Last night, walking around the Marais, we were met by swarms of bicyclists at every corner. I learned from my brother, that the City of Paris just released 10,000 bicycles for people to use as they please. There are stations in every neighborhood, where one can rent a bike for only one euro a day. Riding the bikes seemed like so much fun. We are going to have to add this to our list of to-do things before we leave. Which brings me to my point, that being green does not have to be a chore, proof in point with the bikes initiative. This is where the American could learn from the French. The French have the innate ability of turning pretty much any activity into pleasure. They don’t diet, they just eat right. They don’t exercise, they walk on their way to places. They do not work at being green, they just have fun with it.
Green Fun
July 28, 2007 by lamarguerite
Posted in French Culture | Tagged American culture, ecopsychology, French culture, fun, green living, human behavior, Velib' | 6 Comments
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when i can put pressure back on my hand again, I want to rediscover the bicycle – having an injury so devastating humbles one and reminds one also the awe of the human spirit and body – i have been impatient and have to remind myself that healing takes time…change takes time too
each step you take to greenness is more than you took before
you have so much to celebrate and you do that so well
the image of paris turning things into “pretty” makes me really smile, what a cool thing to say
did you see ratatouille?? makes me want to get that tool that can slice veggies paper thin ( what the heck is that ? )
Mother Earth
Life is not as complicated as it seems, bicycle versus automobile that is to say. Sometimes, we need to go back to our original form and it is good. To go green we don’t have to go far just put on our thinking cap and follow our hearts. Treat life lightly, pure and good. We need to enjoy life to the maximum.
Mother Earth, Hazel,
Thanks for all your positive thoughts. Yes, I agree, becoming green is simple. It is also quite a long, journey, with many obstacles, personal, cultural, and environmental, along the way.
Yes I’m all in favour of putting the fun into becoming green! There are challenges but there is a lot of enjoyment too.
The enjoyment part gets forgotten a lot in the green press, don’t you think?
[…] life. I need a little nudge to make room for biking. That’s where city based initiatives like Velib‘ in Paris are so important. They help jump start the process. I have forgotten how good it […]