(Editor's note: this new story was translated from French.)

"Given the outrageous manipulation orchestrated by those who, since 2004, are seeking to site eight turbines, I decided to officially launch this hunger strike September 29th at noon in solidarity with citizens." In these terms, Tuesday, Fabienne Chovet publicly explained her decision to begin a hunger strike.

Her decision was in response to various actions undertaken by the association she chairs - Association for the Protection Against Wind Projects of Mars - opposing the wind farm in the town.

According to Chovet, the Mayor Yves Guilbaud, and Member of the French Parliament Jean Louis Léonard, are also against the windfarm project, which has received unfavourable advice from the relevant state agencies DDASS, Diren and DDE in 2006. Legal action filed by the developer was blocked for two years before the turnaround by the French government permitted the development to proceed.

The association's president called on citizens to express their opposition to the project. "Unfortunately some have been uprooted," Chovet said.

Fabienne Chovet's action aims "to see a new appeal filed by legal counsel and for the Association to see the project stopped.
The City Council will meet on Monday and the appeal will be discussed.

For his part, Mayor Yves Guilbaud visited Fabienne Chovet Tuesday morning, with Olivier Lafont in hopes of convincing Chovet to stop her hunger strike.
"The whole council is unanimous against the wind project," he said. "We have until November 4 to file the appeal."