WEarthwhile

[English Translation below]

« Ça ne passe que par l’éducation!

Je suis photographe-journaliste free-lance et membre du Collectif Argos qui est basé à Paris depuis 20 ans. Le Collectif Argos est spécialisé dans les sujets environnementaux et sociaux à destination de la presse française et internationale. Notre tout premier sujet s’est attaqué aux réfugiés climatiques.

Depuis, le plastique l’un de mes chevaux de bataille. Le collectif Argos choisit chaque année une grosse enquête que l’on décline en plusieurs approches : expo, livres, presse, radio, télé etc. Le plastique a été un sujet choc qui m’a vraiment remué. J’ai marché, littéralement, sur des montagnes de déchets plastiques!

Le dernier projet du Collectif Argos, AMER, porte sur l’accaparement des océans. Cette pression sans précédent et à grande échelle sur le milieu marin met en péril la biodiversité et engendre de graves problèmes de pollution que les changements globaux vont amplifier. Or, près de la moitié de la population mondiale dépend directement des océans pour sa subsistance.

Ce projet qui veut alerter les consciences sur la fragilité des océans, donnera lieu à une expo à Marseille ainsi qu’à une expo itinérante et un livre. L’idée est de sensibiliser le grand public en utilisant différent medium.

Ce qui compte est de montrer des solutions positives, des alternatives à la transition écologique, pas de faire la morale.

Ceux qui font bouger les lignes ont souvent moins de 25 ans ; comme les deux sœurs de l’association « Bye, bye, plastic Bag » qui se sont investies dès l’âge de 12 ans en montant leur association pour lutter contre l’utilisation du plastique jetable à Bali.

Pour faire bouger les choses, il faut ÉDUQUER ; une fois les jeunes éduqués, ils transmettront leur savoir à leur parent : c’est le circuit le plus efficace! »

https://www.collectifargos.com
https://www.laurentweyl.com

[Laurent Weyl – Strasbourg, France]
By Alexandrine Boufflers

[English Translation]

“There is no other route than the one that goes through education!

I am a free-lance journalist and photographer and also a member of the Argos Collectif that has been based in Paris for 20 years. Argos specializes in writing social and environmental articles for the French and international media. Our first topic was on climatic refugees.

Since then, plastic has become my warhorse. It has really had a sounding echo in me especially after walking on huge plastic landfills!

Argos every year selects a topic as a major investigation that is then broken down into several approaches: TV reports, books, press articles... our last one is called AMER and it deals with ocean monopolization that jeopardizes marine biodiversity whereas almost half of the world population depends on ocean for their daily intake of food.

This project will give birth to a major exhibition in Marseille and to a book. Our objective is to raise awareness via different mediums. Because what matters is to offer alternatives and positive solutions not to lecture people.

Those who move the lines are often under 25; like the 2 sisters of the association “By, bye, plastic bag” who set up their NGO in Bali when only 12 years old!

Through the education of young people, we will eventually educate the older generations because they will be dealt with in family circles where messages are the best conveyed!”

“I usually go places by car; the family takes international flights a few times a year. In the last few months, this has not been possible due to COVID19 and international travel bans. As the lockdown is being released, we are starting to make new plans. Just this afternoon, I tried riding an electric mtb bike for the first time. On a cycle path, from Swansea to Mumbles, it seemed quicker than by car, as there were no traffic lights or the usual congestion seen in Swansea on a weekend. The views were great on the path with the tide coming in – something new to see hear and even smell at every turn.

I was a bit disappointed with the bike motor, as it is limited to 15 mph and you had to pedal. It was really a pedal-assist bike. The battery and a motor made it much heavier than a usual bike. At the same time, it was great fun and it could go down and up the hills of Wales with ease. It certainly costs less than my car, for the same journey!

A bike seems fine in the summer, but would not be so enjoyable in the rain or wind.
I just wonder, how people could be convinced to make short trips by bike; new cycle lanes and places to lock up your bike and outside shops will certainly help. Maybe they should include bike accessories as standard so people can easily connect bags etc. to an electric bike. I would certainly consider renting one on a holiday. Not a clue where I could charge one if I wanted to cycle a longer distance.

My family has been lucky during this global pandemic; our attitudes are changing over time. I need to try other fun local activities before the opportunities are lost.”

[Shameem - Swansea, Wales]
By Damien Rosser