“We need to mobilize, otherwise no one is interested,” explains Emma, a 17-year-old high school student from Nantes. Almost a year after the last march for the climate, the mobilizations resume on March 3 and 4 in several cities in France. This Friday in Nantes, nearly 500 demonstrators took to the streets responding to Youth for climate appeal and unions for a mobilization against “government inaction in the face of climate change”.
“It is a crime against humanity”
The procession was mainly composed of high school and university students, some having skipped class to attend the mobilization. Among the slogans chanted by the demonstrators, “Macron, you’re screwed, the youth is in the street” was one of the most common, with “And 1, and 2, and 3 degrees, it’s a crime against the humanity! “. If young people are aware of the climate emergency, it is the feeling of being misunderstood by the government that seems to revolt them the most. “Power scares me, because they don’t act,” says Armand, a 17-year-old high school student.
The mobilization is less important than last year: on March 25, 2022, nearly 2,500 young people took to the streets. “Youth for climate’s communication did not work well compared to last year,” laments Agnès, a 17-year-old high school student. In question, perhaps, the “period of revisions” for the baccalaureate which begins. “We’re scared because it’s not moving,” adds Emma, who was demonstrating for the climate for the first time today.
“End of the world, end of the month: same fight”
Among the unions present at the rally were the Young Communists, the CGT and Solidaires, among others. Enough to give an anti-capitalist color to the mobilization: “End of the world, end of the month: same fight”, chanted a member of the Maison du peuple de Nantes, a self-managed social center. The fight against the anti-capitalist system was also reflected in the slogans during the parade: “Radical ecology, death to capital”.
Regulars of environmental demonstrations were also present: “I have been demonstrating for the climate since 1972! “says Jean-Louis, 70 years old. “I am part of the ‘Old for climate'”, he quips, welcoming the mobilization of young people for the ecological cause.
Other events are planned this Friday and Saturday in major French cities in Paris, Toulouse, Angers, Montpellier and Lyon among others.