Meet Julie:
Let me introduce myself: my name is Julie Pasquet, I'm 23 and, as well as being a student, I'm above all a hyperactive activist! For the past 4 years, I've been active in the youth climate movement, first on a local scale, then on a European scale with my Up For Europe project, and now on a national scale as president of the Together For Earth. I'm finishing my studies at Sciences Po Toulouse and Toulouse Business School before embarking on my professional life, which I hope will be highly committed!
What causes are important to you, and to young people today? Why or why not?
What matters to me is that we all live in a happy and just world. You're going to tell me it's a simple thing to say, but that's exactly what I want: a happy present and future where we're not constantly afraid of global warming, where cooperation becomes a fundamental value, where social and economic inequalities are less and less present. We're mobilizing because we have a zest for life. We want to live, not survive.
What was the moment of realization that encouraged you to take action for the society in which you live?
I love to reflect on the theme of “the tipping point”, or how we became aware of what's at stake in our world and how we took action. Mine was marked by encounters, people I followed and listened to, who inspired me and pushed me out of my comfort zone. Above all, it was the streets and the great climate marches and strikes of 2018 and 2019 that changed my life. And I'm weighing up my words: the street was an extremely powerful factor in raising my awareness.
What difficulties did you encounter at the start of your involvement? How did you overcome them?
The biggest difficulty is feeling alone. I think that's a really despairing factor for young people who are becoming aware. Imagine yourself at 20, realizing that our world is at a point of no return, and experiencing these feelings without support, without anyone who understands you. What saves us is the collective, having friends who understand, who support us and, above all, with whom we can take action. Collective action has an extraordinary power that we must value at all costs!
What advice would you give to young people who want to get involved? Where should they start?
The best advice I can give is to join an association or a collective, so you don't remain alone without taking action. Don't be afraid to ask around, to get in touch with other committed young people. We all started out at some point, and we have so much to learn from each other. My committed friends are my family today, and it's thanks to them that I'm where I am today! Come and join us!
What would you like to say to political decision-makers?
That they have a political responsibility to us to act now more than ever. We can't wait another 5 years, and they are more than ever the ones who can make a difference. I also want to tell them that we're going to demand a say in putting the issues that matter on the agenda. We won't give up, we'll be there.
(Photo courtesy: Julie Pasquet, copyright: Julie Pasquet)
