Taxi strike (Part 25!)

I just read that Parisian taxis would go on strike this Monday morning to protest a recent judgement that DID NOT prohibit Uber! I know they have a lot of constraints (including the fact that they have to buy the "right to be a taxi" (a licence) for about 300 000 €), but still... I don't think they will will in the end for the population is clearly in favor of alternative solutions; not only because of the price of course, but also because of the poor level of service that regular taxis deliver. I took this photo in 2007. 

Lost cause...

It's funny to browse through my old photos because it reminds me of many events that took place in Paris during these past 10 years. Hence this demonstration against the anti smoking in public spaces law from 2006! Tobacconists were not too happy about it because they thought it would harm their business! In fact it did not really unfortunately; after a slight drop after 2005, the number of smokers started to increase again...

Workers (Demonstration)

Since I decided to continue PDP for a while, there are no reasons that I miss the traditional 1st day of the month "Theme day"! Only this time I could not take a photo especially. So here is the closest "workers" (that's the theme of the month) related photo that I could find on my hard drive! Yes, it's a demonstration, and yes, it was not too hard to find one as we have (should I start saying "They" have?!) many protests of the kind... Check the other workers related photos from all over the world on the CDP portal. 

Paris Peoples Climate march

Like in all big cities throughout the world, Paris had its Peoples Climate march last Sunday. Not many people took part in it (about 5 000, which is much less than the 300 000 in NYC), but it's probably due to the fact that France is going through a difficult crisis at the moment and that people are more worried about how they're going to find a job of pay their bills than how to buy an electric car. Next Year France will host the COP 21 (21st Conference of the Parties on Climate Change), so we'll be in the spotlight!

Landing at Les Invalides

Yesterday evening there was a demonstration ending at Les Invalides Esplanade (still about the events in the Middle East). I went there hoping to take good photos, but I'm pretty disappointed with the results. Fortunately, while I was leaving, I took this one, which has nothing to do do with the demonstration (even though you can see marchers in the background, if you look closely). It's the one I prefer! 

(Reposting) Pro Palestinian Demonstration

I'm still in Normandie (in the North West of France) until tomorrow, but I just watched the national news and saw that a pretty violent Pro-Palestinian demonstration took place in Barbès yesterday - a quarter when a lot of people of Arab origin (mostly Northern Africa) live and work. It reminded me of a previous one that took place in 2009 where I took several photos, including this one. All these demonstrations are linked to what's happening in the Middle East of course.

Demonstrations season

I had a lunch in the 15th arrondissement yesterday and on my way I passed by Les Invalides and saw lot of smoke. I first thought of a giant BBQ(!), but in fact it was a demonstration. France is going through a tough economical phase at the moment and people are afraid to lose their benefits so they try to draw the government's attention! It's complicated... If you want to understand better, have a look at this excellent article (in English).

Saint Louis procession

No this is not a fancy dressed parade nor the Paris carnival, but a real procession that I photographed yesterday in the streets of Paris, not far from my home! This people celebrate King Saint Louis the 9th (aka Saint Louis) and monarchy in general, for yes, there are still monarchists in France. Passers by were a bit puzzled I must say, but everything went smoothly - at least for the part I saw. Have a great Sunday everyone, whether you have a king or not!

Looking out!

First of December, it's a theme day!! And the theme day is... Looking out! Which can mean many things. I saw that some people were demonstrating today in front of the Eiffel Tower (on the Trocadero esplanade more accurately) and well I suppose they qualify as "looking out for our future". A bit far fetch?! Yes you're right, but I lack inspiration these days LOL! Have a great Sunday everyone (especially Americans who have to rest after having had too much food AND too much shopping!). As usual, visit the other CDP bloggers around the world... 

Farmers protest!

Life is not easy for a lot of people in France at the moment, due to the economic situation, but it's probably even tougher for our farmers - well some of them - who have to deal with the retail people who are not known for being very giving when it comes to negotiating margins! To let the Parisians know about their situation they organized a protest yesterday which ended at Les Invalides. Lots of talks of course, but also some interesting "live demo" like the shaving of sheep (big success!)! 

French spring!

I was coming back from near the Eiffel Tower today, when I was suddenly blocked by the Police : no throughway, they said... Then I turned my head and saw that they had totally closed the Pont de l'Alma (in the background)... That is how I realized there was a demonstration nearby and that the Police wanted to prevent them from reaching the French Parliament. I could not help but taking a photo of course... The funny part is that when I did, a guy came closer to me and said: it's the French spring! referring to the Arab revolutions who took place in Spring. I doubt it, but I must say the scene was quite impressive...

Tough demonstration

There was a pretty big demonstration in Paris this weekend. Protesters were only allowed to go from La Défense to the top of Avenue de la Grande Armée (a straight line), but not until Place de l'Etoile and even less on the Champs Elysées (in France anybody has the right to demonstrate, but you must first ask for a "permit" and tell the Police which way you intend to go, prior to marching). Of course, demonstraters did not stick to the permit and... invaded the Champs Elysées. The situation got really tense and for the first time in my life I experimented tear gas! But it allowed me to take this photo which I'm proud of ;-) 

European food aid support

Last Monday, the Restaurant du Coeur (a very popular French association that provides food to the people who need it) organized a happening on the Trocadero esplanade to raise awareness on possibly financial cuts by Brussels (the European headquarters). This happening was called the airfood project and consisted of bringing an empty plate and pretending to eat... nothing! Clever... (check their website if you want to see more). More than 18 million Europeans (4 million French) are concerned by this decision which will be voted today and tomorrow. Europe is not the only place where such cuts happen, watch this "funny" commercial that takes place in Australia for instance. (Sorry the quality of the photo really isn't good).

Demonstration time !

Must be the season... After Virgin, a huge taxi demonstration on Thursday and a big upcoming anti gay marriage on Sunday, I came across a small protest outside the Printemps department store. The store firemen picked the first day of the sales to demonstrate against their working conditions, playing on words ("we are not on sale.."). Needless to say that they did not get much attention from the 20+ ladies (yes, before you blame me for being a chauvinist there were only ladies!) waiting for the Printemps to open their doors. 

1st of May desmonstration

I was not in Paris today, but I anticipated the various Union marches that generally take place on the first of May (I took this photo during a recent demonstration). This year though, no less than 3 official marches took place: the one of the unions, the one of the extreme right party and the one of Nicolas Sarkozy, who is currently running for his reelection. On a different note, I just saw on the news that the best restaurant in the world in not in Paris, nor even France, but in Denmark! The place is called Noma and this decision initiates from  Restaurant Magazine, a British publication - which might explain the reason why the first French restaurant is ranked 12th...

Anti nuclear energy demonstration

It's been a while since I've shown you a demonstration (with the French elections coming up in April/May people don't think it's worth demonstrating for the government may change!). This one passed right in my street, so I did not have to go too far to take the photo ;-) It took place a couple of days ago on the anniversary of Fukushima, to protest against nuclear power (in France about 80% of the electricity is of nuclear origins).

Anti capitalism demonstration

Today was another terrible day for the stock market... It seems that the party time is over and that we're going to have to pay off our debt after all. Surprise, surprise! A few people gathered around the Bourse (the old stock market building) in Paris today to demonstrate against capitalism and all this. "Close all stocks markets", it says on the left and on the right, well you can see for yourself, for it's written in "English". I really wonder how all this is going to end to be honest.

Bikers demonstration

Bikers are not happy and they want the government to know it! Why? Because of the recent measures I already mentioned here - mostly the fact that radars won't be notified before you come across one, like it used to be. It's very unlikely that this demonstration will change anything, but it allowed me to take this cool head! FYI, there are roughly 2,5 million bikers in France in total, and according to statistics, they are 3 times more likely to be killed than car drivers. And they demonstrate against seucrity measures? Er...

Veggie Pride

I found myself in the middle of a "Veggie pride" today - that is a march to support vegetarians - at Les Halles. There were celebrating their tenth anniversary apparently, but it's the first year I heard of it - which is not surprising as Veggies are not numerous in France (only 2% of of the French population according to Wikipedia. Their protest is not only in favor of vegetarian food, but against the daily slaughtering of animals for their meat (3 million a day, the say). I don't think it will stop anytime soon, not to mention that the use of animals goes now widely beyond their meat...

Women protest

Despite our progress in France, you will find very few women in the government, in parliament or at the head of large companies... and they have globally less power on society here. The recent Dominique Strauss Kahn case, and the way it was dealt with in the French press, showed that we are also a very chauvinistic country. That is why feminist activists decided to demonstrate today (Sunday), near Beaubourg. Not a lot of people, but enough to make it to the news. I think we badly needed this wake up call.