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https://reasonstobecheerful.world/france-coal-town-reborn-loos-en-gohelle/>
"As the sun rises over Loos-en-Gohelle, its yellow rays gradually illuminate
two great mounds on the edge of the former mining town. These hulking slag
heaps, relics of the past, were created by what was once one of the largest
coal mining regions in Europe.
But while the industry vanished into thin air in the 1980s after over a century
of coal production, this town in the north of France decided to keep the heaps,
a byproduct of the extraction process, as a symbol of pride and its bold
socio-ecological transition.
“When the mines closed, it was a profound crisis,” says Antoine Reynaud, chief
of staff at Loos town hall. “It was not only an economic crisis, but also an
identity crisis. When they closed, people said to themselves: ‘What is our use
now?’”
The town of 7,000 people went on to defy the odds, resisting the
post-industrial collapses suffered by many mining hubs across Europe. In doing
so, Loos’ democratic, inclusive and collaborative approach has become a model
for how to transition an economy away from fossil fuels at a time when nations
worldwide face an urgent need to shift away from carbon-based industries."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
