13.34.a - France: fun with purpose or 'feel-good'

In France more than a million people have attended a 'Climate Fresk' class to understand the process of global warming. The project is now spreading abroad.

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1.France: fun with purpose or 'feel-good'?
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1. France: fun with purpose or 'feel-good'?

A climate protest in Paris in June. Credit: Lucien Libert/Reuters

I’m frequently asked for suggestions of interesting things to do in Paris, and in France for that matter.

Many visitors to France are looking for involvement in community events as a way of enjoying themselves, meeting locals, and engaging more in French communities. At MyFrenchLife Magazine I’m always striving to find experiences beyond the cliché. And I look for different ways to meet locals and these workshops are certainly all of those things and more, especially for those who have the appropriate language skills. Have a look and let me know what you think.

According to Constant Méheut for The New York Times:

Many French people are taking part in “Climate Fresk,'“ workshops run by a nonprofit of the same name, that teaches the basics of global warming and highlights possible solutions. These events are becoming a popular night out in France, with more than a million participants.

Climate Fresks (which are named after the “fresco” that participants create with the cards) are gaining popularity as much of Europe faces more severe summers.

Participants use these cards to recreate the chain of global warming as they try to understand phenomena such as radiative forcing and ocean acidification. They also find themselves wrestling with the challenge of limiting energy-hungry air travel and developing nuclear power.

Credit: Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York Times

Are these workshops serious education or just ‘feel-good’ entertainment