France starts building its Battery Valley with opening of new gigafactory
The facility located near Lens is the first step in the grand re-industrialization of the North along modern tech lines
Eric Straumann appealed to local restaurant businesses and citizens to step in, facing the ban on watering due to the extreme drought
France is experiencing extreme heatwaves and drought right now. In view of this, almost the entire territory of the country was placed in a state of drought alert last month, which restricts or forbids entirely the use of water for non-essential purposes.
Colmar, one of the most flower-abundant towns in the country and a European Best Destination for 2020, sadly entered the list of territories where the restrictions apply. Unable to take action to legally protect the unique beauty of his territory, the Mayor of Colmar adopted an unusual approach: appeal to local businesses and citizens to land a hand (or rather, a glass of water).
Eric Straumann yesterday called in a Facebook post to restaurant owners and their clients to pour all leftover and clean water into the gardens and flower meadows in Colmar. This includes the water from ice buckets, carafe bottoms, and the water used for washing vegetables. The mayor believes this will do well in relieving the drought situation and preserving the freshness of the green bed of Colmar.
He pointed out the fact that a meeting of a water resource committee the same day did not help to move the situation forward, by denying a derogation from the order. This, despite all parties “understanding the absurdity of the situation”. By absurdity, the mayor meant the fact that a nearby municipality, supplied by the same well, is allowed to water plants, while in Colmar this is prohibited.
Hence, while waiting for a decision by the Prefecture on whether this is legal, he called on locals to take action to protect the flowers in the tourist destination.
According to the mayor, quoted by local media, thanks to efficient techniques, Colmar needs only 15 cubic metres of water to flower plants daily, which is a negligible quantity for a city of 70 000 inhabitants. He further pointed out the importance of flowers to protect the local ecosystem and bees.
Drivers will be legally required to push their scooters manually in pedestrian areas and parks
Iberia will be the first company to introduce this option in the country
The facility located near Lens is the first step in the grand re-industrialization of the North along modern tech lines
Greece and Bulgaria are set to build one of the first 5G cross-border corridors in Europe
The feline registry is expected to start operating in 2026
The team presented the final report about a year, which was supposed to put the Luxembourgish city on the cultural map of Europe
After all, sleeping carriages are basically hotels on wheels
Drivers will be legally required to push their scooters manually in pedestrian areas and parks
Greece and Bulgaria are set to build one of the first 5G cross-border corridors in Europe
After all, sleeping carriages are basically hotels on wheels
Iberia will be the first company to introduce this option in the country
The feline registry is expected to start operating in 2026
The practical art objects are competing for one of the 2023 New European Bauhaus Prizes
Cast your vote before 24 May and do your part in promoting the NEB values
The new itineraries are part of the DiscoverEU programme, which lets 18-year-olds travel by train between important European sites
An interview with the president of the European Federation of Journalists
A talk with the head of Mission Zero Academy on the benefits for municipalities if they go the zero waste way
A talk with Nicolae Urs, one of the key figures behind the city's new data platforms and online services strategy