Faites comme chez vous

PROXIMITY The "Immeubles en fête" operation, an antidote to isolation and exclusion Make yourself at home VISIT LAURENT RAPHAËL Damn and damn! Forgot to buy salt again. How am I going to season my leg of lamb now? And Pierre and Chloé arriving in half an hour… What to do? Run to the shop? Pointless, it is 8.15 pm. The tills are already asleep with their drawers shut. That leaves the neighbours. Yes, but I have lived in the building for three years and our relations have so far gone no further than the very formal "hello" and "good evening" exchanged in haste on the doorstep. Would I dare disturb them? Might they not above all take advantage of it to come and pester me afterwards at every turn? Hmm. Not too keen on putting up with them. Too risky. I call my mate and ask him to bring me the precious condiment. Never mind, we will eat later than planned. What an idiot, all the same! YOU DO NOT CHOOSE YOUR NEIGHBOURS Who has not experienced a similar scenario one day? For most people living in the city (which is the lot of 3 people out of 4), our neighbours are "known strangers" whom we pass by chance while taking good care to preserve a certain distance. As if geographical proximity were too great to risk an emotional rapprochement which, in those conditions, would quickly turn into forced promiscuity. The fact is you do not choose your neighbours. No more than they chose us, for that matter. So you have to "make do", as they say in Brussels. And even if among them there may be individuals with whom a deeper relationship would be entirely conceivable in another context, the ice is rarely broken beyond what the maintenance of good neighbourly relations requires. The fault lies with the evolution of living conditions (the shrinking average size of flats, for example, leaves little opportunity to organise convivial gatherings), but even more with that "cordon sanitaire" with which we all surround our private lives with varying degrees of rigour. And which reflects the individualism that reigns supreme in our societies described – somewhat paradoxically – as societies of communication. We readily confide in virtual beings on the other side of the world via the Net, but we remain a stranger to the tenant next door. "There is a powerful trend advocating the valorisation of the individual as such," observes the French sociologist Robert Rochefort, director general of the Credoc. "Networks of communication and encounter are today centred on family, work and communitarianism. Neighbourly relations are 'logically' and 'a priori' only a minor link. Moreover, the neighbour is no longer the natural ally, he is often perceived negatively." A leaning towards egocentrism which is nevertheless beginning to be challenged. Unbridled individualism, often synonymous with isolation and anonymity, has shown its limits. People now express the wish to recreate social bonds and solidarity. Both at the level of society (the socialists' breakthrough in the last elections is a clear signal in this respect) and at neighbourhood level. The "Immeubles en fête" operation to be held next Tuesday in Brussels is one example among others. By encouraging people to share a festive moment with their neighbours in the hall, the courtyard, the garden or indeed at one of the residents' homes, this initiative, devised in France four years ago, where it enjoys growing success (2 million participants in 2002), intends both to combat selfishness of every kind and to bring people closer together. GOOD-NATURED In the wake of films and television series extolling the virtues of companionship (from "Friends" to "Melrose Place" via "L'auberge espagnole" or "Amélie Poulain"), this event rides the wave of authentic, good-natured conviviality seen as a remedy for indifference and for the aggressions of the "outside world". In a way, social bonds loosened from above by unbridled productivity, physical and moral insecurity and the dislocation of traditional (notably family) landmarks are being retied from below. Next Tuesday, everyone will be free to make the operation's slogan their own: "No quarter for indifference." And perhaps to contribute at the same time to shaping a more human and more smiling city. "Love your neighbour but do not remove your fence," warns a Chinese proverb. This Tuesday, an exception is allowed… The operation takes place this Tuesday the 27th from 7 to 10 pm. The principle is simple: whoever wishes to take part invites their neighbours for a drink in the common areas or at their home. More information on the site http://www.immeublesenfete.be and in Tuesday's edition.