« The Mediterranean is being re-read, reinvented, and explored from contrasting angles. A chronicle invites us to overturn our inherited geographical perspective, while urban planning adopts the model of the “sponge city” to better manage water. In the kitchen, the red mullet highlights the value of seasonal products. In Marseille, the PriMed celebrates the long duration of documentary filmmaking and its role in the transmission of memories and debate. »
Summary of articles published this week in 22-med, available in the 11 languages used on the site. To read them in full: subscribe and support an independent media.
Mediterranean Chronicles #2 Itineraries of a solitary walker, from Rijeka to Sarandë
For a long time, I imagined the Mediterranean based on a ready-made image. It seemed “natural” for a Frenchman or a European: Europe, to the north, is above, and the other shore, African and Arab, to the south, is below. But this representation, widely spread and dominant, is nothing more than a convenience, too long unchallenged. The Andalusian geographer, Al Idrissi, who worked for King Roger II of Sicily, represented the Mediterranean quite differently: Africa is above and Europe is below.
The “sponge city,” a model that optimizes water management
The urban landscape has evolved towards more sustainable models, and drainage solutions have become essential. The sealing of soils has fractured the hydrological cycle: in nature, nearly 80% of water infiltrates, and only a small part flows on the surface, whereas in the city, it is exactly the opposite. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) seek to restore this balance by mimicking natural filtration, thus reducing flooding and pollution. In the Spanish Basque Country, a company has been supporting this transition since 1998.
When a seasonal treasure invites itself into the kitchen
For fans of Mediterranean fish, the time has come to celebrate a choice species: the rock red mullet. A modest-sized fish – around 20 cm – but with an intense, particularly briny flavor, it embodies autumn as the fry reach maturity at two times of the year: now or at the end of spring. Favoring these two seasons guarantees optimal product quality and protects the resource. On my menu, I have always respected this seasonality. In the kitchen, its fine and delicate flesh calls for a gourmet simplicity; even if preparing it starts with a tedious step.
In Marseille, the PriMed exalts the long duration of documentary filmmaking
From November 29 to December 6, the Mediterranean Image Festival brings together in Marseille films by directors from more than a dozen countries in the region: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Algeria, Lebanon, Italy, Israel, Palestine, Tunisia, and France. This event is an opportunity to remind us – at a time when social networks value short and even very short content – of the power of documentary filmmaking to shed light on crises, transmit memory, and open debate. A dimension that PriMed now cultivates by raising awareness among young people, as more than 3000 high school students from both shores will actively participate in this 2025 edition.