Besides Code-Red snowfall, flooding, and storms in France and elsewhere in the world, here in Marseille and environs there has hardly been winter weather. It has been pleasantly mild. However, you wonder what this indicates about the upcoming summer. Contrasts and differences, near and far, is what weather is about but they are now severely intensified by the climate crisis. My luck that I often could ‘seize the day’ and go outdoors with camera and a bottle of filtered water in my backpack.

A good sign here is that more people are appreciating the great Outdoors, a result of the partial lockdowns, although it makes hiking in the Calanques a less exclusive and quiet activity than it was before the Pandemic. For that quietness the lesser known and more demanding paths are superb. Another good sign is that conversation happens more spontaneously, an everyone’s need, in this time of masked face relating.

Blooming Mimosa bushes are noticed from far away. They are an inherent part of the coastline of south France .. I was told by a couple who were taking photos of the Mimosa flowers when the lady mentioned that it was a pity she should not smell the Mimosa flowers as she suffered from hay fever. The Mimosa flowers have a wonderful fragrance, I fortunately can confirm, even when wearing a face mask.

Also billionaire Bill Gates has joined the climate crisis action think tank. In an article for the Guardian, he says “There are two numbers you need to know about climate change. The first is 51bn. The other is zero. Fifty-one billion is how many tons of greenhouse gases the world typically adds to the atmosphere every year. Zero is what we need to aim for. To stop warming and avoid the worst effects of climate change, humans need to stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.” I appreciate his going for Zero emissions, if he only could stop believing in nuclear energy. Safe production of clean energy is what we need.

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