A tireless fighter. In Brittany, André Ollivro is a pioneer in the fight against green algae. After twenty-three years of activism, the man has just seen his work being honored. Since Wednesday July 12 and the release of the film green algae, the name of André Ollivro resounds in many French cinemas. “It’s a little disturbing,” admits the Costarmorican, wearing a usual short-peaked cap and a salmon pink jacket worn by the sun. The man, however, crossed dozens of ministers, some of whom “cried” when they saw the algae flooding the beaches.
Domiciled in Pommeret, the man has a small shack on the heights of the beach of Grandville, in Hillion. It is from here that he observes the same distressing phenomenon every year when green algae come to wash up on the beach on which he went to fish for the cockle and pick up bloodworms to tease the mackerel. Far, very far, from the “punch” actions of certain environmental associations, this former gas specialist engineer has been trying for more than twenty years to make the voice of the “Che Guevara of strikes” heard, whom his friends call “Dédé”. The deep voice of a pirate who celebrated his 78th birthday two days ago and which now resonates in cinemas.
The release of the film green algae, is it a recognition of your work?
Above all, it is proof that the subject is moving forward. Yesterday (Sunday 9th July) I sat watching Grandville beach. I saw that the algae were there, I was a little annoyed. But I thought about how far we’ve come. Over the past few years, we have won legal battles. This film will make it possible to talk about the subject everywhere, it is a sapphire which will make it possible to question the agricultural model in which Brittany is locked up. I hope it will allow agriculture to take a turn.
Seeing his character on screen, what does it do?
It’s a little disturbing to see someone playing your part. When I started campaigning, it was just to get my beach clean again. So yes, it gives a little fear. I also see it as an acknowledgment of a fight, which is perceived as beneficial for the general public. We have fought many struggles. We have taken legal action to enforce the law and I feel we have moved the case forward. I realize today that I have something heavy to carry on my shoulders. Because the subject does not only concern Brittany, nor even France. It’s wider than that.
Who do you think can be blamed for the appearance of green algae?
It’s a bit of an easy answer but it’s a bit everyone’s fault. At the start, it was mainly due to ignorance of the consequences. We uprooted the hedges, re-consolidated the fields, blocked the ditches to make room for the huge corn crops. We have transformed the fields into huge factories without thinking about the consequences of animal waste. We made a Marshall plan to transform agriculture and supposedly modernize it. But with what consequences for public health and the environment? Green algae kill living things. Before, I used to go fishing in the Gouessant estuary. Today is just a stinking desert! Mistakes were made. But we can not blame some who did not know to have been in the wall. On the other hand, now, we can blame those who know for not having good behavior to preserve the planet for our future generations.
Is the solution a complete overhaul of our agriculture?
A new major plan is needed to transform the model. But first of all, we must erase the debt of the peasants. Today, many farmers are tenants of their land. They got into so much debt that they can’t convert, it’s impossible. We must give the countryside back to Brittany and lower the animal density in this territory. Without it, we will always have so many nitrates in our waterways. If we want to improve things, we must impose a reduction in production and check that this is actually done. Many of the products that are made here go overseas. Is it this model that we want to encourage or local production for local consumption?
The agricultural profession often denounces “agribashing” consisting of denigrating peasants.
Green algae, it’s not the fault of a farmer, they are caught in a gear. The fault lies with those who endorse it, who do everything to maintain it. The problem is that we are facing an octopus. I even called it an “agrifood mafia”. When we see that mayors sit in the chamber of agriculture or in the banks, we understand better how certain decisions are made. What I am attacking is a process and especially not men. I am not for going to farms to denounce this or that behavior. These people have nothing to do with it. They act within the rules. What I want is to encourage a type of agriculture that allows farmers to live decently, respecting their health and the environment.
You do not seem to condone the “punching” actions of certain environmental activists?
Not really. I would not have gone to empty a train of its goods (in reference to an action against a freight train in Brittany). I was a union activist for a long time and I have always respected property and people. It is in our interest to be calm and not to attack people. We see that things are moving, that the State has taken the subject in hand. We realize that we do not preach in the sea, even if everything takes a long time.
Yes, but the State still authorizes extensions of factory farms through the voice of its prefect, as in Landunvez.
This is why we must give power back to the municipalities. But with resources. Mayors sometimes accept the installation of slurry pits right next to a watercourse, without thinking of the consequences. It is above all because they know nothing about it. Sometimes they call on consultancies to assess the impact. But they are subsidiaries of those who want to expand at all costs. Everything is biased. We must give more space to participatory and local democracy. We’re not going to rob everyone. The State does not want to end up with agricultural dams throughout Brittany.
Earth experienced its hottest day since weather records began last week. Do you fear the consequences of global warming?
Obviously. Because the warming of water has multiple consequences on the environment and in particular on the development of bacteria. We have no more excuses today. At one time, we did not have all the knowledge. I’m in a good position to know that, because I’ve worked on gas condensing boilers. At that time, we absolutely did not take into account the impact they could have on the atmosphere. We now know that our industrialization contributes to this warming. We no longer have a choice.