The Association Initiatives et Éducation de la Jeunesse à l’Environnement (AIEJE) uses the French Riviera as a training ground for the cultivation of young “eco-citizens.” What better place to learn more about the environment than in one of France’s most gorgeous spots?

In French there are two very similar expressions for extremely hot weather: une vague de chaleur (heatwave), and la canicule (oppressive heat). There are some technical differences between the two, as you will discover in this video.

French scientists study 740,000-year-old Antarctic ice samples and find clues that point to a relationship between greenhouse gases and global warming. It is feared that the record high carbon and methane levels of today will cause severe climatic change in coming years.

Two hundred sheep jumped to their death in the French Alps. Even though no predator was seen, wolves in the Alps have been causing a lot of controversy lately. Should we just allow Mother Nature to maintain the circle of life? Or should wolves be hunted and killed to protect the sheep and their shepherds?

Randy enjoys swimming in the bay of French coastal town La Rochelle. He enjoys accompanying boats and making friends with other swimmers. Experts, fearing he may get hurt by a propeller or harm someone accidentally, are trying to persuade him to act a little less like Flipper and little more like the wild dolphin that he is.

Excessive algae blooms are causing what is known as “green tides” off the coast of Brittany, affecting ten percent of its coastline. Agriculture is the culprit, due to its extensive use of fertilizers and production of animal wastes, both of which make their way to the ocean and feed the algae.

It’s been suggested by some that global warming is a myth, but a large scientific study suggests otherwise. The first to suffer will be the animals that call the northern icecap home, such as polar bears and seals.

Only four bears remain in Haut-Béarn, and all of them are male. Nothing can be done to save the population unless some females are introduced.

Many French people claim they don’t like receiving junk mail, but marketers have done studies which indicate the opposite.

The summer months have been very dry in many parts of France for the past several years.

In the tradition of the great Jacques Cousteau, two young Frenchmen have been crisscrossing the world’s oceans documenting their most marvelous encounters in a book. But the book is not just an ode to the beauty of the deep; it is a warning about the impact humans have had on this largely unknown world.

Billions (oui, milliards!) of birds migrate from Africa every year, and with bird flu developing rapidly, their arrival to France is closely monitored at the Marquenterre National Park. Learn how French scientists and engineers there have taken innovative measures to make it difficult for the virus to settle in the mud where the birds like to feed.

Five of the nine districts of Lyon, the second largest French city, are being monitored for the H5N1 virus, better known as “Bird Flu”.

Birds aren't the only ones who might feel their lifestyle's been a bit restricted lately. France’s rural cats enjoy a good hunt. But the avian flu has put the lid on sporting felines living in affected areas.

Like old cheese and old wine, old wood is in high demand when it comes to building new chalets. A modern cabin built of ancient wood provides the perfect balance of the old and the new.

One school is no longer serving chicken, claiming that children aren’t eating it when served due to fears of avian flu. The mayor is behind this decision – despite the protests of parents and chicken farmers – citing the “principle of precaution.”

Beautiful snow Leopards and Madagascar tortoises! The European Program protects rare species such as these in zoos, with the goal to eventually release them (or their children) back into the wild.

José Bové may be famous for having dismantled a McDonald’s, but it turns out he also knows a thing or two about building houses — all in line with his alterglobalist ideals!

A robot is sent into a deep ocean fault south of the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean. Its mission: to explore mineral chimneys and collect the organisms that can live there without sunlight.

Two women – one French, one American – speak of their new careers as vineyard owners. With the increasing popularity of New World wines, land in the Bordeaux region of France is becoming cheaper.

Brr! It’s hard to believe that anything could survive in waters as cold as minus two degrees. But recent research expeditions in the Antarctic Ocean have found life forms, like the icefish, that manage to thrive despite the chilly temperatures.

Did you know that birch sap is a great, natural energy booster? The friendly forester in this video shows us how to tap into this delicious and healthy natural resource.

French Guiana is currently debating a controversial topic: the Montagne d'Or (Gold Mountain), in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The environmental impact is a major concern, and many people and organizations are opposing the project.

A wildlife hospital near Montpellier in the south of France treats injured birds and other animals. Unfortunately, a lot of those injuries are caused by human actions.