About “The Green Connection” Initiative

 

3438633564?profile=original 

 

The Green Connection is a new initiative of the Cultural Services of the Embassy of France in the United States.

 

3438633577?profile=originalAmerican high school students will participate each year in an educational and scientific trip to France, organized around the theme of ecology.

 

Participants will be selected through a national competition for which candidates will submit proposals for local or personal projects in the field of environmental protection.

 

 

 

The goals of The Green Connection program are:

 

- To promote exchanges between French and American youth beyond just language and culture;

- To awaken and encourage the curiosity of young American high school students on the subject of environmental protection;

- To inspire them in the pursuit of scientific vocations by giving them the opportunity to expand and share their ideas on the biggest environmental challenges of the 21st century;

- To teach eco-friendly actions to the adults of tomorrow to ensure a healthy future for our planet;

- To encourage youth participation in social issues by supporting concrete initiatives in the area of environmental protection;

- To offer young Americans the opportunity for total immersion in the French language and culture.

 

THE GREEN CONNECTION 2011:  EXCHANGE FOR OCEAN CONSERVATION

 

To kick off the inaugural year of The Green Connection program, the program theme will be marine environment and ocean conservation.

 

The Maud Fontenoy Foundation, an organization recognized for its public service and work for ocean conservation and seashore protection, will be the special partner of The Green Connection 2011:  Exchange for Ocean Conservation.  Thanks to the support of the foundation, teaching kits in French and English will be distributed to participating schools in order to help teachers sensitize students to issues surrounding marine health and to encourage students to better understand the global marine environment. This material will be adaptable to a variety of teaching approaches and pedagogical activities, depending on the needs of the science or French class in question. The program will also build on the extensive educational resources of Earth Day Network, an international non-profit organization dedicated to environmental education and the environmental movement.

 

American high school students will be invited to submit individual project proposals for local or personal initiatives for environmental protection. Each proposal will be in the form of a short audiovisual presentation (video clip). Proposals should show the student’s interest in environmental issues and his or her commitment to environmental protection.

 

10 regional committees (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, New Orleans, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.) will each select the two best presentations from their respective regions. The juries will be composed of representatives from the French Embassy in the United States, the Maud Fontenoy Foundation and the main sponsors of the program.

 

Students with the best proposals will be invited to participate in an educational trip from July 4 to July 14, 2011 in La Rochelle, France.

 

The winning projects as well as a selection of the most original presentations will be published on The Green Connection program website.

 

3438633396?profile=originalThe logistical organization of the trip will be arranged by the Auberge de jeunesse de La Rochelle in collaboration with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Auberge de Jeunesse de La Rochelle is a member of the FUAJ (Fédération Unie des Auberges de Jeunesse), a well-respected organization of youth hostels in France, and has years of experience organizing educational trips on the theme of the environment. A number of meetings with various marine specialists and representatives from environmental protection associations have been planned for the program. Visits in and around La Rochelle and its natural environment will help students gain an appreciation of the region’s dynamism in the field of “green” initiatives.

 

Proposed program activities include:

- A conference on “Man and the Sea,” followed by a visit to the La Rochelle Aquarium

- A meeting with experts from the National Seashore Conservatory

- A meeting with the Echo-Mer Association (an association working for the protection of the marine environment)

- A visit to the waste stabilization ponds of Rochefort (an ecological center for the treatment of waste water)

- A visit to a waste reprocessing plant (recycling, etc.)

- Oil removal and beach clean-up outings

- A visit to an oyster farm

- A visit to the salt marshes of the Ile de Ré

- An outing on the « Tahia » sailboat, the standard bearer for the Maud Fontenoy Foundation

 

The trip will also feature a number of opportunities for the American students to meet and spend time with the local youth and citizens of La Rochelle.

 

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE GREEN CONNECTION 2012:  EXCHANGE FOR URBAN ECOLOGY

 

Upon their return to the United States, the participants of the 2011 program will act as ambassadors and spokespeople for The Green Connection program. The returning students will communicate what they learned on their La Rochelle trip in their local communities (in schools, universities, neighborhoods, organizations, etc.).

 

This community outreach will also provide 2011 participants with the opportunity to talk about and promote the second year of the program:  The Green Connection 2012: Exchange for Urban Ecology.  A calendar of returning participants’ activities will be available on The Green Connection website.

 

The Green Connection was inspired by today’s youth and their growing sensibility to environmental protection. Keeping the environment safe and pristine for future generations is a major concern for youth of the 21st century, and with the education of young people at the heart of our mission, we aim to support their efforts by helping them acquire the knowledge and skills to make the best decisions for our planet’s future.


 

Contest Theme

Students are invited to submit individual project proposals for local or personal environmental protection initiatives. Each proposal must be in the form of a short audiovisual presentation (reporting, interviews, etc.) with a maximum length of 4 minutes. The material submitted must be the student's original creation and the participant may only use video images that he/she recorded him/herself. Voice-over narration and interviews can be in French and/or English.

The audiovisual presentation must include:

* The name of the person submitting the presentation;

* An identification of the environment/surroundings featured in the video (region, city, neighborhood, etc.);

* A description of the proposed initiative and how it will affect daily life in the community;

* A demonstration of the student’s interest in environmental issues and his/her commitment to environmental protection.

 

Registration and Application Deadline: March 31, 2011

 

1st Prize: An all-expense-paid educational trip to La Rochelle, France (July 4 to July 14, 2011)

Upon their return to the United States, the participants of the 2011 program will communicate what they learn on their trip to La Rochelle in their local communities (in schools, universities, neighborhoods, organizations, etc.). This community outreach will give 2011 program participants the opportunity to talk about and promote the second year of the program: The Green Connection 2012: Exchange for Urban Ecology. A calendar of returning participants’ activities will be available on The Green Connection website.

 

Other Prizes: Books, CDs, etc.

 

The winning videos will be posted on the website of the Cultural Services of the Embassy of France - www.frenchculture.org - and on YouTube. All videos received in this competition become the property of the Cultural Services of the Embassy of France in the United States.

 

The first prize winner’s teacher will also receive a 1 year subscription to the magazine "Le français dans le monde": www.fdlm.org

 

Who Can Participate?

This contest is open to all American high school students (9th-12th grades) who learn French at school.

Important Notice: The 1st prize winner must be at least 16 years old at the time of entry into the French territory.

 

How to Apply?

High school students of French who would like to apply should produce a short audiovisual presentation featuring a proposal for a local or personal environmental protection initiative. The applicant must post his or her video to YouTube and then provide the link on the application form.

To create a YouTube account: https://www.youtube.com/create_account?next=%2F

Please note:  You do not need to pay for special video-editing software to produce your application video submission. We recommend using a simple program like Windows Movie Maker: http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/1.

 

Participating schools must submit their application forms and check payments ($5 per participating student) by March 31, 2011. Checks must be made payable to “AATF.” The first school to submit applications to the program will receive a copy of the photography collection, Regards sur le littoral (see page 5 for more details).

 

If you are unable to post your video on YouTube, please copy your presentation to a CD and mail it in with your application form.

 

Application forms must be submitted by e-mail to: siham.kheddar@diplomatie.gouv.fr

Siham Kheddar
French Embassy
972 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10075

Phone: 212-439 1436
Fax: 212-439 1455

 

 

 

Suggestions for Classroom Activities

This is not a comprehensive list

French teachers can receive a free copy of the July-August 2010 issue of Le français dans le monde, dedicated to ocean protection, by sending a request by e-mail to scule.washington-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr. Corresponding activities are available online at: www.fdlm.org

 

Online Activities from TV5 Monde

 

www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/fiche-290-Protection_de_l_environnement.htm

Paroles de clip

 

Aux arbres citoyens de Yannick Noah

www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/fiche_emission.php?id=420

 

Objectif Terre de Ridan

www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/fiche-855-Objectif_Terre.htm?fromsearch=1&fromliste=1

 

L’émission Coup de pouce pour la planète

www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/fiche-1946-Coup_de_pouce_pour_la_Planete.htm?fromsearch=1&fromliste=1

 

L’émission Thalassa

www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/fiche-82-Thalassa.htm?fromsearch=1&fromliste=1

 

Image par image

Evénement-catastrophe : www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/fiche-336-Evenement_catastrophe.htm?fromsearch=1&fromliste=1

Projet écologique : www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/fiche-330-Projet_ecologique.htm?fromsearch=1&fromliste=1

 

La mer menace la côte béninoise !

www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/fiche-2192-5_5_La_mer_menace_la_cote_beninoise.htm?fromsearch=1&fromliste=2

 

Alerte Terre

www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/fiche-1256-Alerte_Terre.htm?fromsearch=1&fromliste=2

 

Les animaux racontent le changement climatique

http://www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/fiche-1671-Les_animaux_racontent_le_changement_climatique_fiche_generique.htm?fromsearch=1&fromliste=2

 

 

Online Activities from Radio France International (RFI)

 

www.rfi.fr/lffr/pages/001/page_59.asp

 

Other Resources

 

Maud Fontenoy Foundation www.maudfontenoy.com

Earth Day Network www.earthday.org/education

Good Planet www.ledeveloppementdurable.fr/

Programme des Nations Unies pour l’environnement

www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/french/index.asp

Alterre Bourgogne http://www.alterre-bourgogne.fr/?id=546

Fondation Nicolas Hulot : www.fondation-nicolas-hulot.org/

Amis de la Terre www.amisdelaterre.org/

SOS 21 www.sos-21.com/Les-contenus-du-jeu.html

Défi pour la Terre www.defipourlaterre.org

Ministère de l’écologie http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr

Ademe www.ademe.fr

Le développement durable www.ledeveloppementdurable.fr/

L’Homme qui plantait des arbres, une nouvelle de Jean Giono, écologique avant l’heure

www.fredericback.com/cineaste/filmographie/lhomme-qui-plantait-des-arbres/index.fr.shtml

 

Starting February 15th, activities based on these resources will regularly be posted on our website www.frenchculture.org.

 

Additional Resources Related to The Green Connection” Initiative

 

1- Regards sur le Littoral

A photography collection presented by CulturesFrance and the Conservatoire du littoral (2008). Featuring a series of posters, this collection encourages a (re)discovery of the French seashore, and through large-format photographs, provides new perspectives on the shape of the coastline, the passage of time and the imprint of human life on the environment.  Fifteen spectacular landscapes of the French seashore from renowned photographers are presented in poster form in color and black and white. Contributors include Batho, Ceccaroli, Cuisset, Depardon, Konopka, Monthiers, Plossu, Séméniako, and Verley.

 

Le Conservatoire du littoral www.conservatoire-du-littoral.fr

L’Institut Français (CulturesFrance) www.adpf.asso.fr/

 

2- Home, a film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand www.youtube.com/homeproject

 

3- A meeting with Maud Fontenoy

 

To find out more about these events, please email scule.washington-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr.

E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of New York in French to add comments!

Join New York in French

Comments


  • "HOME" A Film By Yann Arthus-Bertrand

    As a gift to the city of New York and its neighbors, filmmaker/environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand would like to invite teachers, students and their families and extended community to attend FREE screenings of his new documentary...More

This reply was deleted.

Visit our bookstore

 

 

Visit our store

Learn French