Environmental activists arrested after breaking into Arkema Chemical Plant in France
Activists face legal consequences following a daring incursion into the Arkema chemical facility in France, aimed at exposing the environmental and health hazards associated with PFAS, a group of industrial chemicals
About 300 activists from Extinction Rebellion and Youth for Climate stormed the Arkema chemical site in Pierre-Benite, near Lyon, this Saturday.
The group aimed to highlight the dangers of PFAS compounds, known as ‘forever chemicals,’ leading to eight arrests. These chemicals, notorious for their persistence in the environment and bodies, have raised significant health concerns.
The protestors, geared up to expose the environmental and health risks associated with these chemicals, sliced through fences to enter the facility.
Inside, they unfurled banners, spray-painted messages such as ‘PFAS tell the truth’ and “Arkema is poisoning us,” and damaged property. A government official for the Auvergne-Rhone region reported the arrests, noting that the police intervened promptly to limit further damage.
Julien, a representative for the protestors, stated their mission clearly: “We aim to shut down the ‘forever chemicals’ that Arkema discharges into the Rhone River and shed light on the activities happening here.”
PFAS, or Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, comprise about 4,000 chemical compounds that resist grease, oil, water, and heat. Certain types of PFAS exposure have been linked to serious health issues, leading American regulators to recently ban PFAS in packaging materials for greasy foods like microwave popcorn.
Arkema, denouncing the protest, has begun assessing the site for safety and damage. The company has pledged to stop using PFAS compounds in its products by the end of 2024 and pointed out its investment in a filtration solution that has already cut emissions by over 90%.
France’s Industry Minister Roland Lescure condemned the protest’s destructive methods, advocating for debate over destruction. The protest coincides with the controversy surrounding Daikin’s proposed new production site nearby, with regional authorities assuring it will not contribute to PFAS runoff, in contrast to the Arkema site.
Source: Newsroom
