Jean-Francois Lepine
Jean-François Lépine is an eminent journalist who is now Director of Québec Government offices in China. Before moving to Shanghai, he was an international analyst, speaker, and associate in communication and government affairs at Avistra International Inc.
Until November 2015, he was also chair of the Middle Eastern and North African Observatory (Observatoire sur le Moyen-Orient et l’Afrique du Nord/OMAN) at the Université du Québec à Montréal and a member of Montréal International’s Board of Directors. He was a foreign correspondent for CBC/Radio-Canada in Beijing, Paris, and Jerusalem from 1982 to 1990 and is recognized as an exceptional analyst and communicator.
From 1990 to 2013, he hosted several popular public affairs television programs on CBC/Radio-Canada, including Enjeux, Le Point, Zone libre, and the international magazine Une Heure Sur Terre, which also aired on TV5 Monde.
His work both as a reporter and TV show host has been recognized by numerous awards. In June 2012, he was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada. That same year, he also received the Raymond Charette Prize awarded by the Québec Superior Council of the French Language.
3 words to describe Nature?
Wealth. Fragile. Happiness
3 things Nature taught you?
Resilience
Fight to survive
Enjoy life
3 most treasured Nature spots?
Quebec's Laurentian forest
The Atlantic Ocean in Maine USA
The Amazon
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel...?
The power of nature
When you see a forest, it makes you feel...?
Protection, safety, life
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel...?
Life can be dangerous
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel...?
The earth is so vulnerable and small
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel...?
Nature is not always peaceful
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel...?
Natural life is also sound
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
All!
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
Fishing in a wild lake with my father, brothers, and sisters.
Annie Griffiths
One of the first women photographers to work for National Geographic, ANNIE GRIFFITHS has photographed in nearly 150 countries during her illustrious career. She has worked on dozens of magazine and book projects for National Geographic, including stories on Lawrence of Arabia, Galilee, Petra, Sydney, New Zealand, and Jerusalem.
In addition to her magazine work, Griffiths is deeply committed to photographing for aid organizations around the world. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Ripple Effect Images, a collective of photographers who document aid programs that are empowering women and girls in the developing world. In just five years, Ripple’s work has helped 24 non-profits raise over ten million dollars.
Griffiths has published 4 books, is an accomplished speaker and a regular guest on NPR, The Today Show and other media outlets.
Annie has received awards from the National Press Photographers Association, the National Organization of Women, and the White House News Photographers Association.
3 words to describe Nature?
ESSENTIAL. COMFORTING. ENDURING
3 things Nature taught you?
TO PAUSE
TO GASP
TO BE HUMBLE
3 most treasured Nature spots?
MY CABIN IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN
MY LITTLE HOME ON A LAKE IN VIRGINIA
ANY NATIVE PRAIRIE
When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel…?
SMALL, PEACEFUL
When you see a forest, it makes you feel…?
SAFE
When you see a volcano, it makes you feel…?
HUMBLE
When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel…?
GRATEFUL
When you hear thunder, it makes you feel…?
THAT ALL LIVING THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET A DRINK
When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel…?
CAUTIOUS
Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?
I’M A LAKE PERSON
On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?
10
Share with us a childhood nature memory?
SO MANY. THE MIRACLE OF FIREFLIES, CATCHING TOADS AND FROGS, CREATING A FORT OUT OF AN OLD SNAG, CATCHING CRAYFISH WITH A PIECE OF CORN ON A STRING. MARVELING AT SPIDER WEBS.