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An event taking place next Saturday was brought to my attention. It’s the ‘earth hour’. For one hour, turn off your lights and other electricity sources, and help doing a little something for the environment. It’s not much, but it could make a difference. Next Saturday, between 8pm and 9pm, I’ll be reading a book by candlelight. What will you be doing?
You can sign up for the ‘earth hour’ here.
Et un sourire
La nuit n’est jamais complète
Il y a toujours, puisque je le dis
Puisque je l’affirme
Au bout du chagrin
Une fenêtre ouverte
Une fenêtre éclairée
Il y a toujours un rêve qui veille
Désir à combler, faim à satisfaire
Un coeur généreux
Une main tendue, une main ouverte
Des yeux attentifs
Une vie, la vie à se partager.
Paul Eluard (Le Phénix, 1951)
And a smile
Night is never total There is always, since I say it Since I affirm it At the end of sorrow An open window A lit window There is always a dream that remains Desire to fulfil, hunger to satisfy A generous heart A hand held out, a hand open Attentive eyes A life, life to be shared. (my own translation)
This is my favourite poem. I find it beautiful, filled with hope, love, and compassion. For me, it represents a lot of things that tend to be forgotten in our modern society. People do not seem to take the time to smile anymore, they are so much in a hurry that they do not pay attention to all the little details that could make them smile during their day. Stop for a minute, look around you, and appreciate. There are still so many simple pleasures in this world, but they are missed on. Why make everything so complicated? Take a deep breath and smile!
I tend to make this my philosophy of life, and it is extremely satisfying! I wake up in the morning and look at the green hills at the back of the houses across the street. I go to the shop and exchange a few words with the shopkeeper. On my way back home, I smile to the passer-bys, and sometimes they even smile back or say ‘hello’. At work, I try to care and to connect with people. And finally, at the end of the day, I think about what made me smile, what positive details happened during the day, and I smile!
Welcome here! and thank you for taking the time to have a look at this blog!
I’m sorry, but I will have to start with a big scream for my country of adoption, Ireland. ‘Stop building the motorway through Tara!’.
For those of you who do not know Ireland, the Hill of Tara was the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland. It is one of the most significant heritage site in Ireland. A motorway is at this moment being built, which is supposed to go through the Tara-Skryne valley. I invite you to have a look at this BBC article to have an idea of what’s going on.
Basically, the debate goes between those who want to preserve the national heritage and those who wish for a motorway so that they can get to work faster. I do support the improvement of roads in Ireland, but I think it shouldn’t be to the detriment of the national heritage.
Since the economic boom, the Celtic tiger as it is called, the country has been ravaged by new buildings. Housing estates are sprouting everywhere and deteriorating the beauty of the Irish landscape. There doesn’t seem to be any laws to protect the national heritage, or if there are, there are not obvious to the common eye. The infrastructure of the country does need to be improved, but it should also be planned and thought through, which I think is not the case.
In my opinion, if the motorway goes through the valley, it means that there are no limits, anything can be done to the country!
If you wish to learn more about the situation at Tara, visit the Hill of Tara blog or the activists site. If you feel concerned, you can sign the petition here. Help to preserve one of the most beautiful countries in the world!
