“ THE TARA IS A SYMBOL AND AN AMBASSADoR FOR LORIENT ”
Norbert Métairie, chairman of the Lorient inter-council partnership

Since 2006 the city of Lorient (France) has become the natural home port of the grey and orange tall ship. All the inhabitants of the city and the surrounding region know the Tara’s name and logo. A story of the sea, and of love. Interview with Lorient’s mayor.

How and why did Lorient become the Tara’s home port?

There is, of course, a historical dimension to this. Our city, formerly the home port of the East India Company, has a long history of exploration, discovery and passion for the seas and the oceans. I first met the directors of the Tara project in the summer of 2005, during the Groix Film Festival. Motivated by the enthusiasm of the Lorient inter-council partnership and its interest for sustainable and fair development, the Tara expeditions team chose the port of Lorient as a base for its preparations prior to the Arctic voyage in 2006. Above all they found in Lorient an appropriate infrastructure and a recognized network of skills and knowledge.

Lorient, the Tara's home port: what does that mean for you?

Lorient and its surrounding region has long been recognized as a pioneer and an example when it comes to the protection and development of the environment. The presence of the Tara in Lorient shines a light on all our efforts to promote the wealth and diversity of our maritime heritage. We are delighted by the Tara's presence and it encourages us to continue our campaign to promote environmental awareness. This partnership between the Tara and the Lorient intercouncil partnership is a wonderful opportunity for us to communicate the importance of the environment and get the people of Lorient involved. It goes without saying that local schools have been involved since the beginning, taking part in an ambitious educational project to follow the schooner’s expeditions.

What role does the Tara play in Lorient's maritime community?

It is a very special role because the ship is not only the city’s goodwill ambassador and a powerful symbol but also a human and scientific adventure. It is a remarkable advertisement for Lorient, the redeveloped site known as “la BSM” (submarine base), and its pool of enterprises. Over the years, during the various expeditions, the people of Lorient have become greatly attached to the Tara. And we celebrate the return of Tara in March 2012, on the children’s carnival day.


A LONG TERM APROACH TO SUSTAINABLE AND FAIR DEVELOPMENT

What in your view are the principal environmental issues affecting Lorient and, in a more general sense, the rest of Brittany and France?

There are many. In addition to preserving the environment, I am convinced that we must give greater balance to our public initiatives for sustainable development. These must take into account not only the economic and environmental aspects but also the impact on society. Implementing isolated environmental policies is not sufficient, we need to have a broader vision, look to the long term. In addition to our initiatives, we also aim to limit the environmental impact of construction projects by promoting low-energy buildings, renewable energies, car sharing, and so on.

What are your policies for dealing with this?

For many years the Lorient inter-council partnership has been developing a number of policies to promote sustainable and fair development. We participate in the integrated management of our coastal areas
because the seashore is a precious and fragile resource that needs protecting. We are involved in the integrated management of our water resources to ensure that we preserve and protect them. We also get the public and professionals involved through events such as Salon Terre ! and Printemps de la Terre ! Lorient is helping to save the planet !

INTERVIEW BY ÉLOïSE FONTAINE