Sunday, December 21, 2008

Watering Can to save the planet


I found this big water can at the entrance of Le Clos de Blancs Manteaux, a place where the Paris town hall is currently hosting an exhibition to show kids - and grown ups! - the right things to do ecologically in their house or in nature. Like being aware that even if you turn off the TV set, it's still in sleep mode and still uses electricity, how to sort garbage so that it can be recycled, why it's better to avoid off season fruit, etc. They also have little workshops apparently... Have a resting Sunday.

34 comments:

  1. We're very good about recycling here in NYC -- glad you are too. And I always unplug my electrical appliances when they're not in use.
    Nice picture!

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  2. Well, okay, I unplug some of them, though obviously not the ones with a built-in clock!

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  3. I unplug. Well most of them. Great splash of red, Eric.
    Rest this Sunday? Just before Christmas? Pah! Tomorrow there is wrapping to do, there's shopping, cleaning, ironing, washing, posting, parcelling, visiting, planning, making mince pies, cooking the Christmas cake, oh and then there's the personal bit - hair colour, nails, eyebrows, waxing.....Pah! Eric, I say, Pah! ;)

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  4. Lynn -- I second that Pah! I'm exhausted just reading your list, but unfortunately mine looks the same. And the tree still isn't up.

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  5. lol! Are we crazy or what? I've just agonised for a full ten minutes on whether the fairy should hang above the teddy bear and in between the crystal tree decoration or the other way round, since the light reflects better through the crystal from the right...hmmm... I just don't know. What do you think?

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  6. Thing is, when my two eldest sons arrive from uni on Boxing Day, they'll probably walk past it en route to the cooking smells in the kitchen and the most I can expect is "Nice tree Mum." Will they care about the teddy bear's impending juxtaposition? I think not.

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  7. Very cool.

    I just saw a documentary last night, showing how individuals are doing the same thing in China to promote ecologic awareness in children and others, and getting some results. It was pretty cool.

    Have a nice WE, everybody.

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  8. Stunning red water can!

    We do some recycling, but I never unplug the TV and Computer and the like. One reason the plugs are not easy to get to. I would have to move furniture everytime I wanted to unplug.

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  9. I like this big red splash in the middle of the street. I thought it was a real water can first, but I realise it's something like cardboard, or steel...Is it?

    We're quite aware that we have to do efforts in France. But I'm not sure that everybody is a good pupil in ecology...And compared to the other European countries, I'm absolutely sure that we are BAD pupils.

    I don't have your unplugging problem girls, I've no TV!

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  10. Lynn -- decorate the tree in whatever way pleases YOU, especially since your hungry sons won't notice anyway.

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  11. lol I do, I'm quite anal about my tree, in fact, Alexa! The amount of time we spent on all these preparations is truly flabberghasting though isn't it. There you go, Guille, a new word for you. Or maybe you've heard this ridiculous English word before? lol

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  12. Well, Lynn, I'm flabbergasted...but sorry, I already knew it. (But thought it was without a "h".)

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  13. No tv - of course Guille! You're not missing a great deal really...:) anyway when would you have time to watch it?!

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  14. Lynn you're right, always the same awful things on the TV. I only miss movies. But I'll always have the DVDs!

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  15. That's a great visual Eric. You all do a better job I think of educating the little ones. Bravo. Besides, it makes a helluva photo.
    V

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  16. This big red watering can would sure draw me into the exhibition. Sounds like a good idea to get the kids involved. I can't unplug my TV right now though, The Wizard of Oz is on. I'll go unplug the microwave though.

    Guille I don't know if you were attempting to start up with the water related puns on today's post, but you sure know how to pour it on, and in two languages!

    Alexa your computer was obviously turned on at the right time today. Congrats on ripping the crown right off my head. Ouch! I was at a performance of "p.d.q. bach christmas" so I couldn't compete. My favorite piece was "Joy to the World, Especially Out-of-Work Musicians (Suite for Six Gig-Impaired Instruments)" featuring piccolo, English horn, E-flat clarinet, baritone saxophone, contrabassoon and percussion.

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  17. Teaching children early is a great way to instill ecological practises as a habit. Sociologist Morris Massey says that our values are formed between the ages of 8 & 13, when children model what their parents or other people teach them. So this red can definitely serves more than just being a pretty photo!

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  18. Lynn said, "Will they care about the teddy bear's impending juxtaposition?

    More than you know Lynn, more than you know...

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  19. I have a new TV...Sony Bravia HDTV..blah, blah, blah...and I really seldom watch it except for movies on TV5 Monde; yet I know when it is OFF, it is OFF! No sleep mode! The only reason I even bought it was because my old Sony Trinitron died after a long life of 30 years!!

    Ohhh Lynn...We We Weeee all over the place!! LOL!!!

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  20. That's a great exhibition! We need more of them in Manila. Even recycling is an iffy thing in many districts here :( I'm glad my neighborhood is quite strict about it, but we have a long way to go about other things.

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  21. Hi Tonton...I missed you! You've reminded me of a great site we have here in France called RECUPE (http://recupe.fr/) It's a site where you can list things you want to give away instead of throwing them in the trash bin to go to the landfill. I imagine the concept probably exists elsewhere.

    I'm off to Seattle now for a long holiday. I hope to be influenced by those granola-crunching, Birkenstock-wearing, recycling-renegades out there. I LOVE IT :-)

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  22. Katie -- Eau, no! Water puns? Also, being at a performance of pdq Bach is at least as gratifying as being GF, don't you think?

    Tonton -- I had a Sony Trinitron too—which I finally replaced after about 35 years. It still worked, and without cable, but about 2 weeks later the Trade Towers came down, and with them the TV signal (making cable or satellite the only ways to get anything on the "idiot box," as my father called it).

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  23. What a great idea, and this BIG red watercan is lovely and also a bit "christmassy".

    Eric, thank you for all your beautiful photos all through the year. It's such a pleasure to follow life and seasons in Paris, inbetween my trips to the city, through your photos. You're doing such a huge job.
    Even though I'm not commenting much these days, I make sure to catch up on yhe photos once or twice a week.

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Eric and all of you lovely and enthusiastic regular PDP'ers.

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  24. Ohhh Michael I see what you're saying there x and that's good to know actually. Have a great time in Seattle!

    he he Tonton!

    Guille I have seen a spelling without the h, but it should be there. Use the h. x

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  25. Michael...you'll still be popping in here I hope?...:)

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  26. Actually, thinking about it, my post is probably the antithesis of yours today Eric!

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  27. Eric, you sure know how to make a striking image.

    Thank you for your wishes, Bettina! That was sweet.

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  28. Thank you for the reminder about vampire TVs and other appliances. I tend to forget. I am enthralled with your blog . . .

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  29. I think all of us could use reminders about recycling. I agree with Michael that parents can set the tone for their kids with regard to being ecologically aware. I'd like to think optimistically that we're moving in the right direction, but there are constant reminders when I'm hiking and stumble upon some idiot's beer can or stryofoam cup/plate tossed upon the path. Arghh! I guess that's why I usually carry a small garbage bag when I walk. Okay, I'm off my soapbox and going to go trim a tree. Happy Sunday all and safe trip to Seattle Miguel.

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  30. Lynn : "Rest this Sunday? Just before Christmas? Pah! Tomorrow there is wrapping to do, there's shopping, cleaning, ironing, washing, posting, parcelling, visiting, planning, making mince pies, cooking the Christmas cake, oh and then there's the personal bit - hair colour, nails, eyebrows, waxing.....Pah! Eric, I say, Pah! ;)" Excellent!! LOL!

    This afternoon, during my ultimate christmas shopping, my eyes were stopped by a shop window named 'l'art d'aimer'.
    I thought that it was a great thing, indeed! Maybe this just caught my attention because all the Christmas 'folklore' is nothing compared to 'l'art d'aimer'.

    Sorry, this is totally off the subject today... ecology yes! Usually the green colour symbolizes the environmental issues, doesn't it?. Funny Eric, because this watering can is really, really ... red!?! Anyway, whatever the colour, saving our planet is a major dilemna...

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  31. Watering can is carried out by hand, using a watering can or hose or water tanker, depending on the scale of the operation. To save time and labor, especially on the commercial sector, it is advisable to use sprinklers and permanently-installed irrigation systems.

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  32. Why is it better to avoid out of season fruit?

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