Last week, a friend of mine who publishes a site dedicated - among other things - to sustainable developement, alerted me that the soda brand Orangina (a famous orange juice soda in France) was about to organize a "Greenwashing" in some areas of Paris. Principle? Turn parking spaces into a little fake grass green spot (an idea that was apparently "stolen" from the park(ing) day movement). I had to see this... I chose to visit the one spot located on my favorite place in Paris: La Place des Victoires. Here you go. Nothing really extraordinary, but unusual enough to be worth a post on PDP ;)
Beautiful sky and greenery smiling back. Great way to start the day. Have a good one!
ReplyDeleteOk, ok, ok... :~) Eric had some issues with his previous post... Chateaubriand will return... I have been tasked to post this one instead. Sorry for been late, it's Friday and I was enjoying... a Santana concert..!! :~)
ReplyDeleteIgor
www.citydailyphoto.com
Aha! Suddenly I was unable to respond on Chateaubriand, and now I know why!
ReplyDeleteI will enjoy this pretty blue sky and the parking day movement. I've read about this before in a magazine called Yes!
http://www.yesmagazine.org/
Petrea, I posted a message to you California Girl about the party tonight. I hope you got it -- it seems like everything was erased regarding Chateaubriand photo and comments.
ReplyDeleteLucio Crispino, I posted a message in reply to your "viewing" message. However, it appears everything that we said yesterday was erased. Maybe that is the way the "gods" are telling us that we talk tooooo much.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Louis, I tried to post there but couldn't get back on. I did see your message, though, and that of Jules--since we'd been speaking of blogging and its contribution to world peace, her appearance was timely.
ReplyDeleteI meant Lois, of course.
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping Eric, Igor!
ReplyDeleteI think this greenwashing idea is extraordinary, and proves that social and ecological responsibility can be fun, too!
On Thursday, I was walking in Passy, and a lady was distributing free cans of Orangina to passersby. I had no idea it was related to a greenwashing cause till now.
ReplyDeleteFor those who are living in Paris or who are planning on going, the Marie Antoinette exhibition is quite lenghy so leave lots of time, and go after 5pm as the line is minimal then, and nonexistent at 7:30pm..
What did you think of the exhibit, PHX? Did you enjoy it?
ReplyDeleteGreat perspective there, the pot looked so big! Just notice your profile (Friendly Parisian) lol-I also have a friend who comes from Paris, and yes she and her daughter are nice. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteDid I oversleep an entire day or something? I dreamt there was another post here a few hours ago...
ReplyDelete???
Lois: What was your message?
ReplyDeleteThis is a classic example of what could/can be done to give nature a badly needed boost. To eliminate a mile of asphalt and replace it, somehow, with living, breathing, beneficial stuff, is not a mind-boggling revelation but a step in the right direction. Plantings on roofs and balconies can also help.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest thing we can all do is pee in the toilet two times before we flush once. That along would save half of all the water wasted in toilets each year. Then that water could be mixed and used to wash limos, taxicabs and chariots.
I managed to post about my hospitalization adventures. Hope you get to read it.
Abraham Lincoln in Brookville, Ohio
This is a great idea, though it wouldn't work in Britain. We need our parking spaces! There is also quite a lot of green, but the idea of sacrificing the scarce parking areas so people could sit down, i believe, would be laughable. See what Ham says.
ReplyDeleteI love Orangina. We call it a fizzy drink here in the UK. Soda is something else, a squirt of soda into an alcoholic spirit drink. My parents had a soda syphon in the sixties, this is what i associate with the word soda. I think usa = soda, uk = fizzy
Your angle is superb, Eric. You inspire me with photography every day.
I don't mean to give the wrong impression: i adore green areas and nature, the idea to sit and watch is fabulous. However, as life IS hectic, really hectic and we all have to rush from this appointment to that, park here and move on counting the minutes, i just don't think it would be practical. I suppose i'm looking at how life already IS, not as an ideal.
ReplyDeleteLynn: "I think usa=soda, uk=fizzy"
ReplyDeleteIn Texas, "Coke = any type of soda"...go figure! Sort of funny, when somebody asks, "What kind of Coke d'ya want?" "I'll have a Mountain Dew." :-)
Bravo! This picture beautifully captures the sustainable development theme. :) I miss Paris more than ever.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a vital topic, one that unfortunately isn't emphasized in engineering studies. Some programs are making great strides in educating students about sustainablility, but not nearly enough are (imo). Most of the action seems to be in architecture, with some truly impressive solutions. I hope to do more, as an engineering educator!
M. Lincoln! Good to see you. :)
Lynn, on the west coast (or at least so cal) and in the south, a coke is anykind of soda. Then other parts of the country call it a soda or a pop. I'm not sure what parts call it soda and which parts call it pop. It's always been "coke" to me,lol.
ReplyDeleteThis patch of grass with the bench looks like a nice place to read. I prefer a patch of grass over asphalt anyday!
Coltrane & Tanya: Now i'm really confused!! Coke? That's the dark brown liquidy stuff only isn't it? he he
ReplyDeletePop is used here in England sometimes too, though usually as 'fizzy-pop'. It's mostly known as 'fizzy drinks' here. I have to say i do love them. Mostly i'm a fruit juice drinker, including in the pub! Something about the fizzy thing though isn't there. Coke, orangina, water even.Oh and Lucozade oh yum Lucozade. Yes i know it's all sugar. Oh well everything in moderation. Mmmm ginger beer....mmmm. lol.
MMMM Elderflower presse! Forgot that one... yummy.
ReplyDeleteSentimental Jennifer still has a bottle of Orangina (from Paris) in the fridge. :)
ReplyDeleteDr. Pepper is popular here in the South. Shrines have been erected in his soda "pop" honor. jk, jk, jk. ;)
Tanya, the south mainly uses the word "soda" and the north, especially the Chicago area uses "pop". They tend to look at you rather odd there if you ask for a soda...
ReplyDeleteEric, great picture as always, I love how when you first look at it, it could be anywhere and then you see the beautiful building in the background and know that it couldn't be anywhere but Paris.
fyi....
ReplyDeletegreenwashing
Quick word from the ski slopes... It's entirely my fault, I did not check the link on Chateaubriand before leaving...
ReplyDeleteThat is why I asked Igor to switch the photos, but since we're not on the same time line (Igor is in the US) he did not realize the crappy link on time...
Anyway, like Igor said, Chaetaubriand will return, as soon as I fix the photo problem. My apologies.
No it's time for me to take a super hot bath, I have had the toughest ski day in my life! (And I lost my cell phone on the slopes, but that is another story...)
Ohh how annoying that you lost your mobile, Eric. I have lots of phone numbers on mine - does anyone back theirs up?
ReplyDeleteYou were determined to tease us, weren't you Eric he he! Quick word from the ski slopes.... taking a super hot bath... toughest ski day... nicely done. lol. Actually i don't envy you the skiing but i could do with a holiday! Have a great time Eric and bring back lots of photos to show us!
Thanks for the information on the orangina orange juice soda in France Elaine Cooke
ReplyDeleteEric, enjoy your bath. Igor has done a fabulous job, don't you worry about a thing. I think we like the Orangina pic just fine and it has sparked a discussion as always.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with Tanya, but only sort of; I'm in soCal where we say "coke" generically as in "you want to go get a coke?" But it means Coca Cola when ordering, so in that case we have to be specific.
Old Man Lincoln: Feeling perkier today, I see. Cheers to you about the peeing twice rule. When I moved to LA in 1988 there was drought. It was common to be the second to arrive at the public toilet and find it had been "previously yellowed." No one minded. Here we are in drought again, and that rule hasn't yet been imposed. It should be, but we're too prissy now. We should at least be doing at home.
Bravo to Orangina for sponsoring this event; and thanks for capturing it for us Eric! Love the blue sky and orange tree. This could be California! Sorry to hear you lost your cell phone on the slopes Eric. I hope you took some snow photos that you can share with us!
ReplyDeletein some parts of the us, soda=pop. it's quite a battle between me and some of my friends from other parts of the country! and i've seen this done in san francisco before and thought it was a great way to raise awareness, glad to see it catching on elsewhere!
ReplyDeleteHey, where's the beef?
ReplyDeletebuzzgirl (who's too lazy to sign in)
And of course Eric, as usual is right down with his lens on the astro-turf. Thanks for giving us the view we'd rather not get down there ourselves for! I really do appreciate your efforts!
ReplyDeleteAll this talk about Orangina made me thirsty for orange juice. I love orange juice anyway. I love fake grass -- it's so POP! I bought some once for my deck (along with some plastic daisies and a couple of plastic trees). I did a piece of soft sculpture once in 1970 called "fake tree". It was made out of fake leather and satin. It was 6 ft tall. I wonder what happened to that?
ReplyDeletePetrea, I knew you meant Lois. Happens to me ALL the time. My grandfather's name was Louis, my mom is Louise. In France my family and friends pronounce my name with a silent "s" -- like Louis pronounced in France.
Lucio Crispino, Oh, I was rambling on and on about the art museum and the new academy of science museum that they are building. I was tired; I went to too many parties yesterday. It was one of those days/nights.
Eric, maybe you will find your phone. Maybe you just left it somewhere, or maybe it fell out of your pocket in your car.
Hi Eric,
ReplyDeleteSorry for your cell phone...
I liked a lot its bell at the office ;) Have you thought of making it ring again? Maybe someone has found it and will give it back to you. Sometimes, it happens. Obviously, if you lost it in the snow, you probably can forget the idea!
i wonder why you told it was a tough ski? Was it because of the snow or because of the slopes ?
In Paris, today, the weather was not as nice as yesterday. A bit cold and rainy, even if in the evening, it was lightly better.
Bonne suite!
One of your colleague and faithful PDP fan! Guess who ?! I know we are numerous but I trust you ;)
Anonymous, It's cold here too in SF, and it rained the night before last. The weather in SF is a lot like Paris. So I never have to change my wardrobe when going back and forth. Most of my family has moved out of Paris to Southern France. They say that Paris is damp and bad for their arthritis. The same of true of SF -- SF is damp. But I love both places anyway.
ReplyDeleteIs that a fake peach tree in the photo?
And if we need to call you?!! LOOOL
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the ski Eric, I said yesterday in the "shadow comment box" (Chateaubriand) that the spring was in Paris, well I have to contradict myself: today the weather sucked!! hm hm.
I don't really understand the principle, maybe it's a question of vocabulary but I didn't catch the story... :s
Who will be sweet enough to help me?..Lynn? Monica? Jeff? ERIC?? ;)
Guille, I'm not sure I understand the principle correctly too. But I think the goal of this Orangina campaign is to increase the number of green areas in the city, and one way to do it would be turning parking lots into green areas.
ReplyDeletehumm. I thinks that's what it is about. If I'm wrong I'm sure one of our friends here will enlight us.
Eric what you have to do is call your cell phone, see who answers it and ask for its return. You probably already did this...
Lois, I don't know SF yet but I just would love going there !!! Next destination on my wish-to-go very long list!!
ReplyDeleteJustine got it right about the drinks. I was born in PGH and learned "pop" and lived most of my life in MIA where it is soda.
ReplyDeleteBTW, UKLynn,to further confuse you, lemonade in the US is not 7UP but is what the UK refers to as "still lemonade". I think that passenger is still mad at me from yrs. ago when I said we have no lemonade on board.
Petra: The exhibition was massive and quite comprehensive. What I never realized was that she was a Haspsburg and had the famous jaw--only to be seen on ONE of the many paintings on view. She was painted in a most positive light otherwise. The first part was mostly furniture, paintings, sculpture and Sevres. The second part was on her incarceration and they displayed a muslin dress that she wore then. There was a man who gathered up many of her possessions after she was killed,they were then handed down thru each generation of his family and wound up in the exhibition!
PBS did a wonderful program on her and I HOPE it was the one I spent 30 euros on in the gift shop.If you can find it on Amazon, it is called Marie-Antoinette a film by David Grubin.If it's the one, it gave an in depth understanding to her character.
Sorry I went on so long, but I think there are a few more of you out there who will find this video interesting.
Phx thanks for telling us about the exhibition. I was really curious to know what it was like, I'm sure I would have enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThis film sounds very interesting too. Don't even get me started on gift shops... I often spent my euros there, I love the books they have in the museums gift shops.
Bostonians wouldn't be happy with a movement like that!
ReplyDeleteFortuntely i live on an island, where building is restricted and recycling second nature. Unfortunately the same island occasionally has server issues, hence post today.
ReplyDeleteVery land of the giants shot. The mmundane, but not photographed that way.
Thanks, PHX, I live vicariously through you!
ReplyDeletethese aren't really intended to actually bring a permanent green area into a parking space. it's meant to raise awareness about bringing green into urban areas by surprising people with a patch of green that is usually covered in pavement. The spots are temporary. They are just to remind people that green is important in super-paved urban environments and maybe we should look at real, permanent ways to incorporate them!
ReplyDeleteI love the angle of this photo! It's stunning, really magnificent.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a wee one, Orangina was sold in supermarkets in New Hampshire as Oreillia (sp.). Not sure when the name changed...
ReplyDeleteI am from the United States and went to France this past summer. I had an Orangina for the first time, it was something that I have never seen before and it looked very refreshing. So this blog caught my eye with the brand name. This is a highly amusing topic. I hope to get back there soon, I absolutly loved the city.
ReplyDeleteI am from the United States and went to France this past summer. I had an Orangina for the first time, it was something that I have never seen before and it looked very refreshing. So this blog caught my eye with the brand name. This is a highly amusing topic. I hope to get back there soon, I absolutly loved the city.
ReplyDelete