This French Life

Teacher strike Monday, major protests Tuesday

ALTHOUGH teaching staff went back to school this week, they are set to take strike action on Monday September 6, 2010 and join other workers in a walkout on Tuesday, September 7.

Photojournalism at Visa Pour l’Image exhibition, Perpignan

DISCOVER the photographs behind many of the news headlines you see every day at the Visa Pour l’Image exhibition.

Running until September 12, 2012 in Perpignan you can see the work of some of the world's leading photojournalists.

You can take in images from the Haitian earthquake, the 'red shirt' protests in Bangkok, photos featuring the lives of US soldiers in Iraq and many other stories.

Video of forest fires in southern France

MANY thanks to reader of the site, Charles Orlebar, for the video above of the fires on the outskirts of Meze, southern France, near Montpellier and Marseille.

Canadair planes were being used to try and dampen the flames as more than 1,000 firefighters worked across the area to try and protect homes and commercial properties.

News round up: Army fights dengue in Caribbean

CATCH up with what has been happening in France over the past few days and for more stories check out the French news headlines section.

Number of Britons moving overseas falls

THE latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows a fall in the number of British citizens going to live overseas for 12 months or more.

The ONS estimates total long-term emigration from the UK in the year to December 2009 was
127,000.

This was 23 per cent lower than the final estimate of 166,000 in the year to December 2008.

Pope Benedict steps in to Roma debate

THE Pope has stepped into the controversy surrounding the French government's decision to send Roma back to Romania.

Pope Benedict spoke in French (Eng. version) during his Angelus today to say that nations should welcome human diversity, a message likely to be seen by many as being directly aimed at Nicolas Sarkozy.

In recent days the French police has moved in to Roma camps to find those who are there illegitimately, as well as offer €300 to each adult prepared to take a flight to Romania.

At burial of her brother, mother discovers grave of her son

WHEN Josiane Vermeersch attended the burial of her brother in a cemetery near Lille, she discovered on another grave nearby the name of her son, whose death she didn't know about.

The Voix du Nord newspaper reports on the sad story of how 42-year-old Olivier died in July, but his parents were never informed and only found out whilst at the cemetery burying his uncle.

Josiane Vermeersch had sent messages to her son, although they had drifted apart previous to his death, telling him of his uncle's passing.

News round up: First grape harvests of 2010

IF you have been busy welcoming guests or family and friends then here is your chance to catch up with what has been making the headlines in France.

French army colonel threatens Togolese journalist

French officials have condemned a senior soldier who was filmed threatening a Togolese journalist.

In a video released on YouTube, Lt Col Romuald Letondot is shown ordering the journalist to delete images from his camera during a protest in Lome.

When the journalist refuses, Col Letondot threatens to smash his camera and have him arrested.

BBC: France condemns conduct of officer after Togo dispute

News round up: Cyber-criminal arrested on Riviera

No comment : campement de Roms à Saint-Denis
envoyé par rue89. - L'info internationale vidéo.
WITH the holiday season upon us maybe you've been busy welcoming guests and answering questions about places to visit and the local area. If so here is a quick look over the headlines from the past few days.

France seeing 'significant resurgence' in racism

THE UN's Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has said racism and xenophobia were undergoing a 'significant resurgence' in France.

Experts on the committee raised concerns about the current political clamour to raise issues of national identity and immigration - at present around 40 illegal Roma (Gypsy) camps have been removed.

The committee is expected to make final recommendations by the end of the month.

Related website: Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination considers report of France

The ITER project in Provence takes first steps

DIGGING has started in Cadarache, north east of Marseille in the hills of Provence, on the building of the world’s largest nuclear fusion project called ITER.

The multi-billion euro experiment is a joint project between the EU as well as China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and America.

News round up: Arrests at PSG football match

HERE is a look back at the headlines from France over the past few days, including trouble on the opening day of the football season, illegal immigrant workers campaigning to be recognised and the impact of a wolves in the Pyrenees.

News round up: Young help elderly for cheaper housing

GET up to speed with the news that has been making the headlines in France, including a crackdown on travellers, a powerful collaboration and plenty more.

EU site offers overview of French legal system

FROM the European Union comes a new website which provides details of the justice systems amongst the members states called the European e-Justice Portal.

There is an English-language section on France you can read to get an understanding of how the legal system works, handy for those court stories on the television.

There is also a section that will help you find a lawyer or notaire and point you to a database of those who may be able to help with your legal questions.

News round up: London and Paris a tale of bike-hire schemes

CATCH up with some of the stories that have been making the headlines in France over the past few days.

I save these headlines to Delicious if you are a user, but they are also published to the news in France section of This French Life each day.

Siegfried Sassoon exhibition in Cambridge

THERE is a moving and thought-provoking audio/video slideshow on the BBC website dealing with the writing of the World War One poet, Siegfried Sassoon.

It looks at how the horrors of the war changed him from being a patriot of his country, to being a stern critic of government and political leaders.

The slideshow has been produced to mark the launch of an exhibition titled, Dream Voices: Siegfried Sassoon, Memory and War which can be seen at Cambridge University Library until December 23, 2010. Admission free.

Final burial at Fromelles Military Cemetery takes place

THE last of 250 British and Australian World War I troops recovered from mass graves has been reburied with full military honours in northern France.

Prince Charles and the relatives of identified soldiers attended a commemorative ceremony at the new Fromelles Military Cemetery.

It comes 94 years after the soldiers were killed in the Battle of Fromelles.

Website: Fromelles Military Cemetery

News reports:
Prince Charles attends last Fromelles soldier reburial
Fromelles war cemetery dedicated 94 years after disastrous battle

Launch of the French Week newspaper

THE French Week is a new English-language newspaper that is set to be launched at the end of the month.

Its editor is Miranda Neame, who headed up the French News newspaper for many years before it folded in 2008, and it will aim to provide an insight into French politics, administration, arts and lifestyle.

The first issue of the French Week is out on July 30 and will be distributed in newsagents throughout France, price €1, and by subscription throughout Europe.

News round up: Swine flu plan was a 'failure'

GET up to speed with some of the news headlines from France from the past few days, including the departure of Thierry Henry, arrests in the L'Oreal case and African war veterans gaining more financial support.

France 24 in French to be available in US

TELEVISION viewers in the US will be able to watch the French-language service offered by news channel France 24 from tomorrow, July 14.

The Media Network site reports that the service will be available across the US via the DISH satellite television network.

Christine Ockrent, director general of France 24, said that the channel was keen to show more international news to audiences in the US as there was a demand to understand alternative viewpoints.

Campaign to free kidnapped journalists in Afghanistan

FRENCH journalists Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier, along with three Afghan colleagues Mohammed Reza, Ghulam and Satar were captured while they were travelling in Afghanistan’s Kapisa province, northeast of Kabul on December 29, last year.

The team were working on a report for France 3 and since their kidnap a campaign has grown across television, newspapers and radio to press for their release.

France 24 takes a look at the story, and Reporters sans Frontiers has a detailed section about the campaign and a blog providing regular updates on the work to free Hervé Ghesquière and Stéphane Taponier is also available.

Consumer protection advice in France

IF you have a problem with a car garage, service in a restaurant or when renting a holiday home then consumer protection policies are overseen by the Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes (DGCCRF).

Their website features a collection of .pdf documents you can download that offers advice on the situations above, as well as other items such as card payments, allergies and the requirements for displaying eco labels in products.

There are other sections on the site available in French covering subjects such as swimming pool regulations, the fight against counterfeit goods and figures on price levels for items in the shops.

Track thunderstorms across France

IT'S proven popular on Twitter, so I am sure the storm-trackers amongst you will enjoy it as well, but check out the cartes de orages en France.

Whilst sat at your computer you can follow the progress of storms across France, with the service updating every fifteen minutes.

The map has been created by Météo Massif Central and their site provides detailed weather information for the region, as well as weather bulletins and maps for France.

News round up: Future of French rail stations

WITH the holiday season upon us maybe you've been busy welcoming guests and answering questions about places to visit and the local area. If so here is a quick look over the headlines from the past few days.

Sarkozy and government stumble over cash claims

THE BBC's Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt, takes a look at what he describes as 'the weakening of Sarkozy' as allegations of cash-stuffed envelopes make the headlines here in France.

The government is currently stumbling along as new allegations come out of a court case involving Liliane Bettencourt, France's wealthiest woman and heiress to the L'Oreal cosmetics empire.

Embroiled in the mess is former finance minister, Eric Woerth, now employment minister and considered a safe pair of hands in the ruling party UMP, although some now claim he is a liability.

The troubles come on the back of two ministers standing down after making extravagant claims against the public purse, one spent €12,000 on cigars, and the general feeling that as government spending is reduced people will have fewer and fewer centimes in their pockets.

Imperial War Museum exhibition telling story of Fromelles

THE story of the building of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Fromelles, in northern France, is told in a new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London.

At the battle of Fromelles during World War One the bodies of British and Australian soldiers were buried in mass graves, and in recent years work has been taking place to extract the bodies and many of the artefacts found alongside them.

The exhibition traces the story behind the first new Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery to be built in nearly half a century.

Related article Finishing touches to Fromelles war cemetery

News round up: It's hot, hot, hot in France

IF you have been busy whilst the sun has been shining this week, here is a catch up on some of the news headlines from the past few days.

Day of strike action set for September

LEADING unions in France have announced a new day of strike action and protest planned for September 7, 2010.

Unions representing workers from many industries, including the CGT union, have called on both public and private sector staff, as well as young people, the unemployed and retirees, to join the day of protest.

One of the reasons for the protest are government plans to increase the retirement age, and unions say not enough is being done to help people find employment.

Sarkozy outlines cost cutting measures

PRESIDENT Sarkozy has outlined how his government will cut costs in a letter to Prime minister François Fillon.

Fees paid to consultants, staff levels enjoyed by ministers and the use of a vast limousine service paid for by the state will all be restricted.

Around 10,000 vehicles and 7,000 state buildings will be sold off, while cabinet ministers are to have no more than 20 staff members, and secretaries of state no more than four.

Online anti-censorship 'shelter' opens in Paris

REPORTERS Sans Frontières has opened the world’s first Anti-Censorship Shelter in Paris for use by foreign journalists, bloggers and dissidents.

The press freedom organisation has worked alongside the communications security firm XeroBank to make high-speed anonymity services, including encrypted email and web access, available free of charge to those who user the shelter.

Track parcels with la Poste on Twitter

IF you spend a great deal of time on Twitter then a new service launched by la Poste may prove useful.

An automated parcel tracking service is now being offered by la Poste and it works by sending direct messages to a Twitter account called @suivi_avec_lisa.

You send the account the unique 13 number code you receive when sending a parcel, and in return direct messages informing you of the progress of your item are sent back.

You can do the same on la Poste's own website, but if you are out and about and have Twitter on your mobile phone then the service may prove helpful.

News round up: French enjoy most days off work

HERE is a look back over some of the news headlines from France, taking in wine, food and cost cutting.

Resistance fighters remembered at le Mont-Valérien

PHOTOGRAPHS have been published showing Resistance fighters facing the firing squad at the Nazis' largest execution site in France.

The Telegraph reports on the collection of images that had been taken secretly and remained unprocessed for decades.

One photograph shows the slumped bodies of Resistance fighters, tied to posts, faced by a line of riflemen.

Royal British Legion service for Somme battle

THE annual service by the Somme branch of the Royal British Legion remembering those who fell at the Battle of the Somme and in other wars takes place on July 1, 2010.

The Band of the Prince of Wales will be present on the day, with services beginning at 7.30am at the Lochnagar mine crater, before moving on to Thiepval at 10.30am.

In the afternoon a memorial at the Ulster Tower begins at 3pm and at the Beaumont Newfoundland memorial at 4pm.

A commemorative dinner will take place in the evening, and more details are available on the Royal British Legion - Somme Branch website.

Sainsbury's and Tesco close Calais booze shops

HOT on the heels of stories showing Brits are buying items online from UK supermarkets and getting them shipped over to France, comes news that those supermarkets are pulling out of Calais.

The Grocer reports that Sainsbury's and Tesco are closing their larger warehouse-type stores in Calais that sell wine and spirits after a fall in demand.

And the BBC has taken a trip across the Channel to cover the story of Brits buying groceries online, although it adds little to the original discussion.

Sarkozy's speech marking de Gaulle's wartime broadcast

PRESIDENT Sarkozy spoke of the strength of the links between the UK and France during ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle's wartime broadcast.

A complete translation of Nicolas Sarkozy's speech has been provided by the French Embassy in the UK, it reads:

By welcoming General de Gaulle, by offering him the microphone of the BBC, by recognising his legitimacy and that of Free France, Britain made known its conviction that the only true France – were she represented by one man only – could be that France which had not stooped to betrayal, which had the will to fight on, which did not accept defeat.

And the Elysee Palace website provides an in-depth account of events on both sides of the Channel which marked de Gaulle's message.

Visit to the Museum of Resistance, in Cahors

The words of Charles de Gaulle urging France to resist the Nazi army

TODAY saw President Sarkozy and British PM, David Cameron, mark the 70th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle's wartime broadcast urging France to fight back against the Nazi occupation.

And a short extract of de Gaulle's speech appears on a plaque outside the Musée de la Résistance, in Cahors, while inside you learn how that fight back took place and the stories of those who didn't live to enjoy victory in 1945.

News round up: Volunteers stand at graveside of those who died alone

HERE is a look back over some of the headlines and stories that have been making the news in France.

Bushmeat being smuggled through Paris airport

SEARCHES carried out on passengers arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport found a total of 188 kg of bushmeat being smuggled into France.

The BBC reports that during the 17-day study, a total of 134 passengers arriving on 29 flights from 14 African nations were searched.

Nine people were found to be carrying bushmeat, in total, 11 species were found - including two types of primates, two kinds of crocodiles and three rodent species - four of which were listed as protected species.

Co-author Marcus Rowcliffe from the Zoological Society of London said no study had ever been made before on the amount of bushmeat being smuggled into Europe and that high prices were being paid for the dead animals.

Torrential rains hit the Var and south east, ten dead

HEAVY rains in the Var region sparked torrential floods, leaving ten people dead and four missing.

Some areas have seen over 300mm of rainfall and the préfecture du Var has put in place an emergency telephone number: 0811 000 683. Also see the préfecture press notices for more information.

Météo France no longer has a weather alert for the area, but has said the Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques will experience heavy rain until tomorrow morning.

CAFI, a Vietnamese village in the Lot, France

Martine and Emile Lejeune and one of the homes at CAFI.

ALONG the side of the river near St Livrade, there's one road through a typical residential suburb with a small sign on the right that reads 'CAFI'.

Sarkozy sends letter to Queen after British war graves vandalised

PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy has written a letter to the Queen condemning the vandalism of 12 war graves in a cemetery in Loos-en-Gohelle, Pas-de-Calais.

Spray paint was used to daub swastikas on the grave stones, and Nicolas Sarkozy offered his support and sympathy to the soldier's families as well as the 'entire British nation'.

News round up: France opens up online gambling

IF you have had a busy week and not been able to catch up with what's happening in France, here is a quick look over what has been making the headlines.

Vans bringing food to France from UK supermarkets

IS France really becoming a little too expensive for its own good, because alongside increased fuel and holiday costs, food prices are forcing people to buy in the UK.

The Guardian reports on the growing popularity of people ordering food and other items over the internet from UK supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda.

Orders are sent to depots in the UK and then delivered to all corners of France by fleets of vans operated by enterprising Brits.

Video warns young people of drink drive horror

A POWERFUL video has been launched by the government's road safety department, la Sécurité routière, warning of the dangers of drink driving.

It is aimed at young people aged between 18 and 24 years old as road accidents are the main cause of death amongst this age group (via Frogsmoke).

How to trace your French ancestors

ON the BBC's genealogy website Who Do You Think You Are there is a helpful guide to tracking down your French ancestry.

There are a number of pages offering tips on starting your search with civil records, but also detailed records from passenger lists as well as military records.

A helpful page with a selection of links is also available, enabling you to start your search from the comfort of your computer desk.

News round up: Fishermen harpoon Greenpeace activist

HERE is a look back over some of the headlines and stories that have been making the news in France.

Frenchman part of Mars500 experiment

FRENCH engineer, Romain Charles, is part of the Mars500 study that will see six volunteers locked away for 500 days to simulate a trip to the red plant.

The 31-year-old from Saint-Germain-d'Anxure, near Mayenne, will be part of the experiment at Moscow's Institute of Biomedical Problems, which will consist of interconnected steel tubes to replicate a spacecraft.

The volunteer astronauts will be monitored and given tasks, with one area of the experiment set up to resemble Mars, as scientists look to see how the human body holds up to an imagined trip to the planet.

Website: Mars500

Amnesty International criticise French police

IN its annual report into the state of the world's human rights, Amnesty International has said allegations of violence by French police are still a problem.

The Amnesty International Report 2010 features a section on the situation in France and it said that criminal investigations into police violence fell short of international standards.

The forcible eviction of migrants from a temporary camp in Calais was also highlighted, with unaccompanied minors caught up in the clear out.

Amnesty also raised concerns about two new databases being created of people who attend protest events, which include personal details of those not accused of any crime.