Climate: Students ask the government to act

Radio France International Life on the planet

February 19, 2019

Under the slogan "Warmer than time" and in the middle of a major police headquarters, a group of students gathered last Friday in front of the French Ministry of Ecological Transition. The youth joined the global Fridays for Future movement (Friday for the future), a school climate strike.

"I am here to support the student movement that is organizing to defend a more just and environmentally conscious society and social justice", He explained to RFI Alix, a math student in Paris.

Alix does not question the government of Emmanuel Macron, in particular …

"It is not a matter of accusing this government, even if it is very serious, but because we are facing a climate emergency, we want to put pressure, as was the case. is ten years old or older, because the damage has been done since 70. We are in 2019 and we will support every day.That is why we are here.All governments are responsible, but Macron is particularly bad at the level But I repeat, we are in 2019 so we press now ", insists Alix.

For his part, Lucas, a political science student in Paris, categorically states that he does not like the current government:

"President Macron believes himself president of the world and has not badumed his responsibility in the fight against climate change, nuclear energy or the development of cleaner transport."

Matilde, a computer engineering student, says the government has a lot of responsibility for the crisis, "But companies too."

Does this student movement resemble that of yellow vests? Lucas says no "Because the climate issue is different, people are divided between those who believe and those who do not believe". This young man is convinced that the student movement will not be recovered by political parties or by the government.

Alix is ​​not so strong:

"We are more organized than they are and we are pacifists, so there will be no violence because we are different from yellow jackets, the only thing is that, like them, it has been a spontaneous movement and it is true that our social demands are the same ", recognize. "Good Yes, there are similarities and if we are here it is thanks to them because they have created a void in the political dialogue. It is in this gap and in this dynamic that we enter. We can say that we are the ecological extension of yellow vests ".

What is the next step?

Lucas will try to demonstrate every Friday, as planned.

And Alix?

"Theoretically, we will continue to demonstrate until March 15 that there will be an international climate strike, so we have three Fridays left, but most likely we will continue after that date because it will bring together very strong groups. powerful and, as it is very likely that we will not get what we asked for, the fight will continue, organize and become a very important political instrument, because we will organize debates, newspapers. create a very solid movement that will be maintained in the long term. "

The next student meeting before the Ministry of Ecological Transition, in Blv. St. Germain, in Paris, will take place on Friday 22 February.

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