‘If we don’t act, who will?’: Meet the French activists who stormed a forever chemical plant

Euronews Green followed members of Extinction Rebellion as they prepared to break into French chemical giant Arkema.

Transcript

00:00 So we are in Lyon and climate activists are about to take action against one of the most

00:12 polluting industrial sites here.

00:20 19 year old Miel is a member of Extinction Rebellion and today she's about to break the

00:32 law.

00:33 The target is the French chemical giant Arkema accused of releasing toxic chemicals into

00:39 nature.

00:40 It's not because it's illegal that we shouldn't do it.

00:44 It would be a dream to not have to act but it's just impossible because if we don't

00:49 act, who will?

00:50 The activist network uses civil disobedience to raise awareness about climate change.

00:58 And for Miel, the risks are worth taking.

01:01 The risks we take today are less than those of children born with malformations, contaminated

01:09 soils, a disappearing biodiversity.

01:14 Galia left her two children at home today to join the protest.

01:17 We are more and more activists, normal people, mobilizing with civil disobedience actions

01:26 like today because we don't hear each other.

01:29 It's time to go.

01:30 400 activists are protesting in the streets of the city of Miel.

02:00 Four hundred activists have traveled from across France according to Extinction Rebellion.

02:04 They each have different tasks.

02:07 Not everyone is prepared to risk police detention by going inside the chemical plant.

02:23 Fifteen minutes after breaking in, activists are escorted out of the premises by the police.

02:36 And the police's response is rather violent.

02:49 Although Miel stayed outside, she did not manage to escape.

02:53 A total of eight people are held in police custody for 48 hours according to the French

02:58 authorities.

02:59 But this action is not justified according to the director of the chemical plant.

03:18 8 p.m.

03:19 It's time to celebrate.

03:20 Before heading home, the group gathers for a drink.

03:24 For Thibault, a teacher from Paris, the outcome is rather positive.

03:38 But the actions of climate activists have attracted strong criticism.

03:42 Some describe them as eco-terrorism.

03:58 A glass in hand, activists are already thinking about the next move.

04:01 "No to the nuclear weapons!"

04:02 "No to the nuclear weapons!"

04:03 "No to the nuclear weapons!"

04:04 "No to the nuclear weapons!"

04:05 "No to the nuclear weapons!"

04:05 (crowd cheering)

04:08 [BLANK_AUDIO]