Elections 2023. Szymon Hołownia: only today do we see how badly we came out of the 20th century

Leader of Poland 2050 Simon Holownia participated on Saturday in the Europe 2050 Youth Summit organized in Wrocław. During this meeting, young people from Poland and several European countries debate, participate in workshops and an urban happening as part of the Earth Day celebrations. They are also to prepare a program manifesto.

In his speech, Hołownia assessed that if there is no change of course in politics, we will all “shatter on the wall”. – It is no longer possible to drive on autopilot set in the middle of the 20th century. It is clear how damaging some 20th-century myths are. Oil was supposed to be our salvation, gas was supposed to be. Today we know that if we do not put them outside the door immediately, in 50 or 100 years we will suffocate, dry up, and die – said Hołownia.

In his opinion, three miraculous recipes from the 20th century for a more just, and therefore more secure, world, i.e. socialism, liberalism and conservatism, did not bring any effect, they degenerated, deepening inequalities. – Change is absolutely necessary. Only today do we see how scarred we have come out of the 20th century. How something that was supposed to be the road to paradise had turned into the thicket. For 10 years, not a day goes by that I don’t go somewhere in Poland or Europe, that I don’t talk to people. And I see how they cower, how they withdraw, how they are more and more afraid, worried, do not understand how much they need hope – said Hołownia.

He assessed that people usually do not know that they live on the edge of epochs, while in his opinion the current young generation is the first one that cannot explain itself with ignorance about the state of the world and the last one that can really do something with this knowledge. – Thanks to the globalized world, thanks to science, thanks to the ability to predict, we can draw conclusions today and build on them this new story that will allow millions of people – not only in Europe – to finally raise their heads. Finally look around with hope. So let’s start with these conclusions, because without them there will be nothing to build hope on – said Hołownia.

In his opinion, the first conclusion is that this is not the time of lonely superheroes. – To save the world today, you don’t need a superhero, but you, a whole generation of heroes who will be characterized by solidarity, strategy, patience, perseverance, vision, the ability to inspire others with hope. The world will not be saved by an individual, writes Solnit [Rebecca – przyp. red.] – but collectives. Movements, coalitions, campaigns, civil society – said Hołownia.

He emphasized that it is necessary to know what is most important now, and three things are most important in Poland by 2050: green energy, security and equal opportunities. – Equal opportunities at school, at the doctor’s, at work, in business. That is why we have committed ourselves and signed it with blood that we will do everything to ensure that Polish business, Polish apartments, cars on Polish roads are supported, heated and powered by green energy from the sun and wind. And each house was its own power plant, because it is cheaper, healthier, safer than what we have today, because it is usually people who will earn on it, not state juggernauts driven by political parties, said Hołownia.

In terms of security, he was in favor of building a European army. – Russian crimes in Ukrainejust beyond the border of the European Union are the key argument for the need to build our common European army. Not in competition, but in addition to our activities in FOR THIS and in partnership with the United States – said Hołownia.

In his opinion, equal opportunities are necessary not only in Poland, but also at the EU level. – It will not survive in the long run if people in Poland, on Slovakia whether in Lithuania they will not receive a comparable salary for the same work as workers in Germany, France or Ireland. It just won’t stick together, it won’t work, it will just fall apart in mutual grievances, frustrations, unfulfilled hopes – he said.

He declared that he is in favor of launching a green recovery fund aimed at small companies from poorer parts of the EU, because only in this way will it be possible to equalize development opportunities.