Because I grew up in the
countryside, I’ve always felt a deep connection with Nature... I
want to protect the environment, and you probably do too. Indeed, how
can you not feel a little anxious when you see those destructive
floods, unstoppable wildfires, or monster storms on the news? As you
know, according to the scientists, these natural disasters are
probably becoming more frequent and certainly more violent because of
the catastrophic climate breakdown...
Have a look at this
cartoon: (cf. video!)
This cartoon sums up our
situation quite well: climate change is destroying those least able
to defend themselves first: the animals (Nature) then the Pacific
Islanders, then poor people, then old people (because they are
expendable?), then the rich last... The ecological crisis is both
dramatic and very unfair: we rich are the least and the last
affected, so why should we care?
Last march, I took a day
off my internship to take part in a youth strike for the climate. I
decided to do that because of the impending threats hanging over our
heads: climate change, and the loss of biodiversity. At that time, I
was trying to set up an association with other students to raise
awareness about environmental issues. When we heard about the Youth
for climate movement, it was obvious for us that we should get
involved.
Taking part in a protest
is a galvinizing process, you feel in harmony with the people around
you, you share the same values and hopes for the future.
Unfortunately, things do not always turn out the way we would like
them to...
Since last March and the
first youth strike for climate, we haven’t really seen any
improvement on the climate issue. I have been worried about
environmental issues for years, and there are really few ‘victories’
I have had the opportunity to celebrate. The association we started
did not work very well, people weren’t really involved because
everyone was busy with their studies and just everyday life. It’s
not easy to get involved for a cause, it can be frightening
sometimes, psychologically draining, it takes time and effort, and
you can’t always see the results. In the end, you can lose hope and
purpose.
You may have already
taken part in a youth climate strike over the past few months, and
wondered if it changed anything. Or maybe you’ve never gone out on
the streets to shout slogans, wave bright banners and march arm in
arm with people as worried as yourself about the fate of our planet
because you think it would be a waste of time.
I think it IS worth
investing time and energy in a street protest. It is a way of making
your voice heard, of expressing and defending your values, of feeling
less powerless. You, as a human being and a citizen, have a right,
and a legitimacy, even a civic duty to protest. You can’t vote if
you're not 18, but you can still contribute to the democratic process
by taking part in a show of disapproval and in public debate.
Vandana Shiva, an indian
writer, an activisit for the environment and women’s rights, said:
“As a human being, you are duty-bound to get engaged. When you find
injustice, when you find unfairness, when you find untruth. But you
have to get engaged knowing that you have no control over the
outcome.”
I find this quote very
inspiring, because it is down to earth and invites us to take action.
We can’t change the world alone, as a single individual, that’s
for sure. We can never be sure of how things are going to turn out.
But we must act anyway, even if we do not know the outcome. It is our
responsibility to stand up for what is right. If you do not act
because you think it would have little impact if you did, then
nothing will ever change!
The power of protesting
lies in the group effect. When many people stand up for the same
values, it puts pressure on governments, industries, and can
influence society’s general way of thinking, on public opinion. And
public opinion is the one thing decision-makers really have to listen
to!
The more we claim “we
do not want a system that destroys the planet and the people
anymore”, the less powerful this system becomes, and the more
people become aware of the issues.
Remember the Notre Dame
des Landes new aiport project? Industrialists and local politicians
said: “we want to build a new airport to be more competitive and
make more money”. But people responded: “wait a minute, there
already is an airport, building a new one would mean destroying
natural areas and compromising local biodiversity! Planes would
create a huge amount of carbon emission; we can’t keep on
developing this kind of project!”.
To make their voices
heard, they organized as a group and protested. They occupied the
site, and kept fighting for years, despite receiving threats, and
being mocked. In 2018, President Macron decided to abandon the
project. A rare victory for environmentalists which proves that it is
worthwhile, though very hard work over many many years, to keep
protesting!
Joining a movement, and
claiming loud and proud that you want collective action to fight
climate change, protect biodiversity and save the most vulnerable
people, is one of the most powerful ways you can act for the Earth
and for your future.
That being said,
protesting in the streets is obviously not the only way you can make
your voice heard. Today, social media plays a huge role in public,
political and social debates. Politicians and firms try to use them
to their benefit, because they know that their e-reputation is
becoming more and more important. The internet is the place where
scandals are reaveled (think about the Me too movement), lies are
exposed, and causes are defended.
It is because her photo
has been posted on social media that Greta Thunberg managed to raise
awareness around her school strike for climate, which has made
millions of students follow in her footsteps. Social media can be a
powerful and beneficial tool to support our cause, if we use them
right.
Use them to share your
voice, to defend your values, to learn about ecological issues, and
then support the right people and organizations. Use social media to
put pressure on certain companies or governments.
There are many other ways
to express your convictions and spread your values:
> making art to raise
awareness of environmental issues;
> just talking with
your parents and friends on vital issues;
> studying hard in
order to be able to choose a meaningful career path;
> supporting NGOs.
The more open-minded,
informed, educated, invested, and engaged you are, the better you
will be able to defend your vision of a better future! Whatever way
you choose to be committed to your cause, please: go for it, be
courageous, make your voice heard!
Théo SABATIER writes: Wow, listening to you was really inspiring! Indeed, you underline the fact that you have to express your convictions. I totally agree with you because at our level (that of young people), we cannot act directly and it's really important to make others understand what is happening. Some would say it's a waste of time, but we have much more influence than we think we do. And if many of us act, we can make a difference; that's why associations exist, and it's cool that young people can join.
ReplyDeleteMali CHARGROS writes: Hello Tiphaine, I took part in the EDYF too (I gave a video-talk like you). The way you talk about protesting for our planet is very interesting. By giving examples of actions, like when you took part in the youth strike for the climate last March, you made us understand that fighting for what we think is right is difficult and that we can easily lose hope. And yet, with the example of the Notre Dame des Landes airport protest, you show us how protests are also worth the effort. I understand that because, even if I haven't taken part in a street protest or in things like you have, I did do my internship in “Troisième” at the LPO (Ligue Protection des Oiseaux) which is an NGO. There, I experienced how difficult it is to just to save animals and to help protect them; but, what a blessing it is to set them free again and to be able to help them and to protect our planet! Also, and this is something I’ve never thought about before (and I think politicians should say it like you have done): wealthy people are the ones who suffer the least and the last, which shows how unfair our system is. Thanks to you, I realized another thing too: you say we should act when we see injustice or hear a lie, and I agree with you. But, from my point of view, I think people don’t act because they don’t want to, but because they’re scared, scared of being rejected, scared of being hurt in a fight even if it’s for a just cause. People are afraid of what would happen if they tok part in climate action, if they joined a mouvement or took part in a street protest... However, you say we can also express our ideas through social media, and that is feasible for most people who want to get involved. I think that Art can also be a means for people who are not very courageous to express themselves; what do you think?
ReplyDeleteHélèna BEAUDOIN writes: Did you know that 80% of deforestation is caused by agriculture (cf. https://youmatter.world/en/definition/definitions-what-is-definition-deforestation-causes-effects/)? Did you know that 7% of all greenhouse gases comes from cow burps?! (cf. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnRFUSGz_ZM). I am a vegetarian; by choosing not to eat meat, I contribute to reducing damage to the environment. I think we must become committed as individuals, but also collectively, to climate action!
ReplyDeleteAs you say, Tiphaine, street demonstrations are a legitimate, democratic, legal and - usually - peaceful way to, collectively, get ideas across to politicians and to raise public awareness of an issue. They also show the few politicians that are truly committed to climate action that public opinion is behind them...
I took part in a demonstration for the LGBTQ+ cause and the atmosphere was incredible. The demonstrators, who for the most part were young people, were so open-minded and friendly! I got the feeling that we could make a difference... However, I have my doubts about how efficient street demonstrations (especially those for the planet) actually are in the end because, despite what they say, green issues are NOT the priority of most politicians and businessmen. At best, there's just a lot of greenwashing (and some businesses are using the “save the planet” trend to sell eco-friendly products at ridiculous prices (like, should a toothbrush with charcoal bristles really cost 10 euros?!), cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing. The European Green Deal looks good on paper, but, as Greta Thunberg says, the Green Deal package of measures gives the world "much less than a 50 per cent chance" to limit global warming to 1.5℃, cf. https://www.euronews.com/2020/03/04/greta-thunberg-in-brussels-as-eu-unveils-green-deal-plan-for-carbon-neutrality.
Lilou DEGOILLE writes: I completely agree with Tiphaine’s talk on the environment, which is especially aimed at youth, to tell them about the threat that reigns on our planet. I was born and I also live in the countryside so I understand her when she talks about being connected with Nature, and I want to protect the environment too. Disasters caused or made worse by people, such as floods and bush fires, have impacted the Earth for far too long. I agree with Tiphaine about going on strike to defend the planet, with people who want to make their voices heard, to show they want to make a change, and as Tiphaine says we do not know not what will be the result of our actions, that is why we must try and try again. Tiphaine is part of the international youth climate movement which organizes demonstrations against global warming. We should all join Fridays for Future! In addition, I agree with her that social media is a useful means for getting messages across, to defend our values and promote our ideas. I find it a very inspiring and very well written talk that shows that there are a lot possibilities to change things for the better.
ReplyDeleteMaximilien BIDET writes: You really changed my opinion about protesting, Typhaine! I’ve always considered that protesting doesn't change anything; after all, even the “Gilets Jaunes” did not manage to change the Government's mind much (it just waited for the crowds of protesters to get smaller). But the examples you give, make me think that not all protests are done in vain. Also, I now think that’s it’s really sad that protesting is not allowed in every country; being allowed to go on strike and to organise street protests are a democratic right.
ReplyDeletePaula KAUFFELD writes: I agree with Typhaine when she says that we have to be really commited to the cause to protest against climate change. Like Typhaine, I live in the countryside and when I see the beauty of nature, the trees, flowers, animals, I can't imagine the world without them, or with less of them. They are part of our world and they are necessary to our lives. She also talks about young people who can't vote for changes in the law because they are too young. But, like she says, they can talk about the issues they are concerned about to the people around them. In my opinion, if all young people decided to talk about it, it's going to have a bigger impact than if adults talk about it because people can see that the younger generations are concerned about the planet and their futures. So, young people can help a lot by using social media, and art in all kinds of ways, to show the world what is going on. They can show it on social media, hang posters in school or in places in cities where they are allowed to, or even on placards during protests. All together we can win this fight against climate change, if we all do the necessary actions.
ReplyDeleteMali CHARGROS responds to Paula Kauffeld’s comment on Tiphaine Queriaux’s talk: Hello Paula, I read your comment and I think it incites us even more to believe in what Tiphaine talked about. The fact that you wrote that you live in the countryside and about how beautiful you think Nature is, is a good way to tell us that animals and plants are a part of our world and necessary to our lives; I sahre this feeling because I live in the countryside too. Also, the point you make about young people is good; you say something that I’ve never thought about before (and it’s quite relevant when you think about it): young people’s words have more impact than the words of adults because the next generation (us!) is the most concerned about how present events will affect the future. Most of us are still too young to be able to do much on our own, but all of us can help save the planet by taking part in eco-friendly initiatives at home and at school.
DeleteMalaurie WAHL writes: I agree with you Tiphaine. Yes, we are all concerned by the environmental cause. The beauty of Nature is priceless. I have travelled in many places in France and around the world and I have seen how beautiful the countryside is. We are the new generation and, like you say, we can change the course of things. We need people like you to motivate us to react. In my opinion, we can do this, but we need to know how to do it right and we need to inform people that climate action is vital for our future.
ReplyDelete