6/9 - The Streets of Paris
- Runner: Simon Isaacs
- Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Currently Resides: Kigali, Rwanda
- Language(s): English, French, Spanish & Italian (fluent), Portuguese & Norwegian (basic)
- Family:
- Statement: “At a personal level, Blue Planet Run provides a rare opportunity to integrate my love for running with my commitment to improve the lives of the poor, disenfranchised and marginalized around the world.” – Simon Isaacs, 2007
Saturday began with a great Exchange Point Ceremony under the Grande Arche in the Parisian business district, La Defense. The “Grande Arch,” inaugurated in 1989, is said to be a monument to humanity and humanitarian ideals as opposed to military victories, and thus served as a fitting drop for our message on safe drinking water: “nous courons en homage aux fils et aux fille, aux mere et aux pere, aux 6,000 etre humains qui meurent chaque jour faut d’avoir de l’eau potable en suffisance.”
After talking to the crowds and media, at 9:00 Sean Harrington and I performed the water ceremony – and off I went through La Defense and onto the Avenue de Galle towards the Arch de Triumph. I then ran to the Place du Trocadairu which provides a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tour.
Running under the Eiffel Tour, I couldn’t hold back my excitement. More than anything, I was so proud. I ran down the river Seine, past the Musee D’Orsay (which houses works by one of my favorites – Jean-Francoise Millet), past the Louvre, around the train station, and through the African and Asian communities on the periphery. What an unbelievable day.
>From Maplaquet, France (on the border with Belgium) – happy trails.
Hurricane Dean
Yesterday morning, I woke up to CNN’s talking heads warning of Hurricane Dean’s destructive path toward the Caribbean.
Activism + Water
By the late 80’s, AIDS had developed into a full fledged crisis. Despite the rapid spread of the disease, government officials remained quiet.
Venture Philanthropy
At the eclectic Buck’s diner in Woodside, Bay area power-brokers meet over stacks of pancakes to discuss what they hope will be the next big idea.
Make It Happen
We made it across Europe, Russia, and Asia… over 10,000 miles, one stride at a time; a truly significant accomplishment, no doubt.
Water and Climate Change in Mongolia
Fueled by the dramatic landscape before me, I have found my second wind in Mongolia.
Water & Tourism – The Great Baikal Trail
The internet café in Irkutsk was jammed with backpackers gripping their Lonely Planet Guidebooks and emailing home stories adventures through Russia.
Siberia’s Ghost Towns
“In Russia we have two problems, fools and bad roads” said my guide, Yuiana as the car swerved right and left through a mine-field of deep potholes.
(Hyrdo)Power to the People
Depicted on the back of my 10 ruble bill is the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Dam which lies upstream of the central Russian city of Krasnoyarsk (where I am now).
Ode to Mayonnaise
Waking up in the morning, I find you there at the breakfast table, A
dollop atop by canned peas and corn.
At lunch, you glisten off of my plate of meat dumplings. You line my
The BPR Petri Dish
I feel like I’ve been running on a treadmill through Western Siberia. My heart pumps, my legs move – but the horizon, though beautiful, goes unchanged.
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