ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Yesterday, I went to the Canal Saint-Martin with photographer Pierre-Herve Verant (in green, above) to meet those in the bright red tents along the water.
It's a big story in Paris: Two brothers, Augustin and Jean-Baptiste Legrand, bought 100 red tents to start a homeless (SDF) camp/demonstration so that Parisians with homes can gain a new perspective on homelessness... by staying in the tents for a night, trying to stay warm, and by meeting the 50 homeless that have also gathered there for shelter.
We spoke with Eric (above, with Verant), who has been homeless since the end of his marriage. He hopes the demonstration will broaden politician's minds about the situation, and that they will find solutions to help.
Augustin Legrand (above) also told us about his personal quest to fix what he believes is a "national disgrace:" a country that hasn't taken care of its people. He has a wife and a child -- and a home -- and yet he has spent the last seven weeks out on the streets in protest.
His hands roughened from the experience, he is living in a homeless state and documenting his less-fortunate companions' stories on their organization's Web site, les Enfants de Don Quichotte (The Children of Don Quixote).
More information and links in a story (by me) at Parisist.
More news and protests on this site, including Concepcion Picciotto, who has camped in protest next to the White House in Washington DC since 1981.
walking in someone's else's shoes, albeit for a brief amount of time, but enough time to realize/actualize the complexities of life that most people either ignore or discount simply because they believe something like homelessness does not affect them or directly influence their lives, or simply they have yet to experience compassion and understanding on a gritty human level. I agree that this approach deserves recognition and I believe the direct nature of the experience is well-worth undertaking the approach..and may influence change in some fashion, possibly the more compassionate and understanding we all are towards all people, regardless of social stature or 'label' affixed
What do you think of the demonstration? Do you think it will help bring change? Would you volunteer to spend the night in one of the tents? Or do you disagree with the approach?