Hubert Reeves visits Bois-de-Boulogne

The conference focused on both astronomy and ecology. Reeves, a world-renowned scientist, feels that we ought to learn to see ourselves as part of a greater whole and that our actions affect others elsewhere on the planet. “We live well here, but Africa, where famine exists, is only a few hours by airplane. Close to one billion people around the world go hungry and don’t have access to clean drinking water,� he told the audience.

The conference included a question period reserved for students, many of whom showed great interest in the ecology part of the discussion and wanted to know what they could do to help the environment.

Reeves suggested that joining environmental groups would be a step in the right direction. “Governments won’t do anything unless there is pressure from the population. The reaction from the people can have a positive effect,� said Reeves, citing the Suroît thermal power plant and the privatization of part of Mont Orford to emphasize his point. “The projects fell through because they represented dangers for the population.�

Reeves also touched on the question of cabon dioxide vehicle emissions, which he says is the biggest threat for the planet.

“There is a growing push to drive fuel efficient cars or those that emit less carbon dioxide, but it’s still fairly weak. Large companies have made great strides in becoming more energy efficient and in reducing their carbon dioxide emissions, but the car manufacturers haven’t followed suit. The sale of four-wheel drive vehicles is still high. People don’t realize that buying a big car means we will emit more carbon dioxide, and that has long term consequences,� he said.

Plastic bags are also high on the list Reeves’ pet peeves. “We manufacture 100 times more plastic than we did in 1990. The problem is so catastrophic that plastic bags are being found on the ocean floor, where turtles mistake them for jelly-fish and end up choking on them,� he said.

Hubert believes there are a number of everyday gestures that people can do to help the environment. A lot of information is available in books, but Hubert stresses that it’s also important to get involved actively. “It’s not enough just to know what to do, we have to do it, too.�

Reeves is nevertheless optimistic about the future of the planet. “Things change,� he says. “Twenty years ago, nobody talked much about the environment. Certainly, rapid progress has been made on that front. The question is, has it been rapid enough. Environmental devastation is also happening at a faster pace,� he said.

As a token of thanks, the college gave Reeves a financial donation to help him along in his work as president of the ROC League, a French association dedicated to wildlife preservation.

The conference was made possible thanks to the collaboration of Iolande Cadrin-Rossignol, director of the documentary “Conteur d’étoiles�.

Translated by Anna Bratulic

Photo: Jacques Pharand