All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Good People Doing Good Things — Manu Solidaire | Filosofa’s Word

Today’s good people crossed my radar last week, but I more or less ignored him, so he came back again this week to see if he could get my attention … and he did!

His name is Manu Solidaire and he lives in a tiny apartment in Paris, France.  What makes him special, a ‘good people’, is his humanitarianism which, as you will see, is the biggest part of his life.  From CNN Heroes Salute …

Manu Solidaire is quick to admit that he is not a real chef. Yet the cooking livestreams that he broadcasts from his tiny Paris apartment have attracted a huge audience on TikTok. They aren’t watching to see complicated cooking techniques; it’s his generosity that’s on full display.

The 33-year-old spends hours preparing dozens of meals before hopping on his bike and distributing the food to people living on the streets of Paris. Solidaire takes his online audience along every step of the way.

“When I wake up in the morning,” he said, “I’m thinking about, ‘What do I want to make today?’”

From prep to packaging, Solidaire’s cooking sessions last four to eight hours. His kitchen is only about 30 square feet, so there is little room for others to keep him company. Instead, he often has an audience of thousands interacting online in a party-like atmosphere.

“We laugh, we dance, we move, we are like a family on the live session,” he said.

When Solidaire first began delivering his meals in 2022, he said that he wore a GoPro camera on his bike helmet for his own security. After a few months, he started asking people if they would mind being in his videos. He says he uses these videos to change perceptions around homelessness.

“It’s to show to the world some homeless people … they work all their lives and right now they have some problems,” he said. “And maybe you can understand their situation.”

Solidaire’s TikTok account has 352,400 followers and 5.6 million likes. His social media audience helps fund his efforts through links on the account and by donating during his livestreams. Last year, Solidaire won TikTok’s L’award d’honneur for his work.

Solidaire first got to know people experiencing homelessness when he was running a pair of e-cigarette businesses. He would allow people in need to charge their phones in his store and would offer free coffee. Then, during the pandemic, he says “the business decreased, and the happiness decreased, too.”

“I was thinking, ‘I have to find a new way to be happy,’” he said.

One day, he made pasta for his family and had three portions leftover. He spent 20 minutes walking the streets and found three people who would not have eaten had he not offered the meals.

“I come back home with a really huge smile,” he said. “It’s good for me and good for them.”

Solidaire found a new mission and started up his TikTok livestreams hoping to share recipes and sharpen his cooking skills.

His first deliveries proved that he had some lessons to learn. When he would approach people, he said they did not know what to make of a stranger alone on his bike saying, “Hello, are you hungry? I have free food.” Then he realized, “’Manu, did you really ask about homeless people if [they] are hungry?’ Sure, [they] are hungry.” So, Solidaire changed his approach, instead saying, “I deliver free food for you. Do you need it?” He found people were far more accepting of his offer.

Solidaire has his camera mounted on his helmet when he distributes meals around Paris. TikTok: @manu.solidaire

When he saw that their needs went beyond food, he began distributing hygiene supplies. He also sometimes offers to pay for hotel rooms.

Now, with the world’s eyes on Paris for the Olympic Games, many homeless people have been moved out of the city. Solidaire says he fears that the government is sending them to areas where they have no connection or resources. He argues this does not solve the underlying problems.

“We can’t just hide the poverty of the country without any solution,” Solidaire said, adamant that he will still feed the people who depend on him. “If I can’t find them on the streets … I will take the train to continue to deliver my food.”

One thing hasn’t changed for Solidaire since the first pasta meal he gave away: the joy that this work brings.

“When I see the smile I (get) on the street, when I see the smiles I have (doing this), and when I see the smiles (from) my followers … thank you for that.”

Since all of Manu’s videos are on TikTok which, if there is a way to embed a TikTok video, I haven’t found it yet, I went in search of and found a few YouTube videos.  Trouble is, they’re all in French!  But you can set the captioning to translate into English if you feel so inclined … here is just one sample and you can find more by Googling Manu Solidaire.

Source: Good People Doing Good Things — Manu Solidaire | Filosofa’s Word

The Sound of Poetry | From Behind the Pen

Image produced by Kym Gordon Moore for TPBC, 2018

The rhythm and sound of poetry is different for everyone. Our senses dissect the notes of every word to hear the message of the tempo march to a different beat. Toot your poetry horn!

Listen to the reverberation of versification
over my head, I hear music
through the roaring thunder and melodious rain
that is the sound of poetry.

Under my feet, I hear the sound of falling leaves
crunching with each step
as my feet pound on the earth’s rising
that is the sound of poetry.

Standing on a seashore, listening to colossal waves
crashing against a wayfare of aquatic trails
while high piercing squawks spoken from seagulls
that is the sound of poetry.

And when my ears hear no more
what my eyes have witnessed rhythmically
in silence that is deafening and still
that is the sound of poetry.

© Kym Gordon Moore

 

Source: The Sound of Poetry | From Behind the Pen

O GENOCÍDIO dos YANOMAMI e a MORTE da NATUREZA por Mercadorias de Ouro e Diamantes e a ARTE DE LAVAGEM VERDE pelos COMERCIANTES DE OURO em suas …

As butiques Cartier vendem joias, relógios e acessórios de luxo exclusivos em ouro e diamantes desde 1847 – foto: Cartier “As coisas estão ruins …

O GENOCÍDIO dos YANOMAMI e a MORTE da NATUREZA por Mercadorias de Ouro e Diamantes e a ARTE DE LAVAGEM VERDE pelos COMERCIANTES DE OURO em suas …

6 on 6 – à mesa… – O Outro Lado

Em minha defesa, à mesa, com meus verbos expostos, desde a fome aos cacos das xícaras que quebrei… desde o olho do cão faminto querendo migalhas…
ao sonho do livro costurado sobre a mesa.

Bambina mia,

na minha mesa espalho suas cartas e os envelopes laranjas… falar sobre o tema me traz à memória a minha mesa da infância – e já falei sobre isso – sob o pé de sete copas, mas não tenho nenhuma foto para registrar. Mas, se eu fechar os olhos ainda ouço as risadas de todos os irmãos e com alguns passando debaixo da mesa. Em dias quentes, o barulho da faca cortando as ervas em um tec tec antes do almoço. O olho de minha mãe atenta ao ritmo da faca… O controle sobre as cartas, bambina, que escrevíamos ali, na mesa de madeira, que na mudança para cá eu trouxe uma tábua, que se transformou na mesa pequena que me segue desde sempre.

Hoje, minha mesa vira simbolismo nos artesanatos que crio, na mistura do papel sobre as linhas que teço em crochê, nas entregas das encomendas restantes. A mesa cabe a bagunça que a arte abraça.

E como a docilidade atinge meus dias, degusto da fome, da vontade, da leitura e de tudo que afaga a alma.. tudo ali, na mesa que tem coisas da minha infância e coisas atuais. É o que preciso depois de dias difíceis, sem rosas murchando sobre a mesa por falta de água. É o sopro distante da serenidade dos dias onde me cabe. A autora que tão bem sabe de mim e me cede especiarias em palavras.

Sabe, bambina, é a mesa que a família se reúne para as comemorações. Se eu fosse colocar a mesa dos aniversários, dos almoços de domingos, de reuniões de batismos, etc… eu seria crucificada. O olho vermelho da irmã, o bico do sobrinho, o borrão da luz da janela apagando metade da família. Meu olho volta para a mesa do canto, onde os bibelôs – companhias das noites de insônia silenciam – ou não? Fui somente eu que ouvi piados??

O reflexo da luz da rua bate na janela da sala. sou eu quem vejo ilusão na mesa de centro? As borboletas voam na parede da sala. A minha memória guarda as imagens para os dias que não vou poder ver nem na claridade dos dias. O tempo hoje é entre aspas para além dos óculos escuros. Era de mesa que falávamos? Conto sete passos de olhos fechados da sala até a mesa da cozinha… e nove, até a mesa de canto onde os livros para ler esperam… Conto os passos até a mesa de canto do quarto e finalizo a noite, mesmo sabendo que AINDA estou aqui.. no rompante das horas, para os dias que virão.

Bambina, mas em se tratando de mesa… ah, a sua povoa meu imaginário real. Pode isso? Pode sim! Ainda tenho a memória ativa do bolo de fubá no prato, do primeiro livro meu sendo costurado – e nem era cetim ainda.. Lembro-me que mais do que a mesa sob a árvore de sete copas – que serviu de lugar para minha infância e as brincadeiras mil em volta dela – a sua mesa serviu de colo para o meu sonho… o de escrever sentimentos.

Grazie mille!
Bacio,
Mariana Gouveia

Source: 6 on 6 – à mesa… – O Outro Lado