Exchange to Change May 2017 20170524 EtC mei 2017-web | Page 8

8
INTERVIEW
Stien | Belgium
E2C: Could you provide some
background with regards to the
reasons and origin of the protest
movement/ other types of activism
your protested in? I’m an active
member of the Youth for Nature and
Environment in Flanders (Belgium).
We focus on nature study, nature
conservation and environmental
education. For me, being part of
this youth movement, it is a kind of
lifestyle. Making sustainable, local and
ecological decisions regarding food,
clothes, mobility and energy.
Recently I’m focusing on food
production and consumption. The
contradiction between 15 % of the
world population who starves and
1.3 billion tons of food that is thrown
away before it reaches the consumers
is my main incentive to buy as much
food as possible local, biological and
directly from the farmer. Then there
*Dumpster diving, commonly referred to in the UK
and many parts of Europe as totting,[1] skipping, skip
diving or skip salvage,[2] is a popular form of modern
salvaging of waste in large commercial, residential,
industrial and construction containers to find items
that have been discarded by their owners, but that
may prove useful to the picker. It is not confined
to dumpsters specifically, and may cover standard
household waste containers, landfills or small dumps.
(source: Wikipedia)
E xchange to change M ay 2017
is also a large amount of food thrown
away in supermarkets, when the
expiry date approaches, this is why I
dumpster dive*.
E2C: What was the impact of the
protest movement? The nature of
my protest is local, but I believe that
united forces on different levels can
trigger change, due to inspiration and
collaboration. I want to contribute
to a sustainable and environmental-
friendly society. Respecting the planet
we live on, respecting people from
the North and the South, to live a
valuable life without restricting the
chances and possibilities of current
and future generations. This is why
communication and networking
with other committed people is very
important.
E2C: How did you get involved in this
movement? When I turned 18, I joined
the Youth for Nature and
Environment. Two years ago I was
chairwoman of the Working Group on
Environment at the Flemish level
and member of the Board of
Directors. This year I’m coordinator of
our summer congress. We will focus on
the lack of space and the tradeoff
between nature, agriculture and space
for housing.
litigation
volunteer
grassroot
direct lobbying
letter writing