Yellow vests - fuel protest day of action in France
Discussion
irocfan said:
London424 said:
now that's the French popo we've heard about!NOT my opinion, just something I saw on there.
It's been 50 years since the last substantial rioting in France. It was somewhat more forceful then and there were many suggestions that it was the end of democratic France. Indeed, de Gaulle ran away for a while, the length of time still in some dispute. It was the last anyone would see of him, at least that's what the press over here predicted with a degree of confidence that was convincing. I'm sure that if PH had been in existence then, there would have been a supporting consensus on here.
De Gaulle, once he remembered where he lived, dissolved 'parliament' and ordered a general election. This was a switch; it appeared to end the riots all but overnight.
There were many reasons given for the rioting; Americanisation was one, anti dG was another. It all went to proved that there wasn't just one. It seemed that it was just dissatisfaction.
In typical French fashion, the election provided an increased majority for the Gaullists.
These are a mere shadow of those days. That said, things could get worse. Strong police action against students triggered a substantial increase in numbers striking, up to 25% some suggested, but there were a lot who could not work because of strikers, and those who felt intimidated by them.
There was a lot in the papers about the aftermath, and some comments in magazines. I read one which suggested that. despite France being a democracy, many people felt that no party represented what they wanted. At least that means it will never happen here.
The earlier riots occurred in the same years as, but a little after, the Grosvenor Square riots. They were quite horrible. The odd thing was that, although I worked in a factory at the time with a rather leftish union committee, they found the GS riots something of a put off. Tariq Ali was the poster boy for the communist/marxist party, and much of the left in those days and great friends with Anthony Wedgwood Benn. He was a poor choice as he seemed to build resentment in his target audience whenever he spoke. He was a poor judge of audience. Still, he wasn't quite unloved. He at least was head over heels in favour of him.
There was a fear over here that protesters would follow the French example but the films of the GS rioting were too recent I think. Police were being pelted with stones, bricks and heavier stuff. There were lots of injuries. It was there for all to see. When the organising group tried for a rerun later that year and after the French riots, it was a desultory affair.
Some suggest that the rioting gave the NI terrorists the idea for what was, in effect, a civil war.
I doubt the UK will follow the French example this time either. There's little in common with regards grievances. However, I do worry about the situation after brexit. If the jobs do go, there could be all sorts of problems.
You heard it here first.
De Gaulle, once he remembered where he lived, dissolved 'parliament' and ordered a general election. This was a switch; it appeared to end the riots all but overnight.
There were many reasons given for the rioting; Americanisation was one, anti dG was another. It all went to proved that there wasn't just one. It seemed that it was just dissatisfaction.
In typical French fashion, the election provided an increased majority for the Gaullists.
These are a mere shadow of those days. That said, things could get worse. Strong police action against students triggered a substantial increase in numbers striking, up to 25% some suggested, but there were a lot who could not work because of strikers, and those who felt intimidated by them.
There was a lot in the papers about the aftermath, and some comments in magazines. I read one which suggested that. despite France being a democracy, many people felt that no party represented what they wanted. At least that means it will never happen here.
The earlier riots occurred in the same years as, but a little after, the Grosvenor Square riots. They were quite horrible. The odd thing was that, although I worked in a factory at the time with a rather leftish union committee, they found the GS riots something of a put off. Tariq Ali was the poster boy for the communist/marxist party, and much of the left in those days and great friends with Anthony Wedgwood Benn. He was a poor choice as he seemed to build resentment in his target audience whenever he spoke. He was a poor judge of audience. Still, he wasn't quite unloved. He at least was head over heels in favour of him.
There was a fear over here that protesters would follow the French example but the films of the GS rioting were too recent I think. Police were being pelted with stones, bricks and heavier stuff. There were lots of injuries. It was there for all to see. When the organising group tried for a rerun later that year and after the French riots, it was a desultory affair.
Some suggest that the rioting gave the NI terrorists the idea for what was, in effect, a civil war.
I doubt the UK will follow the French example this time either. There's little in common with regards grievances. However, I do worry about the situation after brexit. If the jobs do go, there could be all sorts of problems.
You heard it here first.
Derek Smith said:
The earlier riots occurred in the same years as, but a little after, the Grosvenor Square riots. They were quite horrible........................................Police were being pelted with stones, bricks and heavier stuff. There were lots of injuries.
I can still vividly remember my old man coming home from GS detail duty with torn uniform, and lots of cuts and bruises... Puggit said:
Macron, we want your ass 
(also note it's 'ton', so the familiar term, instead of votre for the polite term)
Are you suggesting he wants to be familiar with the arse of Macron?(also note it's 'ton', so the familiar term, instead of votre for the polite term)
Slogan writing is big in French rioting.
There was one particular slogan I was looking for so searched Google and came up with: https://libcom.org/history/slogans-68 I coundn't be bothered to look through them all.
80 year old Algerian woman killed by tear gas grenade in Marseille: http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/marseille-de...
Killed while closing the blinds of her apartment - on the 4th floor!
Killed while closing the blinds of her apartment - on the 4th floor!
its also kicking off on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, which has been one of the flashpoints of the protests.
tear gas used to repel demonstrators around the island's sole container port in the west, which has been blocked for 15 days, leading to shortages of imported wheat, medication and other necessities.
tear gas used to repel demonstrators around the island's sole container port in the west, which has been blocked for 15 days, leading to shortages of imported wheat, medication and other necessities.
PositronicRay said:
Earthdweller said:
Unions are now calling for a National day of protests on the 14th with the CGT public sector union leading the calls
I'm surprised they didn't call it for Thursday. that way members would be able to book Friday as a "bridging day" 
Why are students protesting seeing as I expect most of them don't yet run a car and/or aren't working?
Surely macrons' measures of higher fuel taxes play right into the hands of the eco/green student movement or are they just less bothered about GW than ours are.
Or I suspect it's anarchy at any opportunity.
Surely macrons' measures of higher fuel taxes play right into the hands of the eco/green student movement or are they just less bothered about GW than ours are.
Or I suspect it's anarchy at any opportunity.
grumbledoak said:
This really isn't about the fuel taxes. The French are basically protesting against Macron. They wanted change but wouldn't vote in LePen, and they aren't happy with the result.
It’s really about metropolitan people vs rural people. It’s Paris vs the rest of France. France is a big place and outside of the cities people live very differently. They have to drive everywhere to get essential services. France is peppered with out of town retail places and even village shops are dying out. So everyone has to drive.
The fuel taxes were passed by politicians in Paris who are not affected by them. The rural people are pissed off with Parisian politicians looking down on them and not serving their needs.
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