, whose supporters include Nobel Prize winner Annie Ernaux. SLT is part of a new wave of more radical climate activist groups, including Extinction Rebellion, which accuse governments of failing to do enough to tackle global warming. Interior minister Gerald Darmanin accused some of its members of being 'eco-terrorists'. However, in a setback for Mr Macron's administration, last month the Council of State suspended the decree. The court, France's highest, expressed 'serious doubts' over claims the group posed a threat to public safety. In the dock on Friday were SLT activists, along with members of the farmers' union Conféderation Paysanne and two unionists. 'This shows how far the Government is prepared to go,' said Hervé Auguin, of the Solidaires union, beforehand. 'We're treated like eco-terrorists, it's unacceptable. The verdict will be historic. There are nine of us (today). Next time th){kind=link}
Defendants face up to six months in prison and fines of €7,500 after organising demonstrations in France against controversial water plans
Nine French environmental activists have gone on trial for organising an outlawed protest against controversial reservoir plans which ended in violent clashes with police.
Unionists and Greens claim the case is part of a “political” drive by president Emmanuel Macron’s administration to outlaw “civil disobedience” and their right to demonstrate against environmentally harmful practices.
The group face a maximum of six months in prison each and up to €7,500 (£6,400) in fines for their role in organising a total of two protests against a giant irrigation reservoir, near Sainte-Soline in western France, which critics claim will allow farmers to “hoard” water.
The demonstrations, which took place in October 2022 and March this year, had both been banned by authorities beforehand.