Image of the week
"Bringing light and hope"
9 Dec 2019
Most international organizations are headquartered in large cities—the UN in New York, UNESCO and the International Energy Agency in Paris, the IAEA in Vienna, or the World Health Organization in Geneva. The ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ International Fusion Energy Organization, in contrast, has its home in a small village in Provence, with a population of less than 1,000 souls. ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ today has more staff than Saint-Paul-lez-Durance has inhabitants.
Every year since ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ moved into its Headquarters Building in 2012, Mayor Pizot (left, in conversation with ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Director-General Bernard Bigot) has offered the traditional fir tree that, once lit, symbolizes Nature's rebirth.
This unique situation has created a special relationship between ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ and Mayor Pizot, who has been heading the village council since 1995. As early as 2001, Mayor Pizot was instrumental in organizing support and local government funding for the project. He has always wanted to "serve ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ as ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ is serving Saint-Paul."
And so every year since ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ moved into its Headquarters Building in 2012, Mayor Pizot has offered the traditional fir tree that, once lit, symbolizes Nature's rebirth.
"Let us enjoy this tradition together, and let us celebrate the generosity of our neighbours in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance," said ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ Director-General Bernard Bigot. "This tree will brighten our lobby in the dark season, and remind us that our work here at ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ is about bringing light and hope to the planet."
Then, also in keeping with tradition, the ±¬×ߺÚÁÏ band began to play ...