordan Samson, a geography student in the southern city of Toulouse. “Our movement is spreading to an entire generation.” | “For once, we are fighting a project that represents symbolically what we reject,” said Jordan Samson, a geography student in the southern city of Toulouse. “Our movement is spreading to an entire generation.” |
| The protests here are the latest aimed at a widening number of projects that the demonstrators criticize as monuments to the overweening ambitions of local politicians and their business connections. | The protests here are the latest aimed at a widening number of projects that the demonstrators criticize as monuments to the overweening ambitions of local politicians and their business connections. |
| Last month, demonstrations in support of the Zadistes were held across France, including in Nantes, where more than a hundred protesters went on a rampage. In the nearby town of Gaillac, several shops and a memorial to war dead were vandalized. On Saturday, young protesters clashed again with police in Nantes and Toulouse, in the south. | |
| Several years ago, the movement sprung up in Notre-Dame-des-Landes, near the western end of the central Loire Valley, where hundreds of young people and farmers gathered in a woodland outside Nantes to oppose government plans to build an airport. Clashes in Nantes left about a dozen protesters injured. | Several years ago, the movement sprung up in Notre-Dame-des-Landes, near the western end of the central Loire Valley, where hundreds of young people and farmers gathered in a woodland outside Nantes to oppose government plans to build an airport. Clashes in Nantes left about a dozen protesters injured. |
| The death of Mr. Fraisse has been subject to investigation and prompted the government to suspend the use of stun grenades against protesters nationwide. | The death of Mr. Fraisse has been subject to investigation and prompted the government to suspend the use of stun grenades against protesters nationwide. |
| Cécile Duflot, a former environment minister and member of Parliament, called Mr. Fraisse’s death a “permanent stain” on the government, whose response was criticized as tardy and confused. | Cécile Duflot, a former environment minister and member of Parliament, called Mr. Fraisse’s death a “permanent stain” on the government, whose response was criticized as tardy and confused. |
| The aftermath of the clashes in Lisle-sur-Tarn have spread fear among local farmers in one of France’s most rural and poorest areas, where farming makes up about 88 percent of the local economy. | The aftermath of the clashes in Lisle-sur-Tarn have spread fear among local farmers in one of France’s most rural and poorest areas, where farming makes up about 88 percent of the local economy. |
| The 8.4 million euro dam project here, designed by the local council of Tarn-et-Garonne, was aimed at creating an artificial lake to help irrigate lands for fewer than 100 local farmers. | The 8.4 million euro dam project here, designed by the local council of Tarn-et-Garonne, was aimed at creating an artificial lake to help irrigate lands for fewer than 100 local farmers. |
| Protests against the project began in 2013, when a group of about 30 eco-warriors gathered in Lisle-sur-Tarn to oppose the dam on a river that flows through the forest of Sivens. | Protests against the project began in 2013, when a group of about 30 eco-warriors gathered in Lisle-sur-Tarn to oppose the dam on a river that flows through the forest of Sivens. |
| But for many protesters here, the dam was designed to support the local corn farmers who practice what many here called “intensive farming” and would have threatened about 94 protected species of animals and plants. | But for many protesters here, the dam was designed to support the local corn farmers who practice what many here called “intensive farming” and would have threatened about 94 protected species of animals and plants. |
| “We saw the trees falling one after the other,” said Camille, 18, who would not give her last name for fear of running afoul of the authorities. “It was an environmental disaster.” | “We saw the trees falling one after the other,” said Camille, 18, who would not give her last name for fear of running afoul of the authorities. “It was an environmental disaster.” |
| Like many others, Camille said she had come to the ZAD to denounce “grand projects that are useless and imposed.” | Like many others, Camille said she had come to the ZAD to denounce “grand projects that are useless and imposed.” |
| “I have heard about the crisis ever since I was born,” said Camille, who said she had just passed her final exams. “As long as there will be capitalist policies, there will be crisis.” | “I have heard about the crisis ever since I was born,” said Camille, who said she had just passed her final exams. “As long as there will be capitalist policies, there will be crisis.” |
| The demonstrators felt vindicated last week when a report commissioned by the government found that the project was too expensive, that local needs for the dam had been overestimated and that alternative options had not been sufficiently explored. But the report also said it would be difficult to stop construction at this stage. | The demonstrators felt vindicated last week when a report commissioned by the government found that the project was too expensive, that local needs for the dam had been overestimated and that alternative options had not been sufficiently explored. But the report also said it would be difficult to stop construction at this stage. |
| On a recent morning, the atmosphere at the site where protesters set up tents was calm. Many gathered outside the “Métairie,” an abandoned house that had been turned into a collective kitchen. | On a recent morning, the atmosphere at the site where protesters set up tents was calm. Many gathered outside the “Métairie,” an abandoned house that had been turned into a collective kitchen. |
| Some sliced potatoes provided by farmers nearby, while others played a mouth harp. In one encampment, which protesters call the “front,” because of its forward location near the proposed dam site, protesters replanted trees that had been bulldozed. Others were building a makeshift oven with a mix of water, sand and soil. | Some sliced potatoes provided by farmers nearby, while others played a mouth harp. In one encampment, which protesters call the “front,” because of its forward location near the proposed dam site, protesters replanted trees that had been bulldozed. Others were building a makeshift oven with a mix of water, sand and soil. |
| Many protesters sleep in tents or recreational vehicles, and they live off the donations of local farmers and residents who bring crates filled with vegetables and clothes. They publish calls for donations on their blog, asking for equipment as varied as arc welders, blankets and batteries. | Many protesters sleep in tents or recreational vehicles, and they live off the donations of local farmers and residents who bring crates filled with vegetables and clothes. They publish calls for donations on their blog, asking for equipment as varied as arc welders, blankets and batteries. |
| The suspension of the dam project and the intrusion of protesters have angered many farmers who struggle to keep their businesses afloat in a poor land hit by frequent droughts in summer. Many fear the protesters will ultimately halt the construction of a dam that they see as necessary. | The suspension of the dam project and the intrusion of protesters have angered many farmers who struggle to keep their businesses afloat in a poor land hit by frequent droughts in summer. Many fear the protesters will ultimately halt the construction of a dam that they see as necessary. |
| “How do we live if we stop making corn?” said Laurent, a local farmer who did not want to give his last name because he had been vandalized and feared retaliation. “What do we want to create, a rural desert?” | “How do we live if we stop making corn?” said Laurent, a local farmer who did not want to give his last name because he had been vandalized and feared retaliation. “What do we want to create, a rural desert?” |
| Other farmers, too, reported that they had been recently vandalized, and had received anonymous, threatening letters. | Other farmers, too, reported that they had been recently vandalized, and had received anonymous, threatening letters. |
| Since the protests erupted, Guy de Pierpont, 66, a local farmer who breeds partridges and pheasants, said he had been sleeping with a rifle and pepper spray by his window. | Since the protests erupted, Guy de Pierpont, 66, a local farmer who breeds partridges and pheasants, said he had been sleeping with a rifle and pepper spray by his window. |
| A few days ago, the protesters opened his aviary illegally, and recently one of his two sons had spent time in a hospital after having fought with a group of protesters. | A few days ago, the protesters opened his aviary illegally, and recently one of his two sons had spent time in a hospital after having fought with a group of protesters. |
| “They don’t come here for the dam — they come to fight,” Mr. de Pierpont said. “And they have massacred our forest.” | “They don’t come here for the dam — they come to fight,” Mr. de Pierpont said. “And they have massacred our forest.” |