Et si vous alliez à la rencontre de vos voisins ?

CONVIVIALITY OPERATION What if you went to meet your neighbours? First "immeubles en fête" operation this evening all over the capital Today the atmosphere should be particularly warm in Brussels. Regardless of the weather, a series of friendly gatherings will be organised all over the capital as part of the "immeubles en fête" operation. An operation launched in Paris in 1999 which brought together some 2 million French people last year. Carl de Moncharline decided to import the concept into our city: "faced with the anonymity that often reigns in our cities, this event is a simple response, open to all", explains the well-known figure of Brussels nightlife. Among those who answered his call is a young mother of three from Uccle. "In the street, we get on well with our three immediate neighbours and with those across the road," explains Dominique Dosogne. "There are lots of large families in the street and for 5 years we have been saying we should organise something to meet the neighbours. We were already receiving Carl de Moncharline's emails about the roller activities. When we got this one, two or three weeks ago, I told myself this was the opportunity…" So she put together a little poster with a note… "My children went and put them in all the letterboxes in the street. But we do not know whether many people will come, because we have not had many replies." In practice, "it will start at 7 pm. We are thinking of organising it in the street, on the pavement. We will bring out a few tables and parasols. With beer and salads. We will start like that. I asked people each to bring something. Whether we will close the street? I thought it would be easier to get the street closed after a first experience. But we may try with chairs or bulky items…" And she explains what she expects from this initiative: "You can perfectly well live without ever crossing paths with your neighbours or meeting them. I would like to be able to do so on this occasion. And it may also mean new acquaintances for the children." Having lived in this district near the Édith Cavell clinic for 15 years, she has learnt to appreciate it: "It is an urban but very green district. Nice, very lively, with shops nearby. The only annoying thing is the proximity of Cavell when it comes to parking. But this is the first time I have tried to get in touch with the people of the street." Hoping that her initiative will not attract only the people she already knows: "If really nobody else comes, that would show that there really is a divide… I hope that will not be the case." M.B. A FEW OTHERS There will be some everywhere > In Jette. Loïs Paelinck is organising a small party at his home (141, avenue Charles Woeste). And Michèle Béduneau probably too (36, avenue Poplimont). > In Schaerbeek. Marie-Hélène Elleboudt is organising a small party (from 7.30 pm) with her neighbours at 43, avenue Clays. As is Louise de Smedt, who hopes "to see her Moroccan and Turkish neighbours come" to her home at 87, rue Vonck. > In Forest. It will take place notably at Sophie Adam and Etienne vanden Berg's (216, rue des Alliés). > In Anderlecht. The tenants' union is organising a drink at its premises (from 2 to 5 pm) at 23, square Albert Ier. In the evening (8.30 to 9.30 pm) there will also be drinks in the entrance hall of 61 rue des Goujons, thanks to the Bout du monde committee (Goujons building) and the Anderlecht-Cureghem tenants' union. > In Brussels. Freddy Thielemans invites the residents of the Grand'Place and surroundings to a friendly drink at 5 pm in the Gothic and wedding halls. There will also be a party, weather permitting, on place de la Liberté. > In St-Gilles. The building at 204, chaussée de Waterloo will take part too. > In Woluwe-St-Lambert. The building at 155, rue de Cuyper. FOREST: CONTROVERSY We did not need Paris! "We would like to point out that we did not need the French model, nor did we wait for the visit of the mayor of Paris, to organise warm gatherings between neighbours in Brussels and to prompt their organisation in other districts." In short, Brussels has nothing to envy Paris in this respect since in Forest this kind of friendly initiative has existed for 10 years… This clarification comes from Marie Haumont, founder of the "Repas de quartier" non-profit association. And this resident of avenue du Mont Kemmel recounts: "We started in 1993 with a drink among about ten people. It was not particularly easy at first because our street, which runs along the Forest park, is above all a thoroughfare for people from Uccle and Forest. We did not know each other. Then a small core formed and in 1998 we decided to organise a neighbourhood meal with a poster to say when it was happening. The result? Very positive. It greatly changed the atmosphere of the district. Newcomers were welcomed, former residents came back to see their old neighbours. We were so pleased that in 2001 we set up an association to spread the benefits of these neighbourhood meals. And so to have 'offspring'. Including a drink in Woluwe, a neighbourhood meal in Uccle, mobilisation in St-Gilles and another in Etterbeek. "In our district we do it 2 to 5 times a year, whenever we feel like it. We often do it at my place because I live on the ground floor and I have a big table since I have a lot of children. I always insisted that it be open to everyone, even to people not from the district. Last time there were 80 of us, so some were standing…" And our Forest resident concludes: "The 'Immeubles en fête' operation is very good but we must not forget the people of Brussels who have been doing this for a long time." And she announces her next neighbourhood meal, probably on 21 June. M.B. A mega "mobility" barbecue One should not think that Brussels had to wait for this "Immeubles en fête" operation to show conviviality. Besides the 'neighbourhood meals' set up in Forest and elsewhere (see opposite) or the 'citizen streets' initiative in Ixelles (only this Sunday, in rue Kerckx), there was notably in September 2002, on car-free day, the launch of this mega barbecue in Anderlecht. But let us not make a fuss about it. If we did not need Paris to discover how to celebrate and to confirm our image as a convivial city, every new initiative is welcome. PHOTO V. FROMONT