Category: Uncategorized

Why Pay €30 When You Can Pay €3?

Sustainable Period Products Return to Le Havre Campus

For the second year in a row, SPE and FC are collaborating to make reusable
period products more accessible to menstruating students on the Le Havre campus. Thanks to the funding from the CVEC (Contribution Vie étudiante et de Campus) and Crous, students can purchase reusable menstrual underwear and menstrual cups for 3 euros per product, compared to an average retail price of 25 euros. The menstrual underwear is provided by “Smoon,” a brand committed to safe and sustainable menstrual health products, made with organic cotton, conforming to the OEKO-TEX® 100 standard for textile safety. The menstrual cups are provided by “louloucup,” which are manufactured in France using medical-grade silicon with no PFAS (so called forever chemicals).

Source: Naran-Ochir Khulan [Musée de l’Orangerie | Odalisque à la culotte grise par Henri Matisse]

Beyond affordability, this initiative also addresses the environmental impact of menstrual products. The most widely used menstrual health products in high-income countries are single use tampons and pads, 9 which also generate significant waste despite their very short lifespan. The carbon intensity of producing tampons and pads compared to their short life cycle results in much higher rates of pollution than sustainable alternatives such as menstrual underwear and cups. Disposable menstrual pads can contain up to 90% plastic 10 and can take 500 to 800 years to decompose. Over a lifetime, a single menstruator may discard between 5000 to 15000 tampons or pads. On the other hand, a reusable menstrual cup, with a 10 year lifetime, produces 297 times less dry waste than tampons.

By combining menstrual health, affordability, and sustainability, this initiative reflects the shared missions of SPE and FC while expanding students’ choice of safe and reusable period products at a reduced price.

You can sign up to order via the google form. Distribution is expected to begin in January 2026.

Grow Your Sustainable Roots in LH

by Sylvain Sainte-Marie and Benjamin Henderson

Given that Le Havre is a crucial hub for environmental decisions and a victim of environmental changes it is the perfect place for a grass-roots environmental movement (see The Environmental Story of Le Havre). This article will talk about some of the many projects that have taken root in and around Le Havre, as well as the protected lands that you can visit during your time here.

Hangar Zéro

Location: 37 quai de la Saône (close to campus) 

Hangar Zero, HZ for short, is probably the most well-known ecological association in Le Havre. A warehouse destined for destruction in 2015, no one would have guessed that merely 10 years later it would have totally transformed into an oasis for sustainable projects. When it was purchased by an ambitious local group of eco-enthusiasts in 2015 they set out to provide a radical vision for the future. HZ was strictly opposed to the “Paris axe Seine” development project which, most notably, strengthened shipping routes from Le Havre to the French capital; a project which demanded the use of many non-renewable resources, such as for a port expansion. Hangar Zero embodies an alternative to this industrial expansion. 

Instead of destroying and replacing infrastructure to pursue “development” HZ affirms the possibility of eco-alternatives to building, both physical structures and communities. It is constructed from a majority of reused building materials. The architects working at HZ are exemplary of a new movement in architecture towards rejuvenation through reuse. It is open to the public and deeply integrated in the neighbourhood. Its governance embodies a horizontal philosophy, as such is a collaborative non-profit enterprise (SCIC) and association (LH-0). It is the perfect place to debate environmental topics, enjoy a meal and drink, and get involved in volunteering.

How to get involved: 

There are a plethora of events and volunteer opportunities at Hangar Zero:

  1. It can be a place for recreation.
    1. Hangar zero has a small store with eco-friendly cosmetics, local art, and home goods. 
    2. A rotating menu of locally sourced foods and drinks offers the perfect place to meet with friends for a meal. 
    3. Additionally, conferences, movie screenings, and debates are regularly held throughout the week. 
    4. If you’re feeling inspired, you can take the initiative to organize your own events. 

Unfortunately, HZ can be harder for non-French speakers to access. But it is always possible to do English events catered towards the Sciences Po population. People are very kind and will tolerate any level of French! They’re just happy you’re there.

  1. HZ is looking for volunteers every Thursday!
    1. They are interested in people to help with further construction projects. This entails working with reused materials to renovate and expand parts of the physical structure.
    2. Those interested can also help manage the bar and, or cinema-debate club. 

Who to contact:  contact@lehangarzero.fr

Havre de vers 

Location: 13 rue de Tourville (close to Pôle Simone Veil)

This small association combats the arbitrary wasting of food. They collect items that super markets would no longer sell, sort through the edible material (composting what is not) , and cook meals that are affordable and healthy. 

 The group at Havre de Vers is incredibly warm and welcoming. It is a laid back atmosphere which nourishes one’s body as well as social needs. One can learn very useful cooking skills by helping out, and especially best practices for avoiding food waste. It is a very human and warm group, where you can have a chill time, share a meal, make friends and learn useful cooking skills.  

Ecologie pour le Havre

Location: 12 Rue Horace Vernet, 76620, Le Havre

Ecologie pour le Havre is the main ecological advocacy group in LH. Since LH is an important industrial hub, they do their best to monitor this activity and function as a check on companies that don’t comply with environmental regulations. While their focus is environmental, they acknowledge the economic and social aspects of climate change, and are committed to centralizing marginalized groups in their activities. 

They are in contact with the local government and lobby for environmental progress. They have filled many lawsuits against companies that dumped waste into the water or engaged in air pollution. As an association they have a scientific and pragmatic approach to the furtherance of ecological ends.  

What to do:

  • Help with lobbying efforts
  • Research the environmental effects of Le Havre industry and development
  • Organize protests and education campaigns.

Who to contact: 

Instagram works @ecologiepourlehavre

Clos Val Soleil

Location: 12, rue Horace Vernet, 76620, Le Havre

General description: Clos Val Soleil was founded in 2022 to preserve and reinvigorate an 18th century manor and its grounds. The area is large, taking up 6,900 m2 (about 1.7 acres) in the Sanvic neighbourhood of Le Havre. Their objective was two-fold, to use the historic house for affordable housing, rather than tear it down and rebuild something in its place, and to maintain the biodiversity and beauty of the vast grounds. 

They reached an agreement with Logeo Seine, an affordable housing network, to refurbish the house—converting it into 12 units. The renovations were set to start at the beginning of 2025. Meanwhile, Clos Val Soleil has managed the community life aspect of the project. Their organization offers opportunities to get involved with the conservation of their lands, and workshops are dedicated to environmentally friendly practices like repair shops and eco-gift making.

What to do: 

  • Creative workshops (gift-making, furniture repair, etc.)
  • Fix your bike (Wednesday 14h to 16h) Text 06 09 74 98 74 to book a reservation
  • Chat with people (Café Papotage)—Wed 14h-16h & Sat 10h-12h).
  • Take care of the Garden—Tuesday and Thursday 14h-17h30
  • Other events

Who to contact: 

Email: asso.closvalsoleil@mailo.fr 

Facebook: @Clos Val Soleil 

Graine en main

Location:

General description: 

Graine en Main provides organic vegetables to subscribers of their service, a variety of grocery stores, and markets. Their association started in 2016 when a six-hectare organic farm was put up for sale. Community members came together, raising 120000€ for a loan to buy the property. From there the association has grown into one of the largest local and organic providers of produce in the area. Their goal is to provide everyone with organic produce regardless of their financial situation. 

They provide food for AMAP’s where local consumers, farmers, and artisans bring their goods together at a fixed price. Everything that is produced is divided into baskets and distributed to the consumers. The prices are such that the consumer gets a good deal on high quality goods, and the providers are guaranteed an income.

What to do: 

  • Go to their market every Friday from 8h30 to 12h30 at 1 Avenue René Coty.
  • Pick up the weekly veggie basket from Sciences Po!

Maison de l’estuaire

General description: 

An estuary is the transitional area between a river and the ocean, in the case of Le Havre, where the Seine and English Channel meet. Estuaries are particularly important as locations of biodiversity. As an example of “ecotone,” the transitional area between two plant communities, and a place where freshwater and saline water meet, estuaries are particularly productive ecosystems. Further, wetlands are among the most endangered places on the planet and are home to an immense diversity of species. Migratory birds spend lots of time in Le Havre’s estuary and can be spotted from the Observatoires de l’Estuaire. 

The Maison de L’estuaire was founded to mediate discussions between stakeholders in Le Havre’s estuary. It served a crucial role in 1995 when the Port 2000 project was being decided, the result of which aimed at balancing economic development and environmental preservation. While there are still tensions between the two camps, there have been clear victories for both. In December 1997 the Nature Reserve of the Seine Estuary was created and ever since the land has been preserved and reinvigorated. It is a wonderful place to go for a hike and observe the changing seasons. Last year we went on a hike and some pictures of it are attached to this article.

What to do: 

  • Go hiking
  • View the migratory birds

The Secrets of the Roots, and Other Stories from the Village

by Konstancija Kevisaite

Foreword from the Author:

Before you delve into the story of a life still set in dark, misty forests, surrounded by Lithuanian mythological creatures and supernatural mysticism, it is important to note that these stories are not entirely the fruits of imagination. Samogitia, a Lithuanian ethnic region, was the last place in Europe to be christianized in 1413, 200 years after the mainland. Even though many believe much of the water has flown under the bridge since then, ancient traditions were incorporated into the new religion, and old Baltic superstitions still thrive in countless households.

Many Lithuanian ethnologists and historians claim that the foundation of the nation lies in a tree cult culture and that a person’s entire life cycle depends on their relationship with a tree, from the kids’ toys to wooden kitchen utensils on the oak dinner table. There are not many private properties without a garden or some arable land, so while cities evolved, village life remains closely tied to the seasonal cycle.

These stories are distinctly Samogitian, born from its language, myths, and ethnic past. The following excerpts were written over six months during a challenging personal journey, driven by burnout and a longing for grounding.

Medė švabieja api Pondeivs žėna kū, no būktas api žmuonis. 

Trees are whispering about only God knows what, but probably about the people.

May your walk in the woods be peaceful.

​THE SECRETS OF THE ROOTS, AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE VILLAGE

How do you fit together a city daughter, raised among grey, few-floor Soviet-like buildings, and a village granddaughter who was only allowed to cut her hair when the cherry trees started to bloom and the Moon was still young? How do you fit remnants of the long-gone past in the person that is so modern it barely has time to take a breath? How do you explain to the hectic world around you, that you start carrying a coin in the back of your pocket so you would not be condemned to eternal poverty when the first song of the cuckoo bird escapes its trembling, tiny body after a long, harsh winter? How do you say “no” to someone who wants to borrow your hairbrush or try on your ring when you were constantly reminded that this would result in soul exchange? How do you even ask these questions out loud? .. Do I seriously sound insane when I say I cannot sit on the ground? There has not been a thunderstorm yet.

A three-hour gap between classes turned into a drive to the nearest forest. The treetops intertwined into an incomprehensible labyrinth. The dense forest increasingly resembled a long-lost kingdom ruled by ancient tree spirits. The rustling leaves followed every step like a mysterious whisper. Moss hid its secrets, swamps of unfathomable depth, beckoned with the forest’s treasures. When animals noticed a wandering person there, they would remember one’s face, immediately smell one’s intentions, and eventually run away to complain to some deity about how someone would kick a mushroom, hit a tree branch, or scream at the top of their lungs. Mom used to say that only by merging into the flow of forest life could one escape from it. Nature does not satisfy human needs; it protects what should be eternally sacred. I stop at the winding path. In front of me, there are the remains of the stairs up to the castle mound. For a couple of centuries, an eternal fire burned here, golden threads of fate were woven, grass snakes slithered, and bees sought refuge. Now, only a lone oak tree remains in place of the altar, like a witness or warrior guarding a place of eternal peace, or so it still thinks…

Once the storm passes, I will harvest the fruits, and my mother will make my favourite jam.

I told my grandmother I was exhausted from all these current changes when we were sitting on the bench outside. Her limb fingers, suffering from arthritis, held a knife and skillfully wielded it to peel apples and later throw them in the bucket. The wind picked up, and I could hear faint raindrops falling on my dirty boots. The toughest woman I know glanced at me for a second and then her eyes returned to the falling peels of bright pink apples. The last thunder of the season shook the ground. I have just realised I do not remember a time when she addressed it by its common name, perkūnija, rather than the god Perkūnas, who is responsible for it. She always tells me that everything will pass in a matter of days, and if not, a few moons. I knew the remedies of the soul by heart – honey with milk before bed, lavender in the closet, small rituals in the morning, daily walks outside, preferably away from the city.

Hug the tree, borrow its strength. Will that get me through these upcoming weeks?

​

My Case Against Using Generative AI

by Siri Manneri


In a world with more political polarization than ever, one of my current most controversial beliefs has to do with my position on generative AI. For the past two or three years, I’ve continually observed more and more students around me using forms of generative AI in academic spaces, as well as in daily life. I’m specifically making a distinction here between Generative AI and other forms of AI, since I’m solely going to be critiquing the former category. Generative AI, in a general sense, refers to Large Language Models such as ChatGPT or Claude. Today, I’m arguing my case against using Generative AI mainly due to sustainability concerns, as well as general ones regarding how these types of AI actually work. 

To start off, Generative AI is known to be incredibly harmful to the environment due to how much water is used in the huge data centers required to power these Generative AI chatbots. According to Adam Zewe, a writer in MIT News, data centers have the aforementioned impacts relating to water usage while also endangering the surrounding communities of data centers, which are often also communities of color. In our current world, where, according to a study by the Global Carbon Project science team, we now only have five years to stop climate change, we must try to do everything we can to be as environmentally conscious as possible. This may mean limiting at least the most unnecessary AI usage in one’s life. 

When it comes to the companies behind prominent Generative AI tools, there is often also a darker corporate side to the chatbots we know and love. To give an example, OpenAI, and specifically its CEO Sam Altman, have notably been embroiled in different scandals. One of them includes Sundar Pichai, an OpenAI whistleblower who was recently found dead in his apartment prior to an important hearing in his OpenAI whistleblower case, according to The Guardian. If you are willing to divest from any corporate entities that have committed wrongdoing, I then urge you to consider divesting from this one as well. 

Generative AI, as a whole, also doesn’t particularly work in the ways that many think it does. While Gemini may seem like it has knowledge, these types of AI platforms don’t strictly know anything at all. Large Language Models, as a rule, are simply just regurgitating what may sound right based on patterns that have been picked up by the data and language that has been previously scraped by the AI company behind each specific tool. Arguably, the most compelling reason to disavow AI might be how blatantly incorrect it often is. AI “hallucinations,” as they’re often called, are fairly common and often hard to spot for those using each AI chatbot. A notable example of this type of hallucination involves the famous cases of lawyers using ChatGPT in court cases, before being fed precedent and case law that didn’t actually exist. 

In conclusion, my brief argument attempts to shed light on some of the rationale behind my conviction to personally never use any form of Generative AI in my own life. In this piece, I hope to encourage you to potentially reconsider your own AI usage, if only to limit your usage whenever deemed possible in order to help fight against climate change, corporate ills, and to ultimately help your own success overall. 

Anchored in Solidarity: The Seamen’s Club of Le Havre

by Naran-Ochir Khulan

Nestled in downtown Le Havre, the Seamen’s Club of Le Havre welcomes seafarers from around the world. The warmth of old friends replaces the chill of the sea, bridging language and culture, kindling a home far from home.

Image Credit: Hervé Tainturier

No man is an island, entire of itself. Nowhere is this truer than at sea, where trust, cooperation and solidarity is offered without hesitation. Maritime solidarity calls for seafarers, states and international actors to share legal and moral obligations to protect human life, secure trade routes and safeguard marine environments. This notion has deep historical roots, as far back as in the Book of Jonah, where sailors cooperate to calm the seas and protect their crew despite differences in faith. Maritime solidarity ensures that seafarers’ safety is an international responsibility and operates on different levels to support seafarers and other stakeholders involved. In Le Havre, one of Europe’s busiest maritime crossroads, this spirit of solidarity is carried from the docks to the Seamen’s Club by a community of hands and hearts ensuring that seafarers are not faced with the loneliness of a foreign port. 

The atmosphere at the club is shaped by whoever is managing the team on a given day. When Camel Brik is working, the whole room pulses with  Daft Punk’s rhythms on the TV. Christophe Thoraval loves order and precision; offering clear guidance and a serene environment for the seafarers. Bruno Machet greets seafarers in their native languages; and perhaps the visitors’ favourite, Didier. A thrives on joking with sailors, sparking conversations and promising easy companionship. These daily shifts make each visiting experience unique — yet the underlying warmth and accommodation remains constant, making every seafarer feel at home, no matter the day. 

The Seamen’s Club plays a practical role that extends beyond its walls. Each year, thousands of ships, carrying millions of tonnes of goods, call at Le Havre. Every ship consists of a crew of individuals who spend months at sea, working long hours under strict regulations, far from their families. Their objective is to ensure the well-being of seafarers by providing them with free shuttle service between the ship and the club, practical information and assistance such as free bike rentals; along with a bar and a shop that offers drinks, snacks and other necessities. Within the context of these services, the club receives up to ten thousand seafarers annually, hailing primarily from South East Asia and Eastern Europe. The club’s impact is part of a wider system of maritime solidarity by supporting individual seafarers: perhaps less visible, but no less essential. It reminds us that maritime activity is not sustained by machinery alone, but by the humanity of those who operate them.

The mutual strength and solidity of men at sea takes root ashore. Here in Le Havre, it starts with a ride into town, a warm welcome, and a feeling of belonging.