« My anxiety for the planet has become a kind of booster » – Liberation

By publishing these testimonies, Release continues his editorial adventure with The priority area of ​​expressionparticipatory media which gives to hear the words of young people in all their diversity and on all the subjects that concern them. These stories, also to discover on Zep.Mediadraw up an unprecedented panorama of young people in France. Find the previous publications.

Sofia, 25, in training in Ivry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne)

« When I surf on Tiktok, I never see any images that talk about global warming, animals that disappear … and so much the better! » I don’t want to know. I live my quiet life. On the networks, I am some American, French and Arab influencers. I take tips, make-up ideas, new recipes or plans in countries that I do not know and that I would like to visit one day. As the networks walk with algorithms, I don’t see things that I don’t want to see.

« I know that animals will disappear or have already disappeared, but I don’t care. I absolutely do not interest me. This is not my problem. I think there are people that it worries because they like animals. Dogs, cats, everyone likes it in my family. I am afraid. The stuff that is scary, but that are true, I prefer not to see them.

« True stories about climate problems, it’s so scary … and I don’t want to live in stress for the planet! » I prefer to watch horror movies. Conjuring, Warren files, Scream… I love it. Horror films are scary … But that’s not true! « 

Sarah, 15, a high school student in Paris

« In my family, clothes are circulating! » The record is run by a Tunisian soccer jersey. He went from my uncle to my brother to my sister and today to my cousin. And no doubt he will end up with someone else. Many clothes I wear are to my big brother who is 18 years old. My sweatshirts, especially gray, and my black and white t-shirts.

“Each garment that doesn’t suit me anymore goes to my 11 year old little sister. My blue Mickey t-shirt, offered by my uncle when I was his age, today she wears it. When they no longer go to anyone, they are given to my cousins. One of them has a dress that belonged to me and which also went through my sister. And if the garment is in poor condition, we throw it away. I also wear my mother’s pajamas and vests, but at home. And my grandmother’s dresses, in memory.

“My father, he does not participate in this circulation because the little he was enough for him. And because his style does not please my brother enough. My brother wears basic t-shirts, jogging and football jerseys from my uncle. I still remember from the day my mother came back from my aunt with two big bags of clothes. At that time, I was too happy. We still buy new ones, but less than the average and favoring good quality, more durable. The reason I wear second -hand clothes is that it saves us. ”

Nina, 19, student in Angers (Maine-et-Loire)

«  » And one, and two, and three degrees: it’s a crime against humanity!  » This slogan still resonates in my head more than five years later. In 2019, like many young people, I demonstrated for the climate. However, I have the feeling that almost nothing has changed since then. I was made aware of the ecological crisis and I grew up with it. But like many, I lost hope.

“Over time, I reduced my commitment. I have the impression that my efforts and those of my loved ones are worth nothing in the face of the magnitude of this crisis. I continue to sort my waste. I think twice before I got the plane. I try to buy in second hand and I think what I am not wearing. But despite everything, reality catches up with me. Living alone made me give up for certain ecological gestures that my parents have transmitted to me. The overconsumption chasm arouses a huge temptation to which I often give in.

“When I’m at Zara, it’s always the same when I find a garment that I like. On the one hand, I imagine my father with a disappointed air to say to me: “Another super useful purchase!”, With an irony and a form of tenderness. He knows that this purchase, as compulsive as it is, makes me happy. On the other, I see my sister rejoice in this garment that she will soon be able to borrow me. I end up giving in.

“I didn’t really need this dress. It was made on the other side of the world. It is not of high quality and it aggravates my carbon footprint. It is sad but the pleasure that I have to imagine it in my wardrobe goes beyond my ecological conscience.

“It’s the same for travel. Two tabs are open to my computer: SNCF and Easyjet sites. I sail from one to the other as if they were in duel. I hesitate. I know it is more responsible to take the train. I am astounding to see that some people take the plane for a weekend, for a concert. But I am far from being an example of ecological commitment. The eight hours of journey, with correspondence and a change of station, do not enchant me. On the contrary, the flight time and the attractive price of the plane ticket dangerously attempts me. But this time, I will not give in … I will take the train. « 

Khadija, 25, employee in Villepinte (Seine-Saint-Denis)

« If I feel guilty? » Yes. More and more. On what I can buy, how it was made, by whom and under what conditions. It was by looking at the news that I asked myself this questions. Before I didn’t care. When I saw something cheap, I was rushing. Now it doesn’t matter to me, because I know there is an impact.

« I feel guilty when I buy clothes. Before, I bought on Shein telephone shells at 2 or 3 euros, sunglasses at less than 5 euros, a set at 20 euros, 20 piercings at 1 euro … When I saw that the products were manufactured by children or forced and poorly paid people, I started to think … We are happy, but behind, there are people who suffer. It is not phew.

“For my 4 year old son, I buy clothes from Kiabi or Primark, but I wonder if it is not the same story as Shein. I feel obliged, otherwise I cannot dress it. The other stores are too expensive and I find almost nothing for the children on Vinted. So I feel guilty …

“I also feel guilty because I don’t do enough sorting. Packaging, boxes, plastics, glass jars, food, I throw everything in the same trash can. In my little kitchen, I don’t have the place to put a second one.

“And then, I cannot afford to buy organic products. Of course, I could make my compotes, my detergents, my pasta … Make everything. It looks easy but it takes a lot of time. So I feel guilty. But I also tell myself that if I feel guilty so much, that means that I am not completely insensitive. Now, I have to strive. « 

Yann, 15, high school student in Paris

“With me, our fridge is only filled with organic, premises or reasoned agriculture. Here, an Ice Tea, an oasis and a laughing cow are fighting in a duel. The majority of the sodas I have bus, I discovered them elsewhere. At birthdays, parties, and especially in outings with friends where the question of ecology and junk food does not arise.

“Once, I brought back Twixs to the house. They were tolerated but badly welcomed. Another time, instead of the healthy and organic midday menu, I devoured a MCDO. The taste was much better but much less balanced and ecological. What a pleasure to eat an MCDO rather than green beans …

“The parents of some of my friends are invested in organic as much as mine, but my friends are like me. At the end, we are not going to complicate life: we take a good very fatty kebab, good sweet sodas and we eat without asking questions.

“Obviously,“ green ”food is the best, even from an ethical point of view. But it does not offer the same flavors as those found only at Haribo or Lipton, for example. In short, I am half green at home, half not outside. Even if a small voice still blows me, while I take a bite from my burger, « it’s not organic », and that another little one tells me « it’s still good ». « 

Fiohana, 24, employee in Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe)

« As a child, I loved going to the beautiful blue and flowery house of my grandparents. Between the Bougainvilliers, the palm trees, the Caribbean dreams, the orchids and the ferns, we no longer felt in town but in an enchanted jungle. Two small green hands have created this environment and still maintain it today. These are those of Mamie so! My maminette, which has a very special relationship with her plants.

«  » What is she still doing?  » This question trotted me in my head when I saw my grandmother, who seemed to me a little witch, pamper her plants like her own children. The Mamie So Maintenance methods seemed bizarre and fascinating at the same time! If only the head of his planters! It was for me a huge joke. I saw her reuse buckets or paint pots to put her plants. Let’s not talk about the earth … Yes, let’s go! Because it was completely crazy to see her do soil mixtures with peelings, banana skins or egg shells … The watering can be older than her.

« I did not understand why she complicated life with all these procedures, but the relationship she has with her plants is truly magical. It proves that these small beings are indeed alive and require that they are maintained as it should be.

“I have always been fascinated by the beauty of the flora that surrounds me, without worrying about its interview. However, when I settled in France on my own in Paris, I felt this need to have plants in my apartment. Plants to feel good and really at home. I started with small cacti and oily plants to avoid killing them.

“Subsequently, I was increasingly aware of ecology via my entourage. Therefore, I became more and more aware of the decline of the planet and it makes me very anxious. But this anxiety has become a kind of booster to do new things: eat less meat, buy less and less new clothes and shoes by favoring the second hand, buy reconditioned devices … and above all take care of the earth, our earth, like my Granny so! I now like to put my hands there, repot, water and feed the plants. It has become my therapy. « 

Nozia, 25, trainee in Grigny (Essonne)

“When I was 13, I chose to get involved in zero waste. The trash cans, it stinks and it shocked me when I heard that they were put in the ground, that they were burning and that after that emitted CO2. On the internet, I found the house of zero waste. I went there several times, but it’s very far, it’s in Paris. They sell glass containers, recorded dishwashing liquid, books to compost and be green. There, I participated in training, such as that on collective compost. At school, there was one where we put the bio -waste. I participated in cooking lessons and we put the peelings there. In the canteen, we were told to avoid waste.

“Since then I have learned a lot about Instagram. I am accounts like @daphneblt which gives zero waste tips, @theimpactstory which gives good news from the planet or @ecolo_me which gives advice to plant a vegetable garden. I am in ecological transition. I reduce my waste, I buy in flea markets, I turn on the lights and I try not to let the water flow too much. My project is to set up a collective compost in my residence. I do door-to-door with my neighbors. To support my project, my agglomeration community told me that I had to find ten people at least. For the moment, I have six. I’m aiming a hundred! «