Saving the Planet, A
trend or is it a Real Movement ?
The welcome
panel says, Lunel: "flowery City"
An exclusive interview with Mr.
Pratick Laout, head of the local environmental council in Lunel-South of
France.
BY NAOUEL ABBADI
“Save the Planet!” is today’s slogan. We notice it everywhere: in
magazines, on the radio, TV, on the subway, even on cereal boxes. It is only a
matter of “citizen’s gesture” and “green attitude”.
But is this a trend or a
real movement? The line is unclear. Certainly, we are the green generation. We
are, in theory, concerned for the environment and are harmonious with major
green principles. However, we are troubled by the forces of change that psyches
the implementation of green tactics.
Though familiar with "ables" (equitable, durable, reasonable,
bearable, renewable), we remain guilty of infrequent action. Leaving a clean
planet for the generations to come, this is our lofty goal, but is it easier
said than done? Are we ready to change our habits?
I wondered about
my home town, a countryside city which does not seem to have any ecological
problems. What did I find? Even the countryside is going green! Lunel is a
village of 25,000 inhabitants, in the south of France. Pratick Laout, Head of
the local environmental council, exposes future green city projects and the
necessary means given to the residents to change their non-sustainable
habits.
Patrick Laout
delves deeper on how ecological projects in Lunel were previously implemented.
The most
important realization, because it was the first one in France particularly, is the photovoltaic farm created in 2008. Other projects were the retrofittingof parks and there are plans of the
expansion of an arboretum following the theme "trees with small
fruits", to attract young residents.
Great lengths were taken torearrange the banks of the channel of Lunel,
as a result is the noticeable return of ducks and fish and other wildlife that
moved back to the channel.
So
the projects are to facilitate green spaces, but what about urban areas?
Lunel began
renovating streets and pedestrian walkways. The main avenue in the city centre
was congested with cars and there was a call for restoration of pedestrian
spatial traffic.
With cars being a major source of pollution, and realizing
that it was difficult for people to travel on pedestrian walkways, the city
narrowed the street and widened walkways in a necessary effort to reduce road
traffic.
Does Lunel
give the means for residents to contribute to the ecology of the city?
In the beginning
of 2010, the city's plan is to establish a bus network. A cycle track inside
the city and a green way outside, which would allow moving around neighboring
villages, are also in the works.
To reduce the use of cars even more, the city
also wishes to increase the rail traffic between Lunel and surrounding cities,
which would entice people to exchange their regular commutes in private
vehicles for trains as a much greener solution.
Will Eco-changes in Lunel, bring favorable reactions ?
It is hard to
create a sense of “bio-responsibility” and to change habits. There is an
“I-don't-give-a-hoot" attitude, and some egotism, a bit peculiar to the
French, which makes change difficult. That being said, Lunel is a young city,
and the youths have adopted green habits.
“ I can see it with my granddaughter
when I ask her to take care of the bins; she takes care to sort out bottles,
cardboard, etc. Green changes and taking responsibility for our environment
emanate from the younger generation, who are growing up in the swing of
ecological awareness.” Said Laout.
What are your
communications strategies to promote environmental protection?
The city tries
to remind residents as often as possible of the rules of waste separation through
local communicative mediums like city newspapers, "Lunel Info”. We try
hard to inform people of current green projects.
It is also very important for
us to set an example. We clean our parks with thermal weed killers instead of
chemical weed killer. It is a little green step, but if everyone involves
themselves with little green gestures, the sum will bring a real change for the
planet. Government responsibility is good but personal responsibility is
better.
Lunel, a small
town, in the middle of the countryside stays
still vigilant as it dawns into a new age of environmental protection. In
addition to a foreseeable future of ‘green’ change emerging from the towns’ people, their individual
responsibility and sustainable choices.
Naouel Abbadi, I am 23 years old, and currently a student in AarhusUniversity.
I am taking part of the Erasmus Mundus program, and I am representing France,
but also Morocco, as my parents come from this country. I am
born in Montpellier, in the south of France. I started studying communication
in the Institut ICOM of Lyon (in the center of France)
and for my third year, I studied in Oxford,
Uk, where I
received my Bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
