Earth Day | A youth doing their best

They are under 30, they realize that they have too many clothes. What would they generally have the most difficulty giving up? To trips abroad, which they make for pleasure or to return to see their family every year, in their country of origin. Discussions with young people generous with their testimonies.

Kim Guerrero, painter

“I really have a lot of clothes. I wouldn’t say it’s an addiction, but when it’s been a long day, I like to treat myself and buy something new. A beautiful pair of shoes, for me, is like candy for a child! Every two weeks I pack big bags and take them to the Salvation Army, that’s maybe 30 pieces of clothing for them each time.

” The plane ? Every year for some time now, I have been going to my home country, El Salvador, to see my family and enjoy the warmth during the winter.

“One day when I was there with my partner, we collected a lot of plastic waste on the beach. We took a photo and on Facebook, we wrote to people to get their act together. We saw dogs, turtles, too, eating plastic, it was shocking. »

Léa Galipeau-Ruggeri, social media communications student

“I have a new resolution in 2024: shop at thrift stores! I’ve been fooled too much by everything on sale and now I have too many clothes.

“To remove my makeup, I no longer use disposable wipes. I save water, too.

“I traveled a lot with my family. At 15, I went to Japan, my father is Italian, so I also went to Italy, in addition to going to Portugal, Haiti on a humanitarian trip and making small trips like going to Mexico and Cuba. I’m going to Europe this summer, I’m going on a cruise.

“It’s embarrassing, I haven’t visited Canada!” I will still want to travel abroad, but I will try to stay more in the country. I want to see where I come from, discover Quebec. »

Marilou Bessette, literature student

“I need to reconnect with nature. I want Gaspésie, Côte-Nord. I don’t need to take a plane: there are plenty of interesting places to visit in Quebec. In my small Uqamian circle, many think like me.

“The fast fashion industry is really a problem, so I buy second hand, in thrift stores. Marketplace is widely used by young people.

“The REM hurt me a lot. I live in Brossard and before, a bus passed very close to my house. Now I need to use a car.

“I’m careful [à mon empreinte écologique]but it’s scary to realize that outside of my little world, many don’t make the same efforts.

“Even if there are plenty of activists, the power is on the side of money. It is not us, on an individual level, who can change the system. »

Lora Saykova, human resources student

“I do a lot less of shopping. All my money goes on food, lunch, little snacks. A croissant is $4 now! Cigarettes are expensive, too!

“I don’t have a water bottle, I buy plastic water bottles. I know, it’s not good for the environment, but I lose the water bottles. And you have to wash them and it stinks if you don’t do it right […]

“Travel in the last five years? I went to Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, London for two weeks in December, Cuba, Mexico. This summer, I’m going to Spain for two months. For me, travel is super important, I’m a fan of architecture, I hurry to see as much as possible, while it’s still accessible. After, [l’avion] may become more expensive.

“And you have to do it when you’re young, before you have children because afterward, you can’t do it as much.

“My friends don’t care about environmental issues. They have their water bottles, but they buy a lot of clothes. »

David Rodrigues, management student

“I am French, on a school exchange in Quebec. In Paris, I bought a lot of clothes to be fashionable – we’re a bit sheepish! In France, at university, I definitely wear a suit. It’s frowned upon otherwise, and you never know who you might meet. Even at university, you can meet future business partners.

“In Quebec, it’s more relaxed and I spend a lot less money on clothes, a little less on electronic gadgets, too.

“I have a social and environmental responsibility course and with age, my environmental awareness develops. For example, I recently chose to take the train to Toronto. »

Emmanuel Arsenault, literature student

“I live in an apartment in Montreal, so my consumption habits have changed a lot. Now my money mainly goes to rent, groceries, college…

“My parents live in Gaspésie. In summer, I like to go and enjoy the mountains and the river. I don’t want to get on a plane and take more trips.

“I have friends who travel abroad, who have been to countries where they saw a lot of pollution and who have come back saying it’s not worth it [de faire des efforts].

“What I find difficult and quite demotivating is realizing that my one person will have no impact. That even if I’m careful myself, it won’t be enough.

“I know that the item of clothing that I don’t buy will still be bought by someone else.

“So I realize very well that I am not saving the planet by making an effort, but I am doing it for my conscience. »

Read “Are young people still green? »