France: resumption of marches for the climate before the presidential election
March for the climate in Nantes, March 28, 2021. AFP - LOIC VENANCE
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
It's the return of the marches for the climate in France, with nearly 150 demonstrations organized in the country at the call of more than 450 organizations this Saturday, March 12.
Marches entitled "Look up", in reference to the fiction film "Don't look up" which denounces the denial of the authorities in the face of the danger of a meteorite sinking on the earth.
A parallel with the threat of climate change, largely absent from the presidential elections according to the organizers.
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Climate
change
is the big absentee from this presidential campaign.
Gabriel Mazzolini, spokesperson for the NGO Friends of the Earth, wishes to put the subject back at the heart of the debates: “
It is our lives that are at stake. It is an emergency that we have in front of us.
It's time to make a decision.
So we are in the middle of the presidential campaign.
Unfortunately, we see that we have been caught in a vice either by the pandemic and far-right themes, or now by the question of the war in Ukraine and that is legitimate.
»
The spokesperson for the NGO Friends of the Earth, estimates that even before the war in Ukraine, the climate issue occupied less than 3% of the political and media debate in the context of
this presidential election
.
And yet, in a recent survey, eight out of ten French people say they are worried about environmental protection and climate change.
The impact of climate change on all aspects of life
Élodie Nace, spokesperson for the environmental movement Alternatiba, hopes for a strong mobilization, even if she recognizes that currently, it is the war in Ukraine which focuses the attention: "
We realize that there will be a low media coverage of the marches, perhaps a little less visibility, but that should not prevent us from carrying our message.
»
The spokesperson for the environmental movement recalls that climate change has an impact on everyone's life, on housing, food and employment: "
We cannot experience an election campaign without talking about these subjects
”.
►
To read: Global warming: half of the inhabitants of the planet "very vulnerable", says the IPCC
Defense of the environment and the situation in Ukraine, related issues
Environmental activists believe that climate action and the situation in Ukraine are linked issues.
Gabriel Mazzolini, recalls that the
imports of Russian oil and gas
in Europe represent on average 100 billion euros each year.
An ecological and environmental catastrophe, but also a political and economic one.
“
Our dependence on fossil fuels causes conflict and fuels conflict.
We can clearly see this with the question of Ukraine, we are excessively dependent on Russian gas.
So, obviously, when you find yourself in a situation of conflict as we see today, it's very difficult to weigh in negotiations, because who says dependence says weak balance of power.
So getting out of fossil fuels is a step towards peace and it's central if we want a real and fair transition for the future
.
»
Coming out of nuclear energy
The spokesperson for the NGO Friends of the Earth also points to the nuclear issue.
For him, some, including of course the Macron government, have been tempted to put forward nuclear power as
a transition solution
that would guarantee energy autonomy, but that is wrong.
He considers that the first targets in a context of conflict are nuclear sites.
“
Nuclear still imposes a dependence on resources that must be drawn from elsewhere.
Therefore, nuclear power is not an alternative, it is not a solution.
So, if we want peace, if we want a climate of peace, we have to get out of fossil fuels and out of nuclear power, to prepare for a 100% renewable future.
We are going to take to the streets to bring the message of the climate, the message of peace together.
»
The activists promise to multiply the mobilizations.
Another event is already scheduled for March 25.
►
To read: France: the shortcomings of public policies to adapt to global warming
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