At the beginning of the 90's, the moratorium on fishing created an economic shock wave here in Gaspé. A real crossing of the desert then began. The slow but palpable devitalization of the region gradually eroded the hopes of a younger generation in search of a better life. Many of them leave.
Then, in the early 2000s, the Quebec government set up a program to revitalize the regions, and little by little things began to change. Almost simultaneously, the TechnoCentre éolien and the Festival Musique du bout du monde were born. Two projects with similar values. Both talk about energy, sustainable development, renewable energy and eco-responsibility. Both organizations dream of a better world and each will shape the image of an avant-garde Gaspé in their own way. The train, airplane and bus services still need to be sorted out, but I have heard that the mayor of Gaspé is "working hard in the corners"!
Today, the economy is recovering significantly: 25% of the workforce comes from jobs related to wind energy and the region already produces 140% of its energy needs. This is phenomenal! We have gone from a city that is in a state of collapse to one that is close to full employment and is constantly looking for specialized workers. WOW bravo!
On the other side of the coin, the festival Musique du Bout du monde is 14 years old, it is visited by more than 25,000 people from all over Quebec and has become one of the important poles of the region's tourist offer. The festival has become an important tourist attraction in the region and has contributed greatly to the pride of the city through the 300 press articles it has generated over the past few years in the local, regional and national media.
Above all, it makes the residents of the 13 municipalities that make up the city of Gaspé and their young mayor rather smiley!
So, at the beginning of this century, fortunately, it is not only cod that has returned to Gaspé. There were cruise ships that came back to Gaspé Bay, winking at the wind turbines perched in the mountain... Then, the Gaspesian children who had left to "study in the city" gradually came back to live in this incomparable part of the country. They built houses with geothermal energy and mass heating and had blond children with blue eyes who ran around naked in Boom Defense... full of hope.
Tonight it's the turn of the Ivorian Tiken Jah Fakoly to take the stage at FMBM almost 10 years after his appearance at FMBM, the homonymous festival in Finistère in France, a veritable Mecca of folk music. Reggae singer and committed singer, the lyrics of his songs speak of injustices suffered by the population of his country of origin, but also and especially the African people, Tiken Jah Fakoly is also known for his energy and generosity on stage.
I'm getting ready for it. Until then, I'll join my friends from the Tesla club, interested and interesting people, who I think are having a great time at the end of the world....
