Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has set a goal of making the Seine swimmable by 2024 when her city will host the Olympic Games.

If she succeeds, it will be the first time that bathing in the Seine is legal in over 100 years. To do that, though, the city will have to significantly reduce the levels of toxic bacteria that flow through the river.

 

Then, there’s the buried treasure hidden at the bottom. Around 360 tons of plastic are found in the Seine every year.

 

Lucky for Hidalgo, 11-year-old Raphael is on the case. 

 

For nearly two years now, the scrappy middle schooler has spent nearly every weekend with his dad, fishing debris out of the 450-mile stretch of water.

 

“It’s not unusual for us to catch an entire ton in a single day,” Raphael’s dad, Alexandre de Fages de Latour said.

 

A typical catch can include anything from an iPhone to an electric scooter.

 

“I always knew there were things at the bottom of the water, but not to the point of scooters and bicycles...read more

Please pray for my son Gary, who is a drug addict. He was clean for 5 years and fell off the wagon on the weekend. Pray for him to get back on track. Keep him safe. Guide him, and may he listen to God. Help, O Lord. Pray also for us as parents, that we can survive this turmoil once again and keep all people around him safe.

Thank you.