French President Emmanuel Macron took to popular social media platforms on Tuesday in a new push to increase Covid vaccination rates, combat “false information” and reach out to younger people.
Filming himself from his summer residency at Fort de Bregancon on the French Riviera, wearing a casual T-shirt, President Macron offered to answer people’s questions in a video posted on Instagram and TikTok.
In the face of a new surge of Covid cases, he called vaccines “the only weapon we have to face it.”
“I know that many of you are still wondering, are afraid. Many are hearing false information, false rumours, sometimes complete rubbish … Go ahead, ask me and I will try to be as direct and clear as possible,” he said.
Mr Macron subsequently posted a string of short videos addressing a series of vaccine misconceptions including over their effectiveness, speed of development and distribution among young and healthy people.
He intends to continue answering people’s questions all week on social media, his office said.
The move comes after three successive weekends of protests against France’s special virus pass drew thousands of people in Paris and other French cities.
This is not the first time that President Macron, who is widely expected to seek a second presidential term next year, has used social media in a bid to speak to younger people.
In May, he filmed a video in the French presidential palace with two of France’s most popular YouTube stars, Mcfly and Carlito, after they met a challenge to reach more than 10 million views with a song about social distancing.
Over 35 million people in France - about 53 per cent of the population - are fully vaccinated.
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
