At the Western tip of Europe, the UK is a country of many faces. From the busy capital of London to the coasts of Northern Ireland, from the mythical lochs of Scotland to the more rustic valleys of the south of England, this country is filled with natural wonders that some have made it their mission to promote, and to protect.
Whether for its gastronomy, its landscapes, its language or its history which has left behind an exceptional heritage, Italy is a land of natural and historical resources unique in the world. In a globalized world with major environmental issues, we will meet those who continue to live this precious heritage and who fight to preserve what makes their identity.
From the hustle and bustle of New York to the Utah desert, from offices in Silicon Valley to the Texas ranches, the United States appears as a land of paradoxes and of extremes, which leaves no one indifferent. Land of immigration since always, the country fascinates with the strength of a promise: the one of a life where anything is possible. To our Green Heroes the American dream is that of a transition to healthy agriculture and sustainable, responsible architecture and a more humble way of life.
Just by mentioning its name, Spain sounds dreamlike. From the lively neighborhoods of Madrid to the grandiose landscapes of the center, from the plains of the Basque country to famous southern beaches, the country offers visitors an incredible spectacle, rich in unique cultural, natural and historical heritage. If decades of mass tourism and an economic crisis have left some marks, the country counts many ambitious defenders of what constitutes for them a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Located in Western Europe, Portugal is a country with a historical heritage and an exceptional culture which has always been the pride of its inhabitants. A wealth that today attracts millions of tourists every year. Mass tourism which has not always been concerned with the preservation of spaces and natural resources, which are nevertheless vital for the protection of this so rich land but also for the precious quality of life of its inhabitants. Faced with this observation, Green Heroes fight to raise awareness on these dangers.
An island is a whole ecosystem, sometimes very fragile, sometimes even still virgin, that requires preservation by minimizing its footprint. It is indeed this balance that our Green Heroes sought to achieve when they settled on these small pieces of land, far, very far from their daily life on the continent.
In northern Europe, the Netherlands is a land of contrasts. Small in size, it is nevertheless home to one of the largest concentrations of inhabitants and wealth in the continent. Besides mills and tulips, the country is full of treasures such as its cheeses or its seafood that industrialization and mass trade unfortunately did not spare. Not to mention water, which has become the public enemy number one for this state located largely below its level. Faced with such an observation, dozens of Green Heroes have decided to take action to give back to their land and their products a new start.
With almost 10 million km2, Canada is the second largest country in the world. A continental state which oscillates between the bustle of its large metropolises and the serenity of the immense wild plains, those which are home to a fauna and flora unique in the world. Canada is therefore full of natural resources that Green Heroes try to preserve every day.
If France is the world’s leading tourist destination, it is because it offers visitors landscapes and a culture that are unique in the world. But as elsewhere, urbanization, mass tourism and the standardization of production have endangered these national treasures. Faced with this observation, some are fighting to preserve what makes their identity and that of their region.
The north-west of France is a region that multiplies identities, landscapes and terroirs. A richness that makes the pride of its inhabitants, anxious to preserve this heritage. A fight that is fought every day for our Green Heroes.
The south-eastern France is a region famous throughout the world: whether for the mythical Côte d’Azur or the wilder beaches of Corsica, for its posh high mountain ski resorts, for the beautiful Provence and its lavender fields or its colorful towns, there are countless cultural, historical, gastronomic and natural assets that make this part of France one of the most dynamic in the country. Proud of their heritage and the attraction it arouses, some are trying by all means to protect it, from mass tourism, growing urbanization and overly productive agriculture.
From the Pyrenean mountains to the great wild beaches of the ocean, from the mythical city of Bordeaux to the more rural valleys of Corrèze, the south-west of France is a region which has managed to retain true authenticity, both in its art-of -living, its wine, its gastronomy and its rustic landscapes. Symbols which are the pride of its inhabitants and which attract tens of thousands of visitors every year who come to enjoy these precious natural and culinary treasures. While some have been able to exploit this windfall without worrying too much about their environmental impact, others have decided to go against the tide to prepare for a better future and safeguard what makes their identity.
Ile-de-France is a region of great contrasts, the main economic engine of which is its capital: Paris. A worrying situation that motivated our Green Heroes of the day not to play fatalistic and take their destiny into their own hands to change the course of things.