Pauline Vilain Carlotti

In collaboration with Flammarion Editions, Les Franciscaines is launching a new series of encounters. Hosted by Sandrine Treiner, editor, journalist, writer and former director of France Culture, these meetings provide an opportunity to hear scientists, thinkers and authors discuss topical issues. If there's one hot topic every summer, it's the Great Fires, which geographer Pauline Vilain-Carlotti explores in her latest essay.

The planet is on fire. At least, that's how we feel, given the constant news of megafires devastating every latitude and season, from Australia to Greece, from the Amazon to California. Identified as a danger to all living things, and particularly to humans who have to contend with an uncontrollable natural world, fire has become our enemy. Pauline Vilain-Carlotti takes the exact opposite view of fire. Fire is not just a danger, but has been a tool, an ally and a symbol since the very origins of our planet.