Wednesday, March 15, 2006

May '68 is back!


You heard about new riots in Paris right? This time no burned cars in the suburbs, but a much more classic student protest against a new law that the government passed - too difficult to explain here. I took this photo in front of the Sorbonne University yesterday on my way home. It is hard to translate, but it reminds me of the slogan that could be seen in May 1968 (although I was too young to actually remember!). This one is a cute little rhyming slogan to protest the CRS police intervention at the university. Roughly translated it says, "Less Police, more petting (or caressing)"!

40 comments:

  1. très bon site widget très apréciable mes compliments pour vos photographies .

    Cette photo est très intéressante et le commentaire aussi .

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  2. Awwww. How cute, indeed! Good find, Eric!

    CRS is the riot police in France. I found a picture here:

    http://tinyurl.com/ea5yq

    Hope that link works.

    (If any of you guys happen to be on vacation in Paris and you happen come across these guys, my advice would be ... clear out of the way FAST!)

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  3. I remember it: "make love not war" it seems like yesterday

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  4. "Less Police, More Caressing"

    Well said!

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  5. The only change I'd make to that janelle that could be even more gentle could be "more police caressing".

    Eric, how DO you get to all of these places at just the right time?

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  6. Given that it's hard for young people to find a job straight out of university, I don't know what all the fuss is about. At least this way they have a way to gain experience and prove themselves. Should be better than being unemployed, but in France being unemployed can be an occupation in and of itself!

    I found this explanation of the riots from Reuters:

    "(The government's) plan to introduce a flexible 'first employment contract,' which critics say would allow employers to hire and fire young workers more easily.

    The contract would allow firms to hire employees younger than 26 for a two-year trial period before offering them a permanent job. (The government)has said the approach would encourage firms to hire younger people."

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  7. I also heard CRS "compagnie républicaine de sérénité"
    The intervention at the central building of the Sorbonne university happened because the rector asked for it.
    Another historical fact just to say that in Greece police cannot enter a university campus or building because of the events of 1974 where the army of the Greek military junta violently stopped a student strike.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_Polytechnic_uprising

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  8. The riots was a big news here in Japan,too. The cars, what a waste.At least its over now. This new riot, I didnt know,hope it will be resolved soon.

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  9. Company of Serenity? That's funny!
    Also ...

    Catholic Relief Service
    Council of Residential Specialists
    Congressional Research Service
    Can't Remember Shit ...

    Seriously, this is what CRS stands for:

    http://tinyurl.com/qjhsu

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  10. I forgot: we saw the riots on prime time TV here too (San Francisco Bay Area) .

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  11. Hi Eric, the riot was in the news here too.
    On a different note, Blogger is having a lot of problem these days and this morning, I can't load your blog properly in HK, I only got to "on my way hom..." and it is all blank underneath. The sidebar loads ok though...I can only get here through "previous posts".
    Anywaz, just to let you know.

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  12. Less thugs, more hugs.

    Let them play cricket!

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  13. Lisi: Blogger has been acting stupid for a couple of days already and especially today. Hang in there.

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  14. Just one thing about the CRS : my "leftist" Mom went in the Quartier Latin last week. She happened to cross a big assembly of CRS busses near the Jardin du Luxembourg. Thus she went to a captain and asked him if it was safe to go to Bld St Michel or if she'd better go back on her way. The guy answered her very thoughtfully and with a big understanding of the youngs and their motivations.
    So, one may feel unconfortable with the police and CRS but sometimes we should remember the open-mind is not only on one side whatever our sympathy with the students…
    ;o)

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  15. By te way CRS actually stands for "Compagnies républicaines de sécurité" which possibly translate as "Republic Security Forces".

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  16. Eric - "Republic Security Forces"...sounds like the Iranian army! I also confirm what lisi said, same exact problem...went as far as "hom " then that's it. I tried to look for a place to comment TO Blogger, but oddly enough, they don't have a comments page!

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  17. big news in bxl as well. plus i've seen some myself (the riots i mean) while in paris.

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  18. I have to say I'm pleased that students stilll demonstate in Paris. Over here, they appear more concerned with their pensions these days. Sad.

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  19. Yay students!!
    Companies shouldn't have a 2 year probation period, where they can fire after that and not pay penalties. It's a door side open for misuse of power.
    (Says the old es hippy, lol)

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  20. This is a rather complex topic/issue. Of course, demonstrating is a national pastime for French students - this time, however, it appears to be a bit more serious than your run-of-the-mill demonstrations. There seems to be more at stake - and Villepin does not seem to be willing to budge on that Contrat de Première Embauche matter.

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  21. "riots", ça veut dire "émeutes" ?
    Tu exagères un peu à mon avis. Quelques manifs accompagnées de batailles rangées, rien de plus, la routine, les étudiants ne sont pas des émeutiers.

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  22. Well Kad, from what I saw on television it looks pretty much like riots to me (not as bad as last time in the suburbs though, you're right)

    Ben Kad, d'après ce que je vois à la télévision ça ressemble quand même pas mal à des émeutes (pas aussi importantes que la dernière fois dans les banlieues évidemment, tu as raison).

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  23. This is without a doubt the stupidest picture I have ever witnessed in my long life. You should close this website and just stop now, because your photography skills are God-awful

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  24. I agree, good comment anonymous

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  25. This picture sucks balls

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  26. You people are immature, this picture is great. Great job Eric.

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  27. Oy, "Anonymous" commenters. Interesting that you stop by to see the photos, if you're not fans of the work.

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  28. Good idea: let's call a plumber to flush the anonymous comments!

    I am amazed at the number of people who keep forgetting that a blog is,after all, an individual's way of expressing himself/herself, and not some kind of contest based on technical expertise in photographie or anything else.

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  29. Good evening SF chat room, I am just back from a dinner party and all evening long I could feel my phone vibrating each time somebody posted a comment!

    Now I know why...

    Sorry I erased the affordable plumbing spam, I hope you had the time to make a note of the address...

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  30. Manu: Understood. But there is a fine line between constructive criticism ("Hey, man, you forgot that handbag strap on the table, and here is what you could do with that picture if you just added more contrast") and just plain negative crap ("why don't you close your website").

    Yes, you're right, I just can't shut up today. ;-)

    Oops... Another vibration on Eric's phone. Hope he wasn't sleeping with the phone in his pocket or something.

    I think I'll shut up now. ;-)

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  31. I just got back to Eric's blog to read the comments from this post and haven't even gotten to the newer ones, but I'm dying laughing.

    SF chatroom cracked me up!
    Anonymous x 4 is even funnier. They can't be real can they?

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  32. Eric enfin, les flics sont dirigés par Sarkozy et laisser les casseurs agir dans les manifs, c'est tout bénéfice pour son image : "regardez, chers citoyens, De Villepin fout la merde et l'insécurité dans vos villes, je suis le seul à même de vous apporter la sécurité, votez pour moi !"
    Ne nous laissons pas berner par les mirages médiatiques et les manipulations politiciennes !

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  33. Michael: Could be a joke, or not... who knows.

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  34. Le slogan "Moins de CRS, Plus de caresses" n'est pas celui des étudiants contre le CPE mais il s'agit du slogan des prostituées qui manifestent contre la loi Sarkozy sur la racolage passif... Précision importante.

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  35. The last "anonymous" comment is right: this was apparently the slogan for demonstrations by prostitutes yesterday! Maybe the students picked up on it --

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  36. You have an outstanding good and well structured site. I enjoyed browsing through it
    » »

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  37. That's a great story. Waiting for more. » » »

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