This text is part of the special report The State of Quebec 2023
Twenty-seven years separate the Bread and Roses March of 1995 from the Bread and Forests March of 2022. In this excerpt from an interview by Josselyn Guillarmou and Sandra Larochelle for The State of Quebec 2023the organizers of these two events address the evolution of the feminist and environmental movements and the world they wish to pass on to future generations.
Journalist Aurélie Lanctôt described the atmosphere of the Du Pain et des forêt march of May 8, 2022 of “disastrous and serene”, evoking a form of ambivalence in the face of the current situation. Do you share this observation regarding the current political, social and environmental context?
Laure Waridel: It is interesting to have retained this duality between the fatal and serene element. The Mothers movement at the front is really in yin and yang. We are both in the benevolent and protective love of our children, but also in anger in the face of decisions whose consequences threaten the future of our children. An image that often comes back from the Mothers at the front is that of the bear. The mother bear is super sweet, she takes care of her baby, but if someone threatens her offspring, then she raises her paws, she shows her claws. She is ready to put her life in danger if necessary. I think a lot of mothers are there. The situation is truly alarming and requires vision, political will, audacity and, above all, concrete action! What we hear from all politicians is that they cannot move faster than society. Personally, I have the impression that the population is ready and that companies are ready to go much further than our elected officials at this time. […]
Myriam Lapointe-Gagnon: I found the atmosphere of the march to be very beautiful, but it was understated. There was something very emotional, very down to earth. What struck me the most was the presence of the children, but also that of many young adults. They had their full place in the Bread and Forests march. The new generations, I find them very lucid. They want to get involved in causes, but they need places to express themselves. What we wanted to do was awaken civic engagement. We realize that this awakening is often done when becoming a mother or becoming a father. It shakes up your lifeline and the actions you want to take. This kind of walk allows us to reconnect with the context, to take our place and to act concretely, even if it means disturbing.
Francoise David : In the current context, I would say that we live in a reign of absolute mediocrity when it comes to climate issues. The Government of Quebec is not completely absent subscribers. But, next to what should be done, to what climate change requires in terms of measures and leadership, it is poor and worrying. For the Bread and Forests march, I knew we were there for serious reasons and we were sober, but there was also so much love, gentleness and beauty. I haven’t experienced anything bad. I would rather say it was magical. I had the impression of rediscovering the atmosphere of 1995. We were women, perhaps less angry than what you express today. We thought anything was possible. Nor had we faced the question of the climate. We felt a real happiness to be together. And that, I experienced on May 8th. What struck me, as an “old feminist”, was really the fact that children were at the center of the march. […] As a grandmother, I love it. It gives a different meaning to the struggle and it doesn’t take anything away from you as feminists.
Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette: I think it’s a change that goes in the right direction. We take our children with us because motherhood becomes the driving force of amorous anger. I hear this questioning almost everywhere: is rebellion compatible with motherhood? The question is: can I breastfeed my child from one side and brandish my fist or my finger the other ? And the answer is: yes! This motherhood gives power to the claim. I think that with the Ma place au travail movement, that’s the demand. The girls go to school and cannot work because they have to stay home to look after their children, despite being promised a place in daycare. With Mothers at the front, it’s the same. We are sent back to our role as parents, but it is often the mothers who have to do more. We are supposed to do all the famous little gestures that are supposed to save the world and then reassure our children. But we cannot carry all these immense challenges on our shoulders alone.
About the authors:
Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalettefilmmaker, author and co-sponsor of Mothers at the Front
Francoise Davidfeminist activist
Myriam Lapointe-Gagnonmother, doctoral student in psychology and founder of the Ma place au travail movement
Laure WaridelPh.D. ecosociologist, author, columnist, co-founder of Équiterre and co-promoter of Mères au front
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the To have to, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of To have to did not take part.