It is nearly three years now since NPCB started fighting against GDE/GED's insane plan for a mega-landfill site in the hills where the Ellé rises, one of Brittany's most beautiful and best preserved rivers.

As we stand on the threshold of 2011, it is time to look back on the past months:

Since the spring of 2008 and in 2009, we have concentrated on informing the population and our elected representatives, and on building up our knowledge of the subject so as to be well prepared for the public enquiry.

We have met these goals.

2010 was the year when the project became a reality with the filing of the application for the building permit and for the authorisation to operate the landfill site.

During these thirty months or so, thanks to you all and your unfailing support, we have met these targets.

You have been wonderful, you have answered every single call: fest noz, fest deiz, meetings, demonstration on 13 November - over 3000 of us in the gale! - and, to crown it all, you have massively contributed to our call for help to finance the work of Bureau Horizons, our consultants.

Thank you so much for this fantastic response for the protection of our region's environment!

To my mind, 2010 was a milestone, the year when we all started winning back for ourselves the right to decide on the future development of our region.

Overall, a tremendous explosion of collective energy, working for the future generations...

Now, what next?

The file will now work its way through the administrative cogwheels. The commissioners will say Yea or Nay in a few weeks' time.

It will then meander through a number of departments, be submitted to more committees and, eventually, the Préfet of Morbihan will issue or refuse the authorisation to operate to GDE/GED.

Then, if the answer is no, GDE/GED will be in its rights to file an appeal against the decision. If it is yes, then, NPCB will.

We're still a long way from the end of the road, and cannot tell at this stage when we'll get there.

At Nonant-le-Pin, for example, two years elapsed before the Préfet of the Orne issued a refusal.

Needless to say, during the intervening months, NPCB will continue to work on the file and to prepare the ground so that, once GDE has been defeated, the land is returned to agricultural use.

However, meanwhile, so as to be able to go to court should the need arise, we must continue to bring in money to pay the lawyers.

Our next Fest Noz will be on 26 February (see the poster below), we are counting on your presence, and be sure to pass the word round!

May 2011 bring you all health, wealth and happiness!

Magali Diennet.