Checking in on Macron, France

This story reminds me so much of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.

“Look, you lot. We need a good story and we need it now.”

Thank goodness for this Malian dude, and I’m glad Macron capitalized on it for immigrant/French relations.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/28/spider-man-of-paris-to-get-french-citizenship-after-rescuing-child?CMP=fb_gu

Excerpt:

Malian migrant hailed as a hero for scaling a building in Paris to save a four-year-old child hanging from a balcony is to be granted French citizenship.

Mamoudou Gassama took just seconds to reach the child in a rescue captured on film and viewed millions of times online.

Pendant ce temps, à l'Elysée...



https://www.instagram.com/p/BkTUuxkD1Nw/

https://www.npr.org/2018/06/28/624173544/france-plans-revival-of-compulsory-national-service?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=morningedition&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20180628

Wondering how this is being received in France.
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The French government has a plan to revive compulsory national service for young people between the ages of 16 and 21 — a watered-down version of a proposal put forth on the campaign trail by then-presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron.

Under the plan, French boys and girls would do a minimum of one-month of service, with a focus on "teaching, working with charities, and traditional military training with the police, fire service or army," Euro News reports.

"They can then volunteer to do a further three months to a year after that, which could involve an area linked to [defense] and security, or more volunteer work," the news service says.

Even so, the plan is a toned-down version of what Macron proposed in 2017. His initial idea was "a sort of military service in miniature, with all French citizens forced to have a 'direct experience of military life' for a minimum of one month between the ages of 18 and 21," according to the BBC.
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It appears that Macron initially wanted service to be more closely associated with military service. Now, it looks like more of a summer camp, but if they have useful content, it could be a net positive.

An entire month? I bet they come out of that thinking they're as deadly as SAS.

The idea of a modern rite of passage is a good one I think. May help cement the nation a bit more. But it all depends on how it's implemented. Like, what happens if one decides not to go? Before, when military service was mandatory for boys, one would be considered a deserter and risk jail time. Not clear the same amount of enforcement will apply here.

Popular Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot has quit this morning while giving a radio interview. He dealt a serious blow to Macron by implying that he was used by the president as a pretense, a fig leaf for an absent environmental agenda. During the interview, Hulot cited government failure on climate change, pesticides (notably the failure at banning Round Up in Europe and France so far), biodiversity and soils as key reasons behind his decision to resign.



Hulot is a former television presenter and green activist who enjoys a popular following with French voters, many of whom grew up watching his nature program on television in the 1990s.


Hulot in his TV program a couple decades ago.

I thought Round Up had been banned in Europe.
Good on this Hulot guy!!!

Nope, it just been reliscenced for five years.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/27/controversial-glyphosate-weedkiller-wins-new-five-year-lease-in-europe

I used to think Round Up was just another example of a rich corporation, paying off the necessary politicians and other officials, but I’m beginning to think their dominance is due to concerted population control.

They are too powerful in the face of known related death.

How that guy won against them in court recently is amazing—yet, they still cover the world with their poison.

Macron's coallition is unravelling. After Nicolas Hulot, popular Environment Minister who quited a few weeks back, Minister of Interior and first and biggest socialist supporter of Macron Gérard Collomb resigned to go back to the mayorship of Lyons. He recently said about the president that nobody can get through in a discussion with him anymore. The wonderkid Macron a pris le melon. (his ego is as large as a melon)



Passation of powers between Gérard Collomb and Edouard Philippe, following the resignation of the Minister of the Interior, today. (check the body language)
Photo Denis Allard for Libération

Good overview of the situaiton in English:

https://www.politico.eu/article/french-president-emmanuel-macrons-power-machine-spins-out-of-control

I’m reminded of a people’s revolution shared by France and the US.

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/24/paris-fuel-tax-protest-macron-france-poverty?__twitter_impression=true

Anyone offering cake?

That's an interesting movement.

Paris, still in the street. Water cannons on citizens.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/world-europe-46411699?__twitter_impression=true

Excerpt:

Protesters have scaled the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris, as clashes with riot police continue during a third weekend of "yellow vest" rallies.

Police fired tear gas, stun grenades and a water cannon on the Champs-Elysées, while masked protesters hurled projectiles and set buildings on fire.

What began as protests over President Macron's fuel tax has transformed into general anger at high living costs.

Mr Macron says his fuel policies are needed to combat global warming.

At least 80 people have been injured, including 14 members of the security forces. French broadcaster BFMTV reports that one of the injured is in a critical condition.

Seems like a cost of living crisis, general anti-Macron sentiment driving protests in Paris.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nation.co.ke/news/world/Violent-clashes-engulf-Paris-in-new-anti-Macron-protests/1068-4877898-view-asAMP-puy1lt/index.html

The video of ten or so riot police in swat gear beating the **** out of old Parisians is breathtaking.

This splashes back on Macron in a ugly way.

Mr. Macron is being newly defined in the streets and alleys of Paris tonight.

Macron is no where to be seen, unfortunately... Fair weather captain?

Hiding out, but it looks like the protests have worked. He’s reportedly going to concede to demands.
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Since mid-November, mass protests against rising fuel prices have been taking place in France with demonstrations in the centre of Paris that have resulted in riots and hundreds of protesters being detained.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe intends to declare a moratorium on the increase in fuel taxes, which has led to mass demonstrations and unrest in the country, AFP reported citing government sources.

People block the traffic of Paris' landmark Avenue des Champs Elysees and place Charles de Gaulle-Etoile on November 17, 2018 in Paris,
© AFP 2018/ STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

According to AFP, the minister will announce the government's decision while meeting with the party La Republique En Marche! (The Republic on the move!).
The French government has officially cancelled a meeting with yellow vest protestors that was scheduled for 4 December, France24 reported.

While Emmanuel Macron earlier threatened not to back down on the anti-pollution fuel taxes that sparked protests, the government has indicated that it might make concessions.

READ MORE: WATCH Policemen in France Take off Helmets in Solidarity With Fuel Protests

Saturday's protests in Paris were followed by significant clashes between demonstrators and the police, riots, and cars being torched. During the riots that engulfed the French capital, 412 people were detained and 133 were injured during the protests, including 23 security officials.

I just saw footage of Macron getting hit in the forehead by an egg.

I don’t even know what to feel about it.

Paris is UNHAPPY.