Verteville is a place where Eva, Gaspard and Arthur would not like to live. Well, a little. Despite its environmental problems, the residents of this imaginary city they created from scratch (cubic) in Minecraft are involved in political debates, and all will vote on November 7. A degree of commitment that these three high school students would like to see in the municipal elections.
Of course, this is all fictitious. The world of video games Minecraft not allowing to integrate characters, the debates and the elections will not really take place in Verteville. If Eva Gagnon, Gaspard Medina Creimer and Arthur Méthot-Boudreau, all 13 years old, created Verteville, it is above all to encourage real-life voters to go to the polls on November 7. During the previous municipal elections in 2017, only 44.8% of Quebec voters had voted.
“A lot of people will not vote in municipal elections because they think it is not important, but that is where we will decide what to build in a city,” underlines Gaspard.
In Verteville, there is a factory that spits clouds of smoke and a park in the process of being razed to make way for a parking lot.
If people vote for a mayor who doesn’t want it to happen, there is less chance of it happening.
Arthur Méthot-Boudreau
The Montreal trio presents their project in a video produced in collaboration with Vire au Vert, a citizen mobilization initiative aimed at putting environmental issues at the heart of elections. Earlier this week, it was posted on the website and social networks of ENvironnement JEUnesse. It must be said that Gaspard’s father is involved in the environment. Diego Medina Creimer works for the Society for Nature and Parks of Canada, Quebec section.
« Comme tant d’ados, Gaspard et ses amis passent un temps fou devant la télé [et les jeux vidéo] since the start of the pandemic, ”he notes. The latter was delighted to see that this project, which stretched over four months, was an opportunity for them to build something and to break the loneliness of “playstationary” basements.
Fewer cars, more bikes
This week, the teenagers plan to attend one of the debates between candidates that will organize Go Green in several municipalities, cities and boroughs across Quebec. If they had a question for the candidates, what would it be?
“Do you really think about the environment or are you saying it just to get people to vote for you? », Says Eva. “We often say that we have a plan. But what is the plan? Arthur would ask. “Are you ready to modify your borough in the light of the climate changes to come and to act to counter the heat waves in summer which will become more and more frequent?” », Would question them for his part Gaspard.
For them, a city where life is good is a city where there is a balance between urban development and green spaces. A city where there is less room for cars in favor of bicycles and pedestrians.
Are elected officials doing enough in this regard? “It depends on which elected official, but if we enter into opinions… I don’t know if we can really do that! », Answers Gaspard, diplomat.
Nevertheless, they say they are worried about the future. “We don’t know what will happen in 20 years,” notes Eva. “I’m a little afraid of having a future like in Insterstellar [film réalisé par Christopher Nolan, qui présente une Terre devenue inhospitalière où les tempêtes de sable sont fréquentes]Arthur adds. My house is under renovation, there is dust everywhere and I don’t like it! ”
Gaspard is worried about the toxicity of the air and the rise in sea level. “People who can take action now will probably not be there when it happens. In general, I’m afraid we’ll all die in 30 years. I’m afraid that nothing will be done and that afterwards it will be just us who will have to deal with all this. ”
Until then, there are municipal elections on November 7. If Verteville is just a game for them, they hope policymakers and voters understand that their future is not.