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 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)

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 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)

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

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

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)

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

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)

]]> https://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/2012/10/crossing-continents-to-reach-kids-in-a-nairobi-slum/ Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:40:56 +0000 http://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/?p=2631 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.

Conditions in Kibera are rudimentary

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

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

Now there is a falafel shop in Paris' Jewish quarter

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

Here is Coexister’s website, in French.

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