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LGBT activist promotes respect in Parisian schools

When Gary Roustan visits school classes in Paris, he’s the first gay person some of the students have met. As the president of an LGBT organization, he’s fighting homophobia – a year after France legalized gay marriage.

Over the past year, he and other members of the organization haven been invited to speak to students in 128 different high schools about what it means to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

Listen to the report by Fabien Jannic-Cherbonnel in Paris:

Gary didn't accept that he was gay at the beginning - his forst contact with homosexuals was at le Mag, the LGBT organization he is now the president of (Photo: F. Jannic-Cherbonnel)

Gary struggled with accepting his homosexuality at first – his first contact with homosexuals was at le Mag, the LGBT organization he now directs (Photo: F. Jannic-Cherbonnel)

The members of Le Mag in Paris not only support each other - they also go out to inform others about gender issues (Photo: F. Jannic-Cherbonnel)

The members of Le Mag in Paris not only support each other – they also go out to inform others about gender issues (Photo: F. Jannic-Cherbonnel)

Date

Wednesday 18.06.2014 | 06:32

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Saving France’s beaches from a plastic invasion

About five years ago millions of mysterious plastic pieces started appearing on France’s beautiful beaches. They were filters from nearby water treatment plants, where they play a useful role. But when the treatment plants overflow, the plastic filters escape and end up polluting the environment.

One 25-year-old Frenchman heard about the plastic invasion and decided to help protect the coastal environment. As a volunteer with the Surfrider Foundation Europe he’s been picking up as many plastic pieces as he can find. And that’s not all – he’s on a mission to find out where exactly these filters are coming from to hold the polluters accountable.

Listen to the report from Charlotta Lomas in La Teste-de-Buch, France

(first published October 29, 2013):

Charleric Bailly is tracking down the sources of plastic pollution. (Photo: C. Lomas)

Charleric Bailly is not only picking up as many plastic filters as he can find on France’s beaches but also tracking down the sources of plastic pollution. (Photo: C. Lomas)

These small plastic filters, also known as biocarriers, are used in wastewater treatment plants where they play a useful role. But when the treatment plants overflow, the plastic filters escape and end up polluting the environment. (Photo: C. Lomas)
These small plastic filters, also known as biocarriers, are used in wastewater treatment plants where they play a useful role. But when the treatment plants overflow, the plastic filters escape and end up polluting the environment. (Photo: C. Lomas)

Catherine Gonnot, secretary of Surfrider Foundation Gironde, is appreciative of Charlo’s volunteer work. (Photo: C. Lomas)

Catherine Gonnot, secretary of Surfrider Foundation Gironde, is appreciative of Charlo’s volunteer work. (Photo: C. Lomas)

The Surfrider Foundation organizes events like the recent Beach Day at La Teste-de-Buch, France. (Photo: C. Lomas)

The Surfrider Foundation organizes events like the Beach Day at La Teste-de-Buch, France. (Photo: C. Lomas)

 

Date

Tuesday 03.06.2014 | 14:51

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Ciao clichés: Showing Paris the real face of Romania

When Madalina moved from Bucharest to Paris, she fell in love with the city. But she was so disturbed by the stereotypes she encountered that she founded a project to introduce real Romanians to their Parisian neighbors.

The initiative, Je suis roumain (aussi) – I’m Romanian too – breaks down stereotypes by helping Parisians get to know who the local Romanian immigrants really are. One of them, artist Dan Perjovschi, recently joined the campagne with an installation the Immigration Museum.

Listen to the report by Fabien Jannic-Cherbonnel in Paris:

Madalina Alexe has lived in Paris since 2008 (Photo: F. Jannic-Charbonnel)

Madalina Alexe has lived in Paris since 2008 (Photo: F. Jannic-Charbonnel)

Artist Dan Perjovschi is well known in Romania and has shown his work in all major Paris musuems

Artist Dan Perjovschi is well known in Romania and has shown his work in all major Paris musuems (Photo: F. Jannic-Charbonnel)

 

 

Date

Tuesday 21.01.2014 | 13:03

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Holding polluters to account

Millions of small plastic filters started appearing on the beaches of France five years ago.

It turns out these filters are known as “biocarriers”. They come from water treatment plants, where they play a useful role. But when the treatment plants overflow, the plastic filters escape and end up in the environment.

When 25-year-old Surfrider Foundation Europe volunteer Charleric “Charlo” Bailly heard about this plastic pollution problem, he made it his mission to find out more.

Listen to the report by Charlotta Lomas in La Teste-de-Buch, France:

Holding polluters to account

Charleric Bailly is tracking down the sources of plastic pollution. (Photo: C. Lomas)

The small plastic filters, known as biocarriers, are used in wastewater treatment plants. (Photo: C. Lomas)

Catherine Gonnot, secretary of Surfrider Foundation Gironde, is appreciative of Charlo’s volunteer work. (Photo: C. Lomas)

The Surfrider Foundation organizes events like the recent Beach Day at La Teste-de-Buch, France. (Photo: C. Lomas)

Date

Tuesday 29.10.2013 | 15:17

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Crossing continents to reach kids in a Nairobi slum

Their lives couldn’t be more different, but Amelia in France and Regynnah in Kenya have the same goal: to make life better for kids in Nairobi’s largest slum who’ve been orphaned by AIDS.

Listen to the report by Nik Martin from Lyon:

Crossing continents to reach kids in a Nairobi slum

More on the Angels of Hope Kibera website.

Kids drinking water in the Kibera slum

Conditions in Kibera are rudimentary

Date

Tuesday 23.10.2012 | 12:40

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French student believes in inter-religious dialogue

In a secular country like France, religion is rarely mentioned. But one young student is campaigning to make sure that Muslims, Christians and Jews tal­­­­k to each other about their faith. Samuel Grzybowski believes that interfaith is central to helping France establish a strong identity in the 21st century.

Listen to the report by Naomi Scherbel-Ball in Paris:

French student believes in inter-religious dialogue

Samuel and a colleague at Coexister's office

Samuel and a colleague at Coexister's office

Goldenberg's

Goldenberg's, formerly a restaurant, had been a meeting place for Holocaust survivors

Falafel shop

Now there is a falafel shop in Paris' Jewish quarter

Plaque

A plaque marks the site of a racial attack in the Jewish quarter

Here is Coexister’s website, in French.

Date

Tuesday 03.07.2012 | 12:16

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Mission possible in Paris

Tiffany Tiberghien wanted a job that had meaning. For this 24-year-old Parisienne, that meant putting her Christian faith into practice. When she was 21, she spent a year working as a missionary in Vietnam, where she dedicated herself to children who had been abandoned because of their physical or mental disabilities. It was a life-changing experience. “When you give love, you get it back several times over,” Tiffany said.

When she returned to Paris, she decided to find similar work closer to home. She now organizes a chaplaincy for teenagers in the East of Paris – a place where often poor and isolated children can come and talk.

Listen to the report by John Laurenson:

Mission possible in Paris

Tiffany in Vietnam

Tiffany in Vietnam

Date

Tuesday 27.03.2012 | 12:53

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