Back from the ZAD

ZAD, Notre-Dame des Landes, France 2014.

Back from the ZAD

Back from a week on the ZAD, dirty, drained, exhausted from tramping down sodden paths and through swampy forests with a ton of photography equipment on my back and tripod on my arms. At every cabin, first the dogs, then the Zadists. Jumping to conclusions, sometimes I’m a suspected cop, bitten, chased off, but mostly welcomed, guided, invited to share ayurvedic meals and bin dinners, vegan or freegan, smiles all round from the Arrachés, the Barricadiers, the Anarco-punks and punkettes, the Self-Sustainers. Each having made their own way to this place which they occupy together, creating a unique experience, visionary, utopic perhaps, but for the moment sounding like a true song, hailing Babylon.