marle feed

There is this teenie tiny shop in Leicester Main Street called the Detox Shack that serves juices, smoothies and food and more.  The more is the capabilities of the host to ask questions to its customers directly to create a connection and to remind them that their body and mind is their temple and they can take care of it by choosing the food they eat and the thoughts they think. He invites us to feel blessed for the things we receive and at peace with whatever comes up. The place and all its trinkets with positive messages written on them are also there to remind us those values. He does not preach. It is when the customer asks him questions that his wisdom shines through. Ask a question and you will get a story that weaves itself with yours. As I listened to him and how at peace he was and all the kind words he spoke, I reflected upon another place I visited that was also wonderful in colours and design and yet the words spoken by the staff members about the failings of their co...

Writing a book for a general audience came into my awareness for few weeks now with friends suggesting to turn my doctorate into a book. Then, I was invited to celebrate a girlfriend birthday in Nottingham. Unable to drive to the destination, I was picked up by a newly published author. We spoke all the way there and back about the process of writing a book and some of steps involved in delivering the written product. In the evening. I discussed some of the elements with another friend who told me that she will help me find the necessary funding to make this happen. My first book is about Leicester Fixers, Repair, the Doctorate and more. I want to be able to raise some funding to continue and expand the development of sustainable communities within Leicester,  Leicestershire and Rutland. Through the book, I want to be able to raise necessary funds to do this. Fingercrossed, this will be possible.  If you would like to support me with this project, please do not hesitate to get...

Dear Councillors of Leicester, I am contacting you as one of your constituents to ask you to speak in favour of the removal of the Evesham Road/Aylestone Road link road from the Leicester Local Plan at the council debate to be held on 4th October 2018. I go to Eversham Road every Tuesday for my violin lesson on Heyworth Road from Braunstone Frith. From there, I go to a community of repairers: The Leicester Hackspace in the Faircharm Industrial Estate to work on various projects to help people in Leicester to engage further with trying to repair items in their home. Over the summer, I went to the pebble pool on Aylestone Meadows with my nephews and greatly enjoyed it. Recently, I was made aware that there is a plan to make a link between Evesham Road and Aylestone Road.  I was disappointed to hear so. The road will erase some of the historical and social fabric of the space people have been living in for decades. It will also impact tremendously on the natural envi...

It may be time to create a blacklist of companies to avoid and definitely refuse to  work for: - Those which are more than 3 miles than my home - Those which does not allow me to work from home - Those which does not allow me to work fewer hours - Those which pollute with no sorry - Those with negative employee reviews - Those which do not design products that are repairable - Those which do not put the wellbeing of their staff first what else, add to the list

I went to the beach with approximately 500 people who were all part of the same community of church goers from the Mustard Seed Chapel International It was my first time witnessing how church communities organise themselves and I was well impressed by the community feel, the love and support they give to one another. I found myself with people coming from different corners of England to meet on Bridlington Beach in North Yorkshire. The beach was beautiful and calm as we arrived. Before we knew it, music was blasting, children were laughing, waste was everywhere to be found, barbecues were smoking. Pure process of destruction before my eyes. At the day drew to an end and the fellows left the beach. Their presence was still felt as we could find plastic bags, food, children toys everywhere. I was disappointed and groaned: ''How unthoughtful?'' I liaised back the information to my friend and her leader. I was met with the questions '' Are you an envi...

The Cosmic Blink It was in a blink of an eye that a cosmic change happened. Something changed. Something got broken. A water pipe in their neighbourhood burst, letting out a rainbow of colours. 1,2,3 blink, they wake up, walk like a zombie to the bathroom, no water. 1,2,3 blink, they change their mind, they change the way they see the world, the world has changed They are now faced with a cosmos of possibilities and uncertainties. A Rainbow of colours One by one asks: Do we have water in the cupboard? One by one walks to the corner shop: Do they still have water? Blood is boiling inside their vessel as one by one, transparent bottles are travelling out of the store. Questions spiral out of order in their black box: How long is it going to last for? Who would help me if things get worse! 1,2,3, blink,  they buy two bottles, they walk up to their neighbour, they stand in front of their door. 1,2,3, blink, they change their mind, they change the way th...

Having identified, the colourless, blue, deeper blue, red and green colours of water, let share another shade and tone. When there is no water to draw, one can see brown. The world turns upside down. It is exactly what happened when upon going to the toilet to do number two, she realises that there is no water. She thought that having a dried toilet outside would have been good to have right now. But when she talked about it in the past, he thought that this was too unconventional and people would think that they were weirdos. So it was never put in place. As for now, the conversation goes: W: ''I have a dilemma'' M: ''Which one?'' W: ''I need to go to the toilet to fulfil my needs but there is no water so the brown will not disappear'' M: ''You were right, we shall I built a toilet facility outside'' W: ''Thanks for recognising the value of my third eye for disaster'' M: ''What to do then?...

Selah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSPkcpGmflE

While relatively small quantities of water appear to be colourless, pure water has a slight blue colour that becomes a deeper blue as the thickness of the observed sample increases. The blue hue  of water is an intrinsic property and is caused by selective absorption and scattering of white  light. When there is no water to draw, one can see blood.  The world turns upside down. It is exactly what happened when upon getting into the shower, he realises that there is no water. He goes down to the kitchen, no water. He goes up to the sink tap, no water. M: ''I love my water'' W: ''Do you?'' M:''Yes, I like the feel on my skin, I like my big shower, It is like being in Africa right now.'' W: ''We have a bottle of water downstairs, you can brush your teeth with'' M: ''Thanks. Did I take a shower last night? Yes I did!'' W: ''Moving forward, let's buy some water bottles, so we are ok wh...

Movement of zero waste bloggers, forums of discussion is everywhere to be found.  They probably multiply faster than the waste in your home. Why? Because it is time to take responsibilities for the plastic, fabric and other material resources in our home. If you do not need those stuff, why have it in the first place? Bin your bin instead. You cannot yet. Start easy and follow the 5 Rs. In order: Refuse what you do not need. Reduce what you do not need Reuse by using reusable Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse Rot (compost the rest) and if it is too hard to do it on your own, join others on a journey of self-discovery. My own journey started with Footpaths, a carbon reduction programme, which allowed me to meet people and get support to reduce my personal footprint. Waste was part of the course and well did I change indeed. Have a look.

Most families around the world live in communities.  In the western world, this concept has been replaced by a single-family household. Yet, the latter struggle to meet their needs through the ages. With a young family, parents are overstretched with family and work commitment. The olds struggle with illnesses and social isolation.  What can possibly be done? Well, let's live together.  Look up co-housing and specifically retrofit co-housing so we can start where we are to build the community that we dream of.

2pm - Leicester City Centre - Highcross - Saturday - It is a bit windy - I am wearing a hat, a coat, a scarve, a jean and some proper shoes. I am going to spend the next three hours outside, I better be warm. I am fighting against the elements and for a frack free world. I am with Friends of the Earth in front of Barclays with a stand. Our banner says 'Frack Free Leicestershire Network. Our main purpose is to raise awareness on fracking, Barclays investment in a company planning to frack beautiful Ryedale in North Yorkshire and the other plan possibly being drawn for Leicestershire. I have a clip board in my hand to get passers to sign a petition to halt fracking in the UK. I am in good spirit. They will understand. I notice that my dress code is at odd with saturday afternoon shopping spree. Most people wear a t-shirt, light jumper, jean or skirts, lipsticks and eyeshadows. The dress code has a purpose, they will be in and out of shops. They do not need to stand outside for lo...

Published on Restart Project My name is Marie Lefebvre. I co-founded with Divya Pujara, Leicester Fixers in 2014 with the support of  Footpaths , a carbon footprint project,  Leicester Hackspace  and Transition Leicester. Other little things about myself, I am not a repairer yet I am absolutely delighted every time an electrical item gets opened and I can see inside it. I am also a Ph.D student at Loughborough University investigating the propensity of users of stuff to repair. I love each and every Restart Party because I always learn something new and meet lovely people.

Published on Footpaths Leicester The room was full of people ready to witness images of people across the world fighting to live in a world where the land from which they sustain themselves from can be protected and cared for. This Changes Everything documentary is a snapshot of the battle between capitalism and climate, between capitalism and people as described in more details in the book 'This Changes Everything' by Naomi Klein.

This Saturday at the Restart Party, we haven't managed to repair my poor mobile phone ( PART 1) . Luckily, one of the members of the Hackspace have a spare one that is happy to lend me until I am able to repair my own. I accept gratefully. I get home and get myself two spares part to replace the screen on my mobile phone. They arrived at home. I put them in a drawer. They stay there. The current mobile phone that was lent to me is perfectly convenient for the time being. I forget to bring the replacement screen at the next restart party and I come to learn that the person who lent me the mobile phone has gone and will never come back to Leicester and I will not find a way to give it back to him. I accept fate. Months pass by and I never manage to repair my old mobile phone. it is somewhere in a drawer with its spare parts. I forget about it. I have a working phone in my hands. Until this Sunday morning after having repaired the bottom drawer of a cupboard, the scre...

Would any sane person think dumpster diving would have stopped Hitler, or that composting would have ended slavery or brought about the eight-hour workday; or that chopping wood and carrying water would have gotten people out of Tsarist prisons; or that dancing around a fire would have helped put in place the Voting Rights Act of 1957 or the Civil Rights Act of 1964? Then why now, with all the world at stake, do so many people retreat into these entirely personal “solutions”? Why are these “solutions” not sufficient? But most importantly, what can be done instead to actually stop the murder of the planet? The description of the video 'Forget Short Showers' just reminded me how insane I am and how a lot of people are too ( Inside Voice: just look around you for a minute, they are all craaayyy, they don't want to admit it, what abt you?) The insanity can be summarised into keeping ourselves busy with personal endeavour to tackle climate change (embracing simple eco-living...

Since September 2014, My main project focus has been on repair. I have been working with Zina, founder of Footpaths, a carbon reduction project in Leicester to organise the Green Festival of Making & Mending on the 31st October 2015 and a serie of events throughout 2015. Our main aim was to introduce people to ingenious ideas to repair and upcycle items in an environmentally friendly way. The event idea stemmed the recognition of our own vulnerabilities. Zina and I were not really the creative/diy type. For me, personally, my hands were only used as so far for typing and some random drawing but never to make something tangible. Maybe they were but I never appreciated their magnificence. Is gold in our hands? A year working on festival and following up to that, I mended all my clothes, darned socks and gloves, repaired a mobile phone, made a rag rug and a banner, painted signs, made sculptures out of papers and christmas decorations, repaired pieces of furnitures, shortened cu...

Every 6 Weeks, I organised a Restart Party at Leicester Hackspace along with a number of amateur/professional repairers. My first trial at repairing an item was a mobile phone. The poor thing painfully fell in the middle of the street as I was cycling home after a gorgeous meal with friends in an Indian restaurant. The screen was cracked and my belly was full. I was paired up with a bald head man quite tall. He is related to one of my acquaintance who is really involved in environmental campaigning in Leicester. He is warm and a very good pedagogue. He never repaired a mobile phone like mine before. We know that there are plenty of guides online. Together we decide to give it a go. I am smiling and cheering as we are trying to open the piece of equipments. How wonderful those green and copper pieces are assembled together. It looks beautiful, a real piece of art. We take off all the parts to reach the front screen. We replace it. We put all the pieces back together. Tu...

After having written a piece on how my relationship with capitalism affects my carbon footprint?   and receiving feedback indicating that my individualistic goals to want to purchase solar panels were not good enough to facilitate the transition towards a sustainable system of production and consumption, because it encourages me to serve a system that exploit resources and labour and not supporting others in changing their behaviour. I started to wonder. It is true unfortunately as long as there are no other alternatives of production and consumption that is fairer, more caring towards the environment and the people that inhabit the earth, we will be stuck in an endless and vicious circle of guilt and blame. There is no way that we can move towards an ideal world of fairness without having to dance with the devil, hence working for corporations that pollute, exploit and influence for us to extract value which can be re-invested into a greener future To change the deal, I ha...

Published on Footpaths Leicester Capitalism is an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state. My carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of my activities. My activities serve capitalism. They serve private owners for profit at the expense of natural resources and human beings. I am trapped and enslaved by capitalism, this is my relationship with it and it impacts dearly on my carbon footprint but also on my wellbeing and sense of belonginess. I am striving to strip myself away from capitalism. I refused to work for large corporate organisations. I refuse to consume excessively. I shop in charity shops, buy in bulk from the Wholefood Coop in Leicester, cycle to work, do not travel by plane. I try to save for some solar panels and an electric car, I try to repair what I own and try to engage others in changing behaviour through campaigning...