On the agenda of Les Ateliers écocitoyens, awareness-raising, particularly in schools, through the climate fresco and the ecological renaissance fresco, as well as waste collection and information campaigns at festivals.
In the past two years, new projects have emerged, such as reclaiming public space to highlight ecological and social issues, notably by wearing T-shirts with impactful slogans.
So what works in terms of raising awareness? How can we convey the message so that it achieves its purpose? "Rather than just stating the state of the world, even though I think it's important,” explains Célia Juspin, “today, we focus more on how it affects us and how it will impact us. The idea is to understand that we are part of a complex system and that if we remove pillars from this system, it can collapse entirely. It affects our environment, our health, our food security. When we explain the link between cancer and biodiversity loss, for example, it's clearer than just saying that animals are disappearing.”
The idea is to become aware that we need to reconnect with our environment. "We have broken the link between us and reality. We have become digital beings, cradled by a consumption that makes us live in a bubble,” explains Célia Juspin. "And reality is this nature of which we are a part and which allows our existence. So what's important is to reconnect, to regain awareness that we are just a part, a link in a complex system.”
By raising awareness in public spaces, Les Ateliers écocitoyens are somewhat reclaiming marketing processes for a good cause. "One person alone will not create a new habit. But several people who initiate this habit will influence others, who will in turn help it grow. So yes, the group has an influence, an exponential effect. That's really what we're trying to work on. We can trigger a movement on our own, which we hope to do this year and in the years to come.”
