In June 2023, the group Les Soulèvements de la terre organized two days of protests in Loire-Atlantique to oppose the concrete industry and sand extraction, which are major contributors to environmental degradation. These protests were part of a broader movement in France that has seen numerous efforts to resist industrial expansion and environmental harm. Researchers Gaëlle Ronsin, Gabrielle Rey, and Juliette Piketty-Moine have compiled and analyzed nearly 250 victories in ecological struggles in their book Territoires en résistance, which spans from the 1970s to the present and includes cases in France and its overseas territories. The book explores the various strategies used by activists to challenge capitalist development and achieve tangible environmental victories. The researchers highlight the importance of alliances, legal action, and civil disobedience as effective tools in these struggles. For instance, the red sludge affair in Corsica, where toxic waste from a mining operation led to significant environmental damage, played a key role in shaping the legal concept of "environmental damage." Another example is the 2015 cancellation of the A831 highway project, which was halted due to widespread public resistance. The book also notes that in 20% of the cases studied, worker collectives were involved in the struggle, such as an association of unemployed individuals in Lot-et-Garonne who successfully opposed the construction of an incinerator in 1999. The researchers point out a disparity in the justice system, where environmental law violations are often treated leniently, while civil disobedience—such as protests or blockades—faces harsher penalties. This "two-speed justice" creates challenges for activists who rely on nonviolent resistance to push for environmental change. The book provides practical guidance for individuals or groups starting an ecological struggle, including how to analyze legal documents, seek expert support, and build coalitions with like-minded organizations. After achieving local victories, some activist collectives have evolved into larger environmental organizations with national influence, such as France Nature Environnement. The book was published by a non-militant publisher to ensure it reached a wider audience, and it was released in September 2026. The publication aims to inspire and guide new movements by sharing the lessons learned from past successes and challenges in the fight for environmental protection.