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More Than a Million French Protest Law
Scattered violence erupted in Paris, and riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse several thousand youths who pelted them with stones and bottles after an otherwise peaceful march. More than 240 people were arrested.
Unions and the leftist opposition joined in solidarity with the angry students for the one-day strike, increasing the pressure on Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to withdraw the measure that makes it easier to fire young workers.
Although Villepin held firm, cracks opened in his conservative government. Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, in a clear break with Villepin, suggested suspending the law to allow for negotiations.
0 Read MoreFrom Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon
My wife and I will be taking the Eurostar from London to Paris, and continuing on to Burgundy. What is the best (easiest) way to get to the Gare de Lyon from Gare du Nord? We will each have a small backpack and a wheeled carry-on bag.
8 Read MorePlymouth owners in France?
Does anyone in France drive a Plymouth? C’est voiture americaine. I drive a 2000 Plymouth Breeze, which I love. If you drive a Plymouth and need help finding parts, I hope I can help.
6 Read MoreOld people
It seems that the middle-aged in France will have to learn the same hard lesson that our elderly in America have still not learned-if you discriminate against the youth, you will also face discrimination. For the record, je suis 35 ans.
16 Read MoreFrance and U.S.
Look, if it weren’t for you guys, the United States would never have won her independence from England. Unlike many Americans, I remember that and say, "Merci beaucoup!"
The problems between our two nations began when that coke-addicted whino stole the election in November of 2000 and will likely end when he leaves in January of 2009.
For now, I buy French wine and display the Tricolor next to Old Glory, just to piss my neighbors off.
7 Read MoreMarching backward toward the future?
THERE IS in France an honorable, romantic tradition of going into the street to protest against the government. Much of the honor and romance, however, was earned in principled stands against a colonialist war or in solidarity with the wretched of the earth. But recent demonstrations against a new law meant to open up jobs for the 22 percent of young people in France who are unemployed has little in common with the French tradition of street protest for progressive causes.
0 Read MoreFrance set for strikes over jobs scheme
It will be the latest round in a battle of wills over economic reforms before next year’s presidential elections.
Businessesand commuters were warned of disruption and traffic chaos as student and union leaders said Tuesday’s show of force would at least match thev1.5m people they claim backed the last national “day of action†againstthe New Job Contract.
The crisis over the CPE, as it is known in France, has already sapped the prime minister’s popularity and started to raise concerns over the economy.
2 Read MoreCrowds gather for France protests
Organisers say they expect up to one million people to demonstrate in 160 cities across the country.
The government says the new law will help bring down high youth unemployment levels, but opponents say it will entrench job insecurity.
Protests against the law earlier in the week resulted in hundreds of arrests.
University sit-ins
In Toulouse, in southwest France, up to 33,000 people took to the streets, while between 10,000 and 25,000 people demonstrated in Lyon.
can someone please help me???
can someone please translate this because i have to turn in my paper for french class?
ME AND MY FAMILY WEN’T ON VECATION EVERY YEAR WHEN I WAS A CHILD. NOW THAT IM OLDER I GO WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. bECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE MONEY FOR AN AEROPLANE TICKET WE GO BY CAR TO A CHEAP HOTEL. IT ISN’T BAD BECAUSE WE ARE STILL YOUNG AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO AFFOARD MORE EXPENSIVE VECATIONS WHEN WE ARE OLDER.
Thank you
1 Read MoreWinter in France
I am going to France for the sixth time, however, this is my first time in the winter (Dec 20-Jan6) and was wondering what I can expect in terms of weather and activities. We (three first timers and I) will be spending a few days with friends in Villeneuve-les-Avignon and then we will all be going to Abondance (in the Alps) for a few days and after that it is off to Paris for the last 4-5 days of the trip. We are getting Eurail passes for 4 days within one month in order to travel during our stay. I am wondering if the rail travel is limited during the winter and if the tourism in Paris is limited during this time.
3 Read More