Leading this inspiring movement is Julien Carpentier, a 32-year-old visionary who describes himself on his Twitter profile as "Eater of stones. Author for people and director of stuff for French TV and the internet."
His goal? To demonstrate that Soldiers of Peace and Love are thriving across Paris, countering the trauma of the November 13 attacks with heart belts that symbolize calm and unity.
The idea struck the day after the tragedy. After a sleepless night glued to nonstop news coverage, Julien awoke determined to transform dark imagery—like 'explosive belts'—into something uplifting. "The urge to divert the terrifying lexical field of terrorism into something soothing," he shares.
Julien began by photographing local shopkeepers in Paris's 11th arrondissement, a neighborhood hit hard by the violence: the florist, the kebab vendor, the hairdresser, all adorned with heart belts. Word spread organically, with Parisians eagerly joining in. These striking images capture everyday moments—a man playing pétanque, a woman reading in the park, another waiting for her bus—elevated by the simple power of a heart belt. Julien has no plans to stop: "As long as I'm called upon, I will continue to photograph French people with this belt of peace."
Discover these powerful images of love and resilience on Facebook or Instagram. To participate and join the Soldiers of Peace, email: les-soldats-de-paix@gmail.com
