INTERVIEW
The image remained, twenty years later: that of farmers dismantling piece by piece the site of McDonald's Millau, Aveyron, August 12, 1999. Close to the Confederation of Peasant, whose word was then relayed by José Bové 300 people were protesting American sanctions against Roquefort, produced in the region. Twenty years later, what remains of this fight against globalization? François Clauss guest on Europe 1, Monday evening, José Bové delivered his point of view on the current struggle against the intensification of exchanges between major economic zones.
For Bové, "the fight of ideas has been accomplished"
For the former MEP, there is today a "global awareness" of what these exchanges involve on the social and environmental levels. "The younger generations understand what globalization is, the dangers caused to global warming by increasingly massive exchanges", he analyzes on our antenna. This drives him to declare that "the fight of ideas has been accomplished".
>> Find the story of the dismantling of McDonald's by José Bové with Christophe Hondelatte
Nevertheless, globalization did not stop after August 12, 1999. On the contrary, it accelerated further, with the emergence of the Asian pole led by the Chinese locomotive. In Europe, the growing integration in international trade is still an objective pursued by the European Union institutions, criticized by some activists for their lack of action on the environment.
"We run to disaster"
"When it comes to action, we vote for Ceta, we are going to the end of the negotiation process with South America for Mercosur", denounces José Bové. "In a few months, the Parliament must vote a new Common Agricultural Policy: the project planned by the European Commission is a disaster, with 20% to 25% decrease in aid for organic farming." The speeches are there, but the acts concrete are missing. "
In recent months, the cause of climate has become more topical; personalities such as the young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg have notably emerged in the public debate in Europe. "Many young people have realized that the world must change very quickly," says the former figure of the peasant Confederation. "If you do not change your model drastically, you run into disaster, and our children and grandchildren will always be able to say, 'What have you done, you have looked elsewhere'."