Tosu is actually the name of the campa located in the Andra Mari district of Getxo (Bizkaia). In recent years, however, the name of the site has gained a broader meaning: “Tosu on the one hand is a community project in which we work the land, in line with food sovereignty and agroecology. But, at the same time, it is also a project for the defense of the land,” explains Jon Gómez.

He occupied the camp in January 2012, but it is closely linked to the movement against the Partial Territorial Plan (PTP) that had been developed in Getxo and in the Andra Mari neighborhood for many years. “With the 2007 PTP they wanted to build about 8,000 homes in the neighborhood, which caused a strong struggle between neighbors and neighbors. In the end, the project was rejected.” Years later, the anti-PTP assembly organized its first camp in the lands of Tosué.

Parking or garden

The main enemy of Tosu’s garden project is the parking lot of over three hundred places that are intended to be built next to the metro station. The Transport Consortium, the railway network and the Basque Government have promoted the Ibarbengoa parking project, which would occupy the land of Tosu. His argument is that cars will be taken off the road (people will leave the car in the car park and take the metro).

Tosu Betirako has been against the project from the outset. “First of all, the project is not legal, as an environmental impact study has not been carried out. Nor is it ecologically sustainable: its lands are very fertile and, according to the water agency, there are important aquifers under those lands.” In 2014, the construction of the car park began, and in this summer Tosu members organized a camp of resistance. Finally, the work has been delayed and so far the Community project has been consolidated.

Part of the neighbourhood

Gómez tells us that they have a good relationship with the neighborhood and with the association of neighbors and neighbors. An example of this is the platform that they have recently created in Getxo to fight against the parking project, formed by neighborhood associations, different social agents and political parties, among others.

The works were awarded on 17 June, and the parking account was re-launched. Gómez has explained that in recent times there have been movements in the surroundings of the lands of Tosuu, so they have encouraged the citizens to be attentive and to participate in the mobilizations: “This is not just a car park, but the first stone to start urbanizing the neighborhood of Andra Mari.” Two different, opposing models, face to face.