Facebook gets green. After some doubtful groups, here is one that stands out.
The event “World Blackout” invites everyone to turn down their lights and all the devices at home on September 17th 2008.
For 10 minutes, the idea is to let the earth breaths (and us at the same time).
If we all get involved, energy savings can be made.

Internet, a new media everywhere, seems to become a medium of influence and power. If this call works, other environment actions can be taken!

Invite all your friends in this crazy project. You have 10 minutes to save the world

Join Gavarni Hotel on Facebook!

Picnic lovers will have to make sure they behave: the government has just implemented a “picnic” tax of €0.90 on cutlery and plates made of plastic and non-recyclable cardboard.

It has to be admitted that many of us have been too lazy to take our china plates and silverware, but we’re going to have to get used to it! If you really can’t live with the idea of dragging back the washing-up in your pretty wicker basket, environmentally-friendly disposable cutlery and plates are also available. Made out of bioplastic or raw plant materials such as bamboo, they are harmless for the environment.

This eco-tax is related to the new tax being set up for highly polluting products: oils, pesticides and detergents. In the long term, it will provide finance for recyclable products.

So have a fun afternoon out and include an act of greenness, too.

photo credit: Stewart

Europe cares for a new world where public transport and sustainable development could be kings. From 16 to 22 September, the goal is to move and opt in for clean transportation.

Solutions? Alternative transport solutions. Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, and Sustainable Development, the event aims to reduce carbon emissions caused by transport in France and in the rest of Europe. The aim is obviously to influence the behavior of the French by changing their transportation choices. Their health and quality of life can only improve.

From 12 to 14 September is the Fete des transports durables, at the Trocadéro, for a meeting with key players in the field of transport and so-called “clean” cars, renewable energy …

On 17 September is the Day of public transport. One hundred public transport networks offer a pass for only 1€ per day, to encourage the French to choose clean transport. Car Free Day, established in 1997, became the day of public transport.

For its 12th edition on September 27 and 28, the city of Paris puts its gardens in the spotlight.
For reasons of nature protection and ecology, management of green spaces and the environment, and the City of Paris have got together to preserve and present biodiversity to Parisians.

This village will be set up at the Parc de Bercy to discover nearly 70 different jobs!

The new ecological gardens open their doors for a 100% green afternoon for couples and families. These gardens blend creativity and respect for the environment: place the Arenes de Lutece in the 5th arrondissement, the Georges Brassens park and square in the 15th Violet Square Sarah Bernhardt and the park of Belleville in the 20th, the classic Parc des Buttes – Chaumont in the 19th, the garden Villemin in the 10th and finally, the park Clichy-Batignolles in the 17th. This should satisfy everyone!

Finally, you will have the opportunity through the Bateaux Parisiens cruise offering, to listen to speakers talking about green areas, biodiversity of the Seine River and the history of gardens. Inspiring.

Information:
Hours of the garden: Saturday from 01:30pm until 6:30pm, Sunday 10:30am until 06:30pm.
Hours for the parc deamBercy Village: Saturday and Sunday from 10: 30 until 6:30pm.
Cruises for All: 5 € per person. From 4 year-old.

Photo credit: Andrew Starwarz

Holiday season is over for most of us. However, for those who are starting, here are some eco-citizen tips.

- Choose the train as transport and not the airplane, especially for short distances (except, of course, if it’s a 12 hour flight).
- Be careful with your trash: on average, a person leaves 2 liters of waste per day on the beaches! As a result, approximately 80% of waste found in sea from the land and killing an estimated of 1 million birds each year.
- Do not buy souvenirs, shells, starfish, sea or seahorses. A seahorse is cute, but it’s even more beautiful in the water than dried on your library. Same for the stars of the sea as for shellfish, initially they are living organisms, essential for the proper functioning of the marine ecosystem, it is better that they remain in the ocean.

Life and biodiversity are valuable and we have to preserve them, not only for ourselves but also for our neighbors, whether near or far.

Photo credit: Jessica Bee

Following the advice of the Gavarni Hotel to be eco-citizen at work, you are now ready to act at home!

At home: it maintains a temperature below 19°C, which allows energy savings of 7%. Ideally, you should sleep in a room at 16°C and the rest of your apartment or your house should be 19°C. But for persons having some problems with numbers, invest in a thermostat that will allow you to adjust the temperature according to your presence.
Finally, remember to insulate well in order not to lose that stupid energy you consume. The best is yet to close your shutters, your curtains and double your curtains!

In the garden: stop watering your lawn. After all, we must face facts: if you live in Aix-en-Provence, no more dreaming, your lawn will never be as sweet as the green pastures of Normandy.
You wonder what is the hype summer sport? Use a hand mower!
It does not spend energy so it does not pollute.
Obviously we get the rain water for domestic purposes: watering, washing the car or the dog.

In short, being eco-citizen is not so complicated as that, you just give yourself the means.

Photo credit: raf-dessins

French consumer confidence is sagging. The reason is that the government has just announced average increases of 5% in gas and electricity rates.
More and more French people are turning to renewable energy sources, abandoning fossil fuels and inclined to take up more environmentally responsible behaviours. We know that mankind uses considerable quantities of gas, oil and coal. But these are not going to last forever and some day they will be gone for good.

Given the pollution caused by the increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere and the resulting major climate change, it would be better for everybody to use solar or hydraulic energy to preserve our planet. It’s all the more worthwhile given that there are financial savings to be made too!

Today, there’s a lot we can do: install solar panels or wind turbines for heating and lighting, insulate our homes properly to stop energy being frittered away outside, make use of a heat pump which will make better use of the solar energy contained in the ground, or even buy an electric car.

Although most people are in favour of such moves, installing this kind of equipment is still a significant investment for most households. But isn’t it all worth it in the end?

Photo: dm-pellets.be

Being an eco-citizen requires much energy. It is true that often we lack the will or time and many other things. But we forget that being eco-citizen is not an act or a behavior which is confined only in the evening returned home. It is possible to do it at work!

The first moves of a good eco-worker? Do not leave it on when you leave, which means turn off the printer and the computer!
At the coffee break or lunch, do not use covered or disposable plastic cups because it increases waste and energy spent to produce them. So we are reminded of what our grandparents did and you bring a towel and covers!

But the topic that annoys the most in business is paper consumption. It is essential to be moderated. So have a reasonable behavior!
Similarly, the color prints are not necessary every time (especially when it comes to print the last joke received by e-mail from the accounting department).
The recycling of ink cartridges of printers are very welcome, that you do not have a rainbow bin.
Finally, the best idea is to give a second life to paper, using the printed sheets (you know, your jokes received via email) as draft because of course nobody has the courage to print on the back.

Did you know that Paris is twinned with the city of Rome, Italy?

This is also where the first shopping mall was created: Città dell’altra economia which means “the city in alternative economy.”

The mall opened its doors in September 2007 in Rome. The complex is a realization of the city’s commitment to develop sustainable development.

Paracchini says Andrea, a journalist, 5 million euros have been invested to create this eco-center.

The mall covers 3500m² and there are fair and organic products. Information on renewable energy, recycling, tourism and finance, ethics are also provided.

Ethical Fashion Show Paris 2008 at Carroussel du Louvre, 9 – 12 october 2008

Created in 2004 by Isabelle Quéhé, the Ethical Fashion Show has become the most popular ethic event. The Ethical Fashion Show presents designers who respect people, the environment and the skills inherent to each culture. All this is collected during 4 days of demonstrations, marches and conferences.
The living room has designer clothes, ready-to-wear, sportswear and streetwear, as well as clothing and accessories for children.
A space will be dedicated to the traditions and talents from around the world.
Each year, the Ethical Fashion Show serves a prize at the most ethical designer, awarded by a jury of fashion professionals and sustainable development.
This year, the Ethical Fashion Show has 100 selected designers responding to the questionnaire prepared by ethics Universal Love, the organization that organizes the event.

Since its inception in 2004, the Ethical Fashion Show is struggling to make ethical fashion.
Ethical fashion is fashion that takes into account the economy, people and the environment throughout the manufacturing process of clothing or accessories.