Shared Sorrow, Admiration, Tenderness and Love

When from shared sorrow, one moves from admiration to affection to tenderness, to gratitude to trust, it can end in a profound love, which sometimes fades due to lack of light and space.

Caught in a persistent depression since my children turned their backs on me, I vainly tried to find a kindred spirit who could console my tears or simply lend me a hand. On a social network, I was quickly "caught" by another soul in distress, desperately seeking to escape a vicious downward circle. enduring the harsh blows dealt by their loved ones. A dialogue quickly forms, and within a few days, our understanding becomes optimal. We support each other, and miraculously, we manage to get out of the hell in which we were stuck without realizing it.

There are encounters that do not start with the heart but with shared negative feelings and the concern to help at all costs through encouraging dialogue. We observe someone's reactions, without particular intention, and something in them stops us. A way of speaking, intelligence, quiet strength, and moral elegance. Admiration often arises there, in that first silent movement where we recognize in the other qualities we deeply respect. First, it is only a light. We admire as we contemplate a landscape, with distance, with gratitude, without feeling involved. But admiration has a subtle power. It opens the door. It creates a passage between what we see and what we feel. Then comes the shift, almost imperceptible. The other ceases to be merely remarkable; they become important. We find ourselves thinking about them, waiting for a message, a sign, a presence.

Emotional attachment settles in like a new breath. It is not yet love, but it already carries promise. It is a fragile territory, where one discovers that they care for someone even before understanding why. And one day, quietly, attachment turns into love. Not a spectacular love, but a love that has been built deeply stone by stone. A love born of admiration, nourished by trust, and strengthened by tenderness. A love that does not seek to possess but to acknowledge. A love that is not demanding but welcoming. This journey—admiration, attachment, love—tells as much about the other person as it does about us. It reveals what we value, what we hope for, and what we are willing to give. It shows us that love is not a lightning strike but sometimes a slow rise toward the light.

To love, ultimately, is to let admiration become a presence and a presence become self-evident until attachment is irreversible.

 

Misunderstandings in text messages

Text messages are a bit like tiny emotional grenades that we joyfully throw at each other all day long. Its a universal phenomenon that turns our conversations into misunderstandings worthy of a sitcom. Its convenient, modern...and full of traps. A message sent too quickly, another read sideways, and suddenly, everyone starts to interpret, imagine, and invent disaster scenarios. The problem is not the text. Its everything it doesn't have.

A text message is three words without tone, without eye contact, without a smile. No raised eyebrows, no little laugh, not even a sigh. The brain hates emptiness, so it makes something up. And it makes it badly. Very badly. The message says one thing, the reader another, and the responder comes up with a third version. We ended up in trilogy. 

An " Okay" becomes a declaration of war. An endpoint turns into an agressive passive threat. A lack of response is experienced as a betrayal. And a " we'll talk about it later3 sounds like an attempt to escape through a window. The nuances disappear, automatic correctors get involved, and suddenly a banal message becomes a masterpiece of absurdity. Texting is theatre without a set, without costumes, without rehearsals. We guess more than we understand, we interpret more tan we read, and we get angry over sentences that never existed.

Texting is the greatest sociological experiment of our time. My children, my grandchildren, our friends, our relatives...no one escapes it. A misplaced word, a badly chosen emoji, and it's off to an international diplomatic crisis. All this for an "OK" sent between two red lights. Its like asking a blind person to paint a realistic portrait: he will try, but the result may be surprising.

The text message is naked as a worm. So, everyone knits it an emotional sweater based on their current mood. And then there's the autocorrect, that little prankster that turns Till come see you into  Till come see you die. We wanted to sent a cute message but end up with a psychological thriller. Then we wonder why we get " Uh...everything okay at your place". Real communication takes time, patience and sometimes a good phone call. When a text starts to be a Chinese puzzle, its better to pick up the phone. The voice conveys what written words forget, and at least, we avoid starting a world war over single period.

Pandemics: a challenge for humanity 

The rapid growth of the world’s population has brought major challenges, among which pandemics occupy a central place. While they have always shaped human history, the Covid‑19 crisis revealed with unprecedented clarity how global mobility and interconnected societies accelerate the spread of infectious diseases.

Throughout history, several pandemics have left a profound mark:

• The Black Death (1346–1353), which killed tens of millions.

• The Spanish Flu (1918–1920) infected a third of the global population.

• Smallpox, eradicated thanks to worldwide vaccination.

• Covid‑19, whose global impact continues today.

Pandemics act as natural regulators in many species, and Covid‑19 similarly disrupted human societies. It affected every sector—economy, education, health—and exposed weaknesses in global preparedness. The crisis also highlighted issues such as unreliable data, strict containment policies, and uneven vaccination coverage, particularly in China.

In Europe, scientific breakthroughs offered rapid solutions. Researchers Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman developed the mRNA technology that enabled Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca to produce effective vaccines at scale, complementing traditional attenuated virus methods.

Yet new threats continue to emerge. The tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), introduced into Europe through international travel and trade, now spreads diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Highly adaptable and difficult to control, it represents a growing public health concern. Current strategies include insecticide campaigns and releasing sterilized or bacteria-infected males to reduce reproduction while researchers work on new vaccines.

Pandemics and emerging diseases remind us that global health remains fragile and deeply interconnected with human activity, mobility, and environmental change.

 The Exponential Growth of the World's Population

In 1850, the world's population numbered just over three billion. A century later, in 1950, it had reached four billion. This growth was seen as a major achievement, celebrating the victory against disease, the reduction of premature deaths, and medical advances that made it possible to correct defects and improve both the length and quality of life. Yet, at that time, the negative repercussions went almost unnoticed: the suppression of natural selection was corrupting our genetic heritage. It was understood that rapid population growth would follow an exponential curve, potentially one day crossing a critical threshold, comparable to an atomic explosion.

In just 72 years, this number has doubled, reaching eight billion today. Humanity now faces the challenge of managing this growth to ensure access to essential resources—food, drinking water, hygiene, clean air, housing, clothing, medicine, and healthcare—for all living beings, whether plant, animal, or human, on our single planet. Calls to adopt a more responsible lifestyle, to recycle more, and to consume in moderation are numerous; however, they are only truly implemented by a minority, whereas this change should concern the majority. It is regrettable that we have tried to transform "primitive" peoples living in harmony with their natural environment: today, most have disappeared, having forgotten their ability to survive in self-sufficiency without depending on the polluting tools of modernity.

Some argue that the major difficulties—famines, epidemics, declining male fertility, pollution, increased mortality due to climate change, floods, and other natural disasters—will eventually balance themselves out. The Earth has already weathered many crises and managed to recover each time. Unfortunately, it is usually disasters that trigger individual or collective action to address them.

Faced with these challenges, it is crucial to analyze the dynamics of human expansion in order to understand their consequences and identify solutions. Whether it involves innovative urban planning, responsible resource management, or educational approaches, humanity's adaptation must go hand in hand with its transformations. In a context of rapid change, every decision, personal or collective, influences the future of our world and those who inhabit it.

Over the centuries, the world's population has grown exponentially. Here are some key facts illustrating this evolution:

• In 1800, the world's population was estimated at between 813 million and 1.125 billion.

• In 1900, it reached approximately 1.55 to 1.76 billion.

• In 2000, the figure rose to nearly 6.1 billion.

• In November 2022, the 8 billion mark was surpassed.

• According to United Nations projections, the world population could reach approximately 9.7 billion in 2050 and nearly 11 billion in 2100.

• Also in 2022, the continental distribution indicated that Asia accounted for approximately 55.6% of the population, sub-Saharan Africa 14.5%, and Europe and North America 14.1%.

 

DUBAI and its remarkable transformation

Dubai fascine par son allure futuriste et son énergie permanente. En quelques décennies, cette ancienne ville de pêcheurs de perles s’est métamorphosée en une mégapole de 3,5 millions d’habitants, symbole de modernité et d’audace architecturale.

Fondée au XVIIIᵉ siècle, longtemps modeste et isolée, Dubaï a véritablement changé de dimension à partir de la seconde moitié du XXᵉ siècle, jusqu’à devenir l’un des moteurs de la fédération des Émirats arabes unis. Aujourd’hui, elle n’est pas la capitale officielle du pays, mais elle en est incontestablement la vitrine internationale.

La ville est mondialement connue pour ses projets spectaculaires : le Burj Al Arab, les Palm Islands, le World, Dubai Marina ou encore le Burj Khalifa, plus haute tour du monde. Ces réalisations ont fait de Dubaï un pôle majeur du tourisme de luxe, des affaires et du commerce.

Le développement urbain s’étend le long du Khor Dubai et de Sheikh Zayed Road, bordée de centaines de gratte‑ciel reliant les quartiers résidentiels aux grandes attractions comme Ski Dubai, Dubai Mall ou les immenses parcs à thème. La ville mêle ainsi traditions, avec le quartier historique de Deira, et innovations architecturales audacieuses.

Dubai offre une expérience unique : hôtels somptueux, centres commerciaux gigantesques, îles artificielles, mosquées élégantes comme Jumeirah Mosque, parcs aquatiques impressionnants tels qu’Aquaventure, et spectacles grandioses comme la Dubai Fountain.

Sa population a explosé en quelques décennies, passant de 265 000 habitants en 1980 à près de 3 millions en 2018. Pour accompagner cette croissance, la ville investit massivement dans les infrastructures, les transports modernes et des projets durables comme les bâtiments à énergie positive.

Comme d’autres villes en pleine expansion, Dubaï illustre la puissance de la transformation urbaine contemporaine. Comparer son évolution à celle de Hammamet permet de mieux comprendre comment les sociétés façonnent leur territoire selon leurs ambitions, leurs ressources et leur vision de l’avenir.

 

 

 

 

Urban expansion and demographic explosion

Hammamet 

The Tunisian Saint-Tropez, prized in the early 20th century by the aristocracy and artists, has transformed from a Tunisian fishing village into a true seaside resort. During that period, there were no large gatherings or multiple hotels present. The Hotel "Le Phenicia" was under construction. Tourism and the regulation of this seasonal activity were new. The intensity of capital invested in the sector would grow exponentially and extend into the other months of the year. An imbalance quickly developed between the existing infrastructure and the hotel superstructures. Moreover, in October-November, the high season was ending, and as the weeks passed, the days grew rapidly cooler. The gardeners keeping the impressive, blooming gardens of the Sheraton were attired in hats and wool sweaters. They couldn't understand how we tourists could walk around in our swimsuits on the beach and around the pool. Our child, in fact, refused to set foot on either the golden sand of the beach or the chilly water of the children's pool. Seeing our reluctance to swim, they finally heated it. The other tourists were mostly on excursions.

Our room was very spacious, and the bed in a huge alcove was the size of a harem bed. Our child would sleep in a bed provided by the hotel. Tired from the journey, she didn't fight sleep for long. On the plane, the suppository meant to calm her only excited her. In the evening, when we wanted to sleep, an incessant noise prevented us; it was a cricket that had gotten into the room during the day and taken refuge between two dressers fixed to the wall. The father had the brilliant idea of ​​immobilizing him with his wife's hairspray. 

For our child's meals, we had a supply of Fali de Fallieres jars, a specialized baby food made in Tulle, France. But once we ran out, we had to order more from the local pharmacist. Because of slow service, we rented a car, drove 60 km to Tunis, and returned with some ourselves. In the meantime, our child would only eat scrambled eggs. Fortunately, in the mornings, we had hearty breakfasts with delicious products baked overnight by the excellent baker at the hotel. The croissants were delicious, and our child ate them with relish. In Tunis, at the Museum of Handicrafts, we brought back a decorative rug to hang on the wall of the stairs landing at home.

One day, we decided to take a bus tour with the local tourists. A tire went flat, and it took the driver hours to fix it. The little girl was hungry, thirsty, and fussy because of the intense heat. So, I went to take shelter from the blazing sun in the shade of the only bush along the main road. We were going to visit Nabeul, famous for its beautiful pottery and earthenware, barely 10 km from Hammamet. We bought vibrant gold-trimmed mint tea glasses that the girl loved. Despite the mishap, the day was enjoyable. Mint tea is delicious; it must be extremely hot and extremely sweet.

1973 also saw the first declaration of the oil embargo by OPEC. From October 1973 to March 1974, the price of a barrel of oil quadrupled, reaching $11.62, with a clear negative impact on the world economy. On October 6, the State of Israel was attacked by a coalition of Arab states, including Egypt and Syria. This war served as a pretext for raising the price of oil in response to Western countries supporting Israel. The second oil crisis occurred in 1979 following revolutionary unrest in Iran, which ultimately led to the Shah's downfall.

Hammamet, thanks to its geographical, climatic, and historical advantages, has become Tunisia's primary tourist destination. Once a self-sufficient city, it has transformed into a popular and cosmopolitan seaside resort through a dramatic increase in tourism. Tourism began in 1959 when the semi-public Tunisian Hotel and Tourism Company built Hammamet's first hotel, the Miramar. From the 1960s to the 1970s, construction began on 18 establishments along the coastline, stretching from the north to the south of the city. Very quickly, private investors, faced with a shortage of beds and eagerness for profitability, expanded the hotel sector by developing establishments of distinct categories. By the end of 1980, the total capacity was 32 hotels, and since then, Hammamet has been considered the country's tourist capital, best satisfying travel agencies. Work in the sector of tourism has gradually developed at the expense of local agriculture, fishing, and other sectors such as traditional crafts. Fertile land is being used for urbanization rather than for the goal of diversifying and ensuring food self-sufficiency for the local population.

Today, tourism in Hammamet has exploded so much that there are 198 hotels in the area. This is beneficial for providing employment for women and students. However, do not underestimate the pollution that this increased activity and population growth generates, and the lack of job diversification

 Transitions to a greener world

Book by Elisa Grindale


FOREWORD

The Earth has long provided every living being with what it needed to survive. Our ancestors saw it as a nurturing mother, and this instinctive relationship drove them to take care of it. They knew, without theory or scientific model, that resources were not infinite and that the slightest mistake could disrupt a fragile balance.

Today, this bond has weakened. We move forward with less caution, sometimes with indifference, as if the riches of the planet were owed to us and were inexhaustible. How could we have strayed so far from this elementary awareness? Despite our intellectual progress, despite repeated warnings, we have too often chosen blindness. We have allowed the idea to take root that the announced disasters were just exaggerations or that technology would eventually fix everything.

The objective of this work is to revisit these choices, to examine with lucidity what our actions have produced—the worst as well as the best—in order to better understand the path that lies ahead of us. It is not about condemning but about reflecting. To recognize our mistakes in order to better overcome them. To find a way of inhabiting the world that is sustainable, responsible, and respectful of life.

Some imagine that artificial intelligence will be able to solve what humanity has not been able to master. It has the capacity for certain areas: calculation, analysis, and pattern detection. But it remains limited where humans are irreplaceable: creativity, sensitivity, fairness, and deep understanding of the consequences of our choices. AI can assist, illuminate, and accelerate—but it cannot think for us.

The risks it carries are real: security drifts, manipulations, disinformation, human rights violations, and weakening of our own cognitive abilities. The real danger lies not in the tool itself, but in how we use it, in how it will influence our behaviors and our relationship with the world.

This book is an invitation to face what we have become and to imagine together what we could become again.