of students want to do justice to nature

Their names are Raphaël, Luc, Jordan, Lyslou. They are law students and share a fight: they participate in the mock trial organized by the association Wild Legal, an association which aims to promote the rights of nature. And this year, the trial focuses on the issue of green algae in Brittany. The purpose of these mock trials is to try “to put into practice innovations in environmental law to see how it would be possible to invoke certain arguments in court.”

In particular, the students went to meet Yves-Marie le Lay, the president of the association Safeguarding Trégor, who took them to see a bailiff’s report so that the students could analyze the effects of green algae on the environment. With their own eyes, they were also able to see the damage caused by this algae on the beach: “Behind us, we have the Hôtellerie beach, which has been closed since July because of green algae, so we could see at the entrance that there are barriers preventing access and that seaweed is rotting, so all the sand is black.” In addition to the black sand, strong odors emerge.

Two years ago, pig barn extensions took place just steps from the beach. “When we have been able to discuss with farmers, we can clearly see that those who feed us are also those who are the first victims of a system which is that of intensive farming, intensive farming which is therefore at the origin of its green tides, therefore a loss of biodiversity, animal malaise“, explains a student.

For these students, it is through the law and in particular the laws that great changes can take place: “The challenge facing us is that of the environment and animal welfare and the situation with green algae in Brittany is a perfect example. I think that as a jurist, we must represent public opinion.”