Perspective

A filmmaker has told FRANCE 24 about the problems faced by the people of Madagascar as they try to survive, but also care for the environment. Sira Thierij has made a film that shows why people feel they have to chop down the forests to plant crops so they have food to eat, which inevitably lead to major ecological problems. Her film, “Madagascar on Fire”, also reveals the efforts afoot to try to tackle the problem. She spoke to us in Perspective.

As the world sees this weekend the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of those who’s had access to the gothic church as it was being restored has spoken of his joy at documenting the progress throughout the past five years. Photographer Thomas Van Houtryve managed to negotiate special access to Notre-Dame during its reconstruction as part of a project for “Rebatir Notre Dame de Paris” or “Rebuilding Notre Dame de Paris”, and National Geographic. His images are now on display at the Gallerie Miranda in Paris and published in a book – 36 views of Notre Dame. He spoke to us in Perspective.

One of the world’s top guitarists has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the sheer joy of playing music, and how it led him to discover a new life, and a new world. Niwel Tsumbu grew up in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he was surrounded by Congolese music. But it wasn’t until later in life that he discovered jazz and his mind turned to music. He now lives in Cork, Ireland and is in Paris to perform a concert organised by the Irish Cultural Centre. He spoke to us in Perspective.

Two photographers whose images look like something you might see in a Hollywood high budget film have spoken to FRANCE 24 about their work. They take pictures of Paris, and then use artificial intelligence to adapt them to take viewers to a post-apocalyptic world where humans are perhaps no more. Their photography has been made into a book Les Ruines de Paris, or the ruins of Paris. Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre spoke to us in perspective.

An Italian photographer has spoken to FRANCE 24 of his latest project in the US. Nicola Vigilanti’s exhibition and book – Grainy America – aim to explore the land of opportunity to showcase its people as they live their daily lives by stripping away the layers that make up US society in an attempt to understand it. He spoke to us in Perspective.

The world-renowned British author Jonathan Coe has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the joys of writing, and his love of mixing a variety of genres in his work. He also warned people to be wary of the self-deprecating British form of humour, something often seen in his books. His latest novel "The Proof of My Innocence" centres around an intriguing plot to sell off the British Health Service, the NHS, amid the chaotically short premiership of Liz Truss. It contains a lot of wry humour and also centres around a murder investigation. Coe, who is in Paris for a book signing, spoke to us in Perspective.

An author who has drawn strong parallels with the iconic Black lesbian feminist writer Audre Lorde has spoken to FRANCE 24 about Lorde's legacy, and her hope that she is carrying on her message. Alexis Pauline Gumbs is author of the new biography "Survival is a Promise – The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde". At the same time, she's in Paris to promote her latest book published in 2022 in English, entitled "Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals", which has now been translated into French as "Non-noyées". We spoke to her in Perspective.

The winner of this year's prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year award has spoken to FRANCE 24 about his love for photography and his hope that his work will help protect the world's oceans and its ecosystems. He calls himself a marine conservation photographer, taking pictures that are not only beautiful, but also matter and tell a story. Shane Gross spoke to us in Perspective.

A woman who was subjected as a child to Female Genital Mutilation has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the violence and torture she was forced to undergo. Leyla Hussein is a psychotherapist who now specialises in supporting survivors of sexual abuse. She grew up in Somalia, where she was subjected to FGM at the age of seven. It wasn’t until she was living in London and gave birth to her first child that she realised what had happened to her. She spoke to us in Perspective as part of our coverage of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

In the words of Antoine Bernard, disinformation is "the kingdom of confusion". The director of advocacy and assistance at Reporters Without Borders (RSF) spoke to FRANCE 24 about the organisation's project to fight fake news and analyse the geopolitics of propaganda: The Propaganda Monitor. In its first "season", the project is focusing on Russian propaganda, which Bernard says has "gained a lot of traction" since the start of the war in Ukraine. He speaks of an intricate disinformation "apparatus" in which fake news is "laundered, propelled and amplified" by the Russian government.