Politics is a public matter, so I cannot be passive
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Josef Matoušek was born on 29 March 1956 in Benešov near Prague. His father Josef was a soldier by profession, his mother Olga, née Vestková, was a housewife. Josef trained as an aircraft mechanic and after completing his military service he graduated from the evening secondary school. He refused to become politically involved in any way and preferred to work in various labour jobs. When he learned of the formation of the Democratic Initiative in 1988, he became a member. After the Velvet Revolution he was involved in municipal politics for some time, but his main focus in life became environmental protection. After 1989 he worked for the Forests of the Capital City of Prague. In 1989 he worked for the Forestry Department of Prague as the head of the Prokopské údolí centre. This led him to found the Society for the Protection of the Prokopské and Dalejské valleys in 1993, where he is still active today. At the time of recording he lived in Prague.
