Originally, it was about discussing the launch of the employment campaign. Considering recent events, the focus of this gathering shifted mainly towards the weather and, more specifically, the future of the valley.
This weekend, at the initiative of the PCF 06, a gathering took place on the square of the south station to address the emergencies of the department. “We are in this moment, which is why we organized this initiative. Everyone comes, everyone promises… we had the president, grand declarations, but the time for reconstruction is going to be very, very long,” explains Robert Injey, head of the PCF in Nice.
Three strong ideas emerged from the various speeches:
- Solidarity. It exists when an event of an exceptional nature occurs and must be the cornerstone of any economic and social policy according to the trade unionists.
- The importance of public services. During the COVID crisis, the hard work of hospital staff, public hospitals, and retirement home staff saved many lives, often under very delicate conditions. Again, with the bad weather, we can observe the leading role of public services on the ground. Whether it’s the firefighters, police, army, health services… all are mobilized to help the victims in the valley.
- Climate change: “All of this is a consequence of the climate crisis. For several years now, we have had exceptional weather episodes affecting the department. This year, it’s the Roya and the Vésubie. We are reaching precipitation levels that we have never seen before. Today, it’s not about rebuilding quickly to restore what we had before but rather building differently so that people can live there for decades to come,” urges Robert Injey.
Regarding funding, the PCF proposes relying on public money, European aid, or even local governments. “These disasters must not be repeated, and for that, we must invest wisely without repeating the mistakes of recent years, without making short-sighted savings that end up costing us dearly.”
