Climate protesters with links to activism group Extinction Rebellion have lashed out at golf courses in southern France, sabotaging ball holes in order to prevent play.
Activists have filled the ball holes with cement to rally against the watering exemption for golf courses as the nation struggles through a strict water ban caused by crippling drought.
In a GreenVoice petition launched by the climate action group, Extinction Rebellion explained their actions.
🥵 Alors que nous traversons un épisode de sécheresse extrême, l’arrosage des PARCOURS DE GOLFS est autorisé par dérogation en raison du coût d’entretien de ces luxueux terrains
— Extinction Rebellion Toulouse (@xrToulouse) August 11, 2022
A côté de ça, la sécheresse entraîne jusqu’à des interdictions totales d’irrigation en agriculture 🌾 pic.twitter.com/SyZ2pL6MMa
"At a time when the greatest drought ever observed in France since the beginning of meteorological readings is raging ... a sector concerning a tiny fraction of the population seems to enjoy a privilege worthy of another world in these times of crisis. Golf," the petition read, calling for golf courses to be banned from watering during the heatwave.
Extinction Rebellion Toulouse also shared photographs of the mayhem they had caused on the Vieille-Toulouse club course and at the Garonne des Sept Deniers course.
The photographs contain images of the golf holes filled with cement, as well as a sign that reads: "This hole is drinking 277,000 litres. Do you drink that much?"
According to Extinction Rebellion Toulouse, the now-ruined holes aim to directly 'prevent the use of these golf courses and therefore their watering'.
Defending their water exemptions, Gerard Rougier of the French Golf Federation told France Info that 'without water, a green dies in three days and it takes three months to regrow it'.
He added: "A course without a green is like a skating rink without ice, it will have to close".
Meanwhile, the rest of the nation cannot water their gardens in the worst-hit parts of the nation.
Additionally, more than 100 French villages are experiencing drinking water shortages.
It takes 25,000 cubic metres of water per year (on average) to tend to the lawns of more than 700 courses in France, according to the ABC.
📢 Pour dénoncer l'accaparement de l'eau par cette industrie de loisir pour les plus privilégiés, les ACTIVISTES DE L'ACTION KIRIKOU ont SABOTÉ les golfs de Vieille-Toulouse et de Blagnac en bouchant définitivement certains trous avec du ciment ou en endommageant la pelouse. pic.twitter.com/VAAdWenrc8
— Extinction Rebellion Toulouse (@xrToulouse) August 11, 2022
The Green mayor of the south-eastern city of Grenoble city, Éric Piolle, lashed out at the golf course exemption, telling Reuters it is just another way 'to protect the rich and powerful' while the French people suffer.
Some parts of the Loire river have essentially dried up as the drought continues in France.
A state of crisis has been declared across two thirds of the nation, with rainfall down by some 85 per cent, France Info reported.
Featured Image Credit: Extinction Rebellion Toulouse/Twitter.
Topics: Global Warming, Weather, News
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