BY: SAMANTHA TAPP
The City of Love has found a new way to spread the love. The famous trend of attaching locks to bridges in Paris has been a symbol of love for citizens and tourists since 2008. Last year, the city announced that the locks would be removed because of safety hazards. But, the symbolic locks won’t be wasted, but rather will become bigger symbols of love and hope as they are sold to support charities for refugees.
For 18 months, the city has been working to remove millions of padlocks that covered the two famous bridges, Pont des Arts and the Pont de l’Archevêché, on the River Seine. The authorities have already removed an astounding 65 tonnes of locks.
Paris’ Deputy Mayor Bruno Juillard announced that the tiny pieces of Parisian history will be available for sale to the public. According to Time, the sales of the locks could bring in as much as €100,000 (or USD$107,000). Sales will begin next year, with all of the profits being donated to refugee groups in the city.
“Members of the public can buy five or 10 locks, or even clusters of them, all at an affordable price,” Juillard said to The Guardian. “All of the proceeds will be given to those who work in support and in solidarity of the refugees in Paris.”
The remaining unsold locks will be melted down and then sold.
The group, No Love Locks, that promotes the removal of the padlocks in Paris, gladly welcomes the idea. “It’s an inspired idea, and a much better way to show love – the universal kind of love- especially at a time when so many are turning their backs on refugees of the world,” No Love Locks co-founder, Lisa Anselmo, told The Local.