Let's all say a nice friendly "Hello" to the Riot Police, and just pretend you see a picture of them because I am not sure that taking their photo would make me friends.... Today I saw them twice (on the way to and from my metro for work) I saw one of my cross streets on the television (nightly news) and the protests of thousands of students (some rioting) kept me from going to the TBM at the Bon Marche.
You may not see the images internationally but the students here in France are protesting a new type of employment contract that is being proposed for "youth" employment. It has it pros and cons but basically it comes down to the fact that government is creating a contract for youth (under 26) that allows employers to treat these employees significantly differently than other types of contracts. Particularly when it comes to firing them.
I am going to go out on a limb and say that my three readers are Anglophone, where this is the norm. You can be hired and fired quite easily in comparison to many European countries; the other side of that coin though is that you can find jobs easier than in European countries. But regardless it is not the norm here. And when students in France get pissed they take to the streets. Students STRIKE. Highschool, college, university; all these students, their unions, the employee unions, they are all PISSED right about now. Some of them are burning shit, some are smashing in windows, others are chanting. And it is live a few streets away on my television as I type. And damn you if you are at La Sorbonne (which has been barriered in for at least the last 5 days). Ministre de Villepin est coince.
The thing most impressive in this to me is that historically at least 3 times French students have derailed a government in power, either forcing them to abandon their law/proposal or actually forced the government to step down. Americans could imagine that even less. Imagine college students storming towns around the US (hell first imagine they would have the network to put that in place) and then that they made Bush stop anyone of his policies that are damaging the US/World.
So I guess I will postpone my trip to the TBM (best yarn sales you will find in Paris) till later. I am thinking I will do a virtual tour of the Bon Marche for you all then. Probably for the best anyways about not going to the TBM tonight- I am tired, weak and I have some sock yarn that should be in the post to me not to mention the Somewhat Cowl yarn I am waiting to make its way for me to test.
More over I think I am going to install a regulation here, a crazy one... No buying yarn at the TBM unless I have finished knitting all the pieces for the Cutaway. I am 25% through the second sleeve and the TBM ends the 25th of March (conveniently also known as Payday...)
The race is on!
Posted by Stinkerbell at March 16, 2006 09:02 PM | TrackBackI believe the demonstrations in France have meat whereas here in the US, in my city, they're weird (you go through the crowds and you can see the "spies"). Sounds like the activity can keep you indoors a bit more.
Posted by: Terry at March 17, 2006 01:29 AMInteresting. It's so weird here (US). The president has screwed up major things but they don't get alot of press. Gotta hand it to his people - they know how to spin. And yet, we are told that his approval ratings are down.
Posted by: Angelia at March 17, 2006 05:05 AMInteresting. I guess what I find cool about that is that students care enough to get together and riot. I mean, not cool, but it seems people are so apathetic here in the States it's hard to imagine that happening.
Posted by: Chris at March 17, 2006 07:26 PMI used to go to protests and participates in strikes all the time when i was in high school/university in Italy. They were all totally non-violent, and fun. The French are more aggressive/well organized. And i have the greatest respect for them.
Strange that there is no such thing in the US.
You'd never think one can get nostalgic about strikes, particularly since they are such a nuisance for the people who are not participating but still have to go to important places (such as yarn sales), but still, I miss them and all they represent.