Happenings in France and Corsica.

[ALS]

I asked the mods and was granted permission to start this thread on current events in France and Corsica. This is not an Alizée thread it is only for general France and Corsica news story's that many outside of the country would never hear about. So if it concerns Society, Political, Economic and General news it's posted in this thread. PLEASE behave yourselves or it will be closed if you can't have a rational and calm discussion on current events.

Most don't fully understand the French culture and this is the place that we non French can learn about their daily life and comings and goings in France and Corsica.

Al

First story was a economic piece I saw last week from Time Magazine on the really tough economic times the French are living through. It was the spark that got this whole discussion on this possible new thread going.

Forget-paris-stymied-by-socialist-policies-the-french-start-to-quit-france (http://world.time.com/2013/05/21/forget-paris-stymied-by-socialist-policies-the-french-start-to-quit-france/)

[Ray4AJ]

Great idea ALS. I'm one of those who knows little about French culture. That article didn't so much teach me how things may be changing there, rather I learned about how some things are. I look forward to learning more from this thread.

Here is an article I saw last week. It's about allowing some university classes to be taught in English there rather than in French, and about the debate regarding doing that.

http://www.wtop.com/236/3332266/Mon-Dieu

[Un-rêve]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6u_4_ZfvYs

" Kid the next time I say let's go someplace like Bolivia, let's go someplace like Bolivia. "

Butch Cassidy:

[lapinschous]

Here is an article I saw last week. It's about allowing some university classes to be taught in English there rather than in French, and about the debate regarding doing that.

http://www.wtop.com/236/3332266/Mon-Dieu

Yeah... that's sad... :(

[Rocket]

I have friends in Canada and Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in Africa, and they can't understand the problem with integrating some english. Fact is, France doesn't seem to want to use ANY language outside of it's own. I believe there is a department in France that makes sure that newspapers, printers and universities do not bastardize their language. I mean, come on, everyone in the rest of the world knows it's a computer and not an ordinateur!

Rocket - A girl and her thoughts. Glean from them what you will! ;)

[lapinschous]

Lol ^^ yeah, i've got nothing against teaching english in french schools, which has always been done, just like british kids are learning french in theirs.

But the problem comes from the fact that our language has always been very well respected, until the end of the second world war and the overwhelming american cultural offensive that came with the Marshall plan... then the UK and France's international status decreased dramatically. The language of science, politics , diplomacy and art used to be French while the language of trade, economics , industry and travel used to be proper british english. Now both the UK and France that were once rivaling for worlwide supremacy are both crushed under the immense power of the american empire which explains why french speaking populations across the globe are now more and more turning their back on Molière's language, while at the same time the authentic british english is being americanized with each passing day .
I mean, I love the US, and I know there's nothing we can do against the world adopting the language of the dominant power, and might not be a bad thing , but I feel sorry knowing that france's last prestigious universities where our elite is being taught , are forcing more and more teachers to teach in english in order to please foreign student who don't wanna bother learning french... :/

(as always , sorry for my grammar :p )

[ALS]

I feel sorry knowing that France's last prestigious universities where our elite is being taught , are forcing more and more teachers to teach in English in order to please foreign student who don't wanna bother learning french... :/

Hello, you're attending a University in a country that doesn't speak English as a first language then you had better be fluent in that countries language before applying to said University. What, people no longer have any common sense on this planet.

[Rocket]

So a small group of students who are probably coming from America are demanding that the university that they plan to attend offer courses in english. Well Boo Hoo! I agree with both of you.

This reminds me of what happened at the University of Illinois. For years the school's mascot was Chief Illiniwek, a noble chief who danced during half time at football and basketball games. This was fine for everyone until a small group of Native Americans enrolled and began protesting that the school's mascot was an abomination toward all indians. This group goes around to american universities that have indian mascots and force the school to get rid of them or give them a large sum of money.

They tried this at Florida State who had the Fighting Seminoles. Instead of giving in to their demands, they went to the Seminole tribe and offered to pay them a yearly salary in order to use their name. The Seminole tribe accepted and the militant group left the school.

So I would tell these students to either learn french or or apply to another school that does.

[Jake04]

I mean, I love the US, and I know there's nothing we can do against the world adopting the language of the dominant power,

Then, in a decade or so we'd all have to learn how to speak Chinese! :D

[ALS]

With a population 1/5 of the U.S. France has a homeless population 1/2 of the U.S. :(

Special Report: French homeless seek refuge in offices (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/11/us-france-squat-specialreport-idUSBRE95A05I20130611)

[Ray4AJ]

Previously frozen meals in French restaurants???

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/french-restaurants-acknowledge-serving-factory-frozen-food/2013/07/09/9857b69a-dda2-11e2-b797-cbd4cb13f9c6_story.html

[ALS]

I've been reading about this prepackaged microwave sham for at least the last three years. This is the one reason I never really have an urge to go to Paris.
What the restaurants association should do is get together and produce a window sticker for those members that don't serve the prepackaged dinners.
That gives the customer a choice on where they decide to spend their money.

I use to eat at Applebee's until I found out most of the dishes they serve are frozen and cooked in a microwave.

[Ray4AJ]

Next week one of Alizée's Les Enfoirés buddies will be having a concert in Ajaccio. I wonder if she'll attend.

http://www.ajaccio-tourisme.com/Manifestations/Patrick-Bruel-en-concert

[ALS]

Seven people drown in seas off France's Mediterranean coast after 80mph winds and unpredictable currents cause treacherous conditions

Another three in 'serious condition' after escaping from the sea
Four victims died on the beaches, while three others died in hospital

Seven-people-drown-seas-Frances-Mediterranean-coast-80mph-winds-unpredictable-currents-cause-treacherous-conditions (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2380565/Seven-people-drown-seas-Frances-Mediterranean-coast-80mph-winds-unpredictable-currents-cause-treacherous-conditions.html)

[Ray4AJ]

Not really happenings, but still. It's Corsica.


http://www.corsematin.com/article/derniere-minute/palmares-quelle-est-la-plus-belle-plage-de-corse.1093437.html

[Un-rêve]

Due to the recent hot spell of late in Corsica, I feel people should be on the look out for great white sharks.. I mean one was even spotted of the coast of Cornwall in the UK a few years ago. :fear:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n106G5_xlk

[ALS]

It's looking like the French economy is starting to tank in a big way. :fear:

It’s “Never Been This Catastrophic” (http://www.testosteronepit.com/home/2013/8/5/room-for-hope-fourth-largest-industry-in-france-its-never-be.html)

After a terrible summer of 2012, hotel traffic in July was even more terrible, dropping another 7% year over year. Along the coast, it was down “only” 10%; but in some regions in the Alps, it was down over 30%. The bad weather in the first half of July was blamed. But the weather was beautiful in the second half; that’s when the economic crisis was blamed. New this year: even destinations along the Mediterranean were “touched by the crisis.”

And now restaurants! Traffic plunged by a “historic” 13.2% in July. For the first seven months, traffic gave up 5%. Over the last two years, the sector lost 10% of its jobs.

“The situation has never been this catastrophic,” warned Michel Morin, president of the National Association of Theme and Commercial Restaurants (SNRTC). “Our enterprises are experiencing an unprecedented decrease in revenues, and the results of the past four weeks, lead us to fear the worst.”

[Ray4AJ]

More about the microwaved meals, and French dining habits...

"The French have to be among the most contradictory people in the world," he said. "On one side you have what the French say, and on the other side you have what they do." (http://wtop.com/1228/3412843/The-French-are-changing-how-they-eat)

Also, Sunday night at the Capo beach....

A young man succumbs to discomfort near Ajaccio" (http://corse.france3.fr/2013/08/05/un-jeune-homme-succombe-un-malaise-pres-d-ajaccio-298071.html)

[Jake04]

According to the survey by UBS:

http://www.businessinsider.com/are-the-french-the-most-productive-people-in-the-world-2009-8

[Ray4AJ]

August 15 in Ajaccio... A big celebration day for Napoleon's birthday. From the looks of things, they had a great fireworks show. After the Jenifer concert.

[ALS]

Lets exempt the Soccer players from the new 75% wealth tax because we fear our best players will leave France.

Pierre Moscovici spoke after warnings from the head of France's professional football league, Frédéric Thiriez that the "crazy tax" would see France "lose its best players" and cost first division teams 182 million euros (£154 million).

"We are looking at different views on this issue, but it's true that we have football clubs which are in a fragile financial state," he said.

French-football-clubs-could-be-exempt-from-75-per-cent-supertax (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/10301469/French-football-clubs-could-be-exempt-from-75-per-cent-supertax.html)

[Ray4AJ]

Another week, another shooting in Ajaccio. I guess arson wasn't stopping construction quickly enough.

http://www.corsematin.com/article/france/corse-un-promoteur-immobilier-tue-par-balles.1149147.html

[ALS]

French farming hit by a suicide every two days.

In France, a farmer commits suicide every two days. That’s the shocking statistic quoted in a new report released on Thursday, which will set alarm bells ringing in France’s Ministry of Agriculture, which is struggling to revitalize the flagging sector.

Suicide is the third-highest cause of death among French farmers, after cancer and cardio-vascular diseases, a report by the French health institute INVS revealed on Thursday.

In a three year period between 2007 and 2009, 485 farmers took their own lives, which represents a suicide every two days on average. The rate of suicides among farmers is 20 percent higher than among the French population as a whole.

In total, 417 men and 68 women ended their lives during this period, with the mortality rate highest among cattle farmers aged between 45 and 64-years-old.

The INVS study represents the first ever official investigation into the sensitive issue and sheds light on the vulnerability of those working in the beleaguered farming sector in France.

Read More, French-Farmers-Hit-by-500-Suicides-in-Three-Years (http://www.thelocal.fr/20131010/french-farmers-hit-by-500-suicides-in-three-years)

[ALS]

Drunk Frenchmen in Bordeaux steal llama, take it joyriding.

http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/drunkwithllama2.jpg

There’s drunk — and then there’s llama-stealing-joyride drunk!

A pack of blitzed French school chums snatched Serge the llama from a circus and led the surprisingly agreeable beast on a late-night journey aboard the city of Bordeaux’s tram system.

The llama-nappers posted pictures of themselves with Serge on Twitter, leading to their arrests on misdemeanor theft charges. They’ll likely get a wrist-slapping fine.

Full story: Drunk-frenchmen-steal-llama-take-it-joyriding (http://nypost.com/2013/11/04/drunk-frenchmen-steal-llama-take-it-joyriding/)

[Ray4AJ]

Not really recent happenings... But here is a video from the 50's of Corsica with a bit of the little boat harbor area in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPvNP-O60Gw

[ALS]

Corsica: Lawlessness in heart of Europe

This is from about a year ago.

The gas station they show about 1:40 into the video is less than 1Km from Alizée's old apartment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ-Pi7XfTY4


Corsica: Sun, Sea, Sand And Murder

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRZpGg5Ip1c

[Ray4AJ]

Corsica: Lawlessness in heart of Europe

This is from about a year ago.

The gas station they show about 1:40 into the video is less than 1Km from Alizée's old apartment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ-Pi7XfTY4


Interesting.... At 9:40 in that first video we return to the town where many of the shots from the unofficial ACDLA video were filmed. :13:

[Un-rêve]

Corsica: Lawlessness in heart of Europe

This is from about a year ago.

The gas station they show about 1:40 into the video is less than 1Km from Alizée's old apartment.


It seems they don't like outsiders moving in on the island but Alizée should be safe considering she's a national treasure.. but screw the dream that any of us have about moving over there oneday if we happen to be so lucky.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDFIpN6Bx3s

[Ray4AJ]

An article I saw today linked to this blog, some info about the summer solstice and Corsican traditions.

http://www.paperblog.fr/642220/la-tradition-du-solstice-en-corse/

[Ray4AJ]

Third annual Grande Braderie in Ajaccio Aug 20-22
http://i.imgur.com/4f2N3iH.jpg

[Scruffydog777]

An article I saw today linked to this blog, some info about the summer solstice and Corsican traditions.

http://www.paperblog.fr/642220/la-tradition-du-solstice-en-corse/

This maybe explains some of the superstitious nature of Alizée.

Third annual Grande Braderie in Ajaccio Aug 20-22
http://i.imgur.com/4f2N3iH.jpg

Had tolook up Braderie. Means clearance sale.

[Ray4AJ]

Here is some more info about this year's event. Nothing to suggest that Alizée will participate this year :( I only mention it at all since Alizée was the godmother of the 1st Grande Braderie of Ajaccio two years ago. She was part of the opening ceremonies of the event, and she held a small autograph session right there on her birthday, in her hometown.

For the sake of reminiscing, here are some links to some threads here at AAm about the event. Our very own Scruffydog777 made the long difficult journey that first year to bring us some incredible photos and videos

http://alizeeamerica.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7616

http://alizeeamerica.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7618

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiEvlYdVFWs

http://www.corsenetinfos.fr/A-Ajaccio-du-20-au-23-aout-La-Grande-Braderie-du-centre-ville_a16714.html
In Ajaccio from 20 to 23 July: The Great Fair of downtown

Third name, the large market of the city center this year will bring together more than 200 traders three days on all the thoroughfares of the city, namely over Napoleon, Fesch street, avenue of the First Consul Emmanuel Street Arena, Stephanopoli street (pedestrian) and Avenue de Paris. This 9 to 20 pm and on Friday until midnight. Ambience

The tandem CCI-Ajaccio town hall decided to set up these days to better address issues related to downtown. That's done in the general enthusiasm to better compensate for the decline in the attractiveness of the city center. This is called taking the bull by the horns to better help the traders in the city and allow them to compensate for the poor performance of some difficult times.

The initiative is significant when you know the economic situation. It serves primarily to boost attendance downtown shops while participating in the establishment of a development plan and revitalization.

It must be said that since the establishment of the e Associu Cummerciu sviluppu in Aiacciu last June, things are moving fast, and initiatives are multiplying. The Presidency was entrusted to the deputy mayor of Ajaccio, Laurent Marcangeli with, at his side, Jean-André Miniconi, President of the CCI 2A, Jean-Claude Meyer, President of the Association of Commercial Action CCI Christian Balzano, Deputy Mayor, Ambrose Fieschi, treasurer of the ICC, Marie Antoinette Santoni-Brunelli, Vice President of CAPA responsible economic development. A strong and united team completed by the manager of downtown LEAUTHIER Roxane, whose role is to mobilize and lead the network of local actors, unite and engage the world traders, develop and implement a comprehensive plan for revitalization the economic offer and finally, promote and enhance trade territory.
Roxane LEAUTHIER additionally performs the interface between traders and Associu.

Trade associations also ...
For this third edition, traders of the entire downtown wished to participate in the large market. They are about 200 to have mobilized around this event with the various associations, ie, the Fesch Street Merchants Committee, the Golden Triangle, Core CITA, the Place Du Côté Abbatucci, Imperial Courts and cità Viva.

See you on August 20 from 9 am 30.




A Ajaccio du 20 au 23 août : La Grande Braderie du centre ville

Troisième du nom, la grande braderie du centre ville réunira cette année pas moins de 200 commerçants trois jours durant sur l’ensemble des artères de la ville, à savoir cours Napoléon, rue Fesch, avenue du Premier Consul, rue Emmanuel Arène, rue Stephanopoli (piétonnes) et avenue de Paris. Cela de 9 à 20 heures et le vendredi jusqu’à minuit. Ambiance

Le tandem CCI-mairie d’Ajaccio a décidé de mettre en place ces journées pour mieux répondre aux problématiques liées au centre-ville. Voilà qui est fait dans l’enthousiasme général pour mieux palier à la baisse d’attractivité du centre-ville. Cela s’appelle prendre le taureau par les cornes pour mieux venir en aide aux commerçants de la ville et leur permettre de compenser les mauvais résultats de certaines périodes difficiles.

L’initiative est appréciable lorsqu’on connaît la situation économique. Elle permet surtout de relancer la fréquentation des commerces du centre ville tout en participant à la mise en place d’un plan de développement et de dynamisation.

Il faut dire que depuis la création de l’Associu Cummerciu e sviluppu in Aiacciu en juin dernier, les choses avancent à grands pas et les initiatives se multiplient. La présidence en a été confiée au député-maire d’Ajaccio, Laurent Marcangeli, avec, à ses côtés, Jean-André Miniconi, président de la CCI 2A, Jean-Claude Meyer, président de l’association Action Commerciale de la CCI, Christian Balzano, adjoint au maire, Ambroise Fieschi, trésorier de la CCI, Marie-Antoinette Santoni-Brunelli, vice-présidente de la CAPA chargée du développement économique. Une équipe solide et unie complétée par la manager du centre-ville Roxane Leauthier, dont le rôle consiste à mobiliser et animer le réseau des acteurs du territoire, fédérer et impliquer le monde des commerçants, concevoir et mettre en œuvre un plan global de dynamisation de l’offre économique et , enfin, promouvoir et valoriser le commerce du territoire.
Roxane Leauthier effectue en outre l’interface entre les commerçants et l’Associu.

Les associations de commerçants aussi…
Pour cette troisième édition, les commerçants de l’ensemble du centre ville ont souhaité participer à la grande braderie. Ils sont environ 200 à s’être mobilisés autour de cet événement avec les différentes associations, à savoir, le Comité des Commerçants de la rue Fesch, le Triangle d’Or, Core Cità, Du Côté de la Place Abbatucci, le Cours Impérial et Cità Viva.

Rendez-vous donc le 20 août à partir de 9 h 30.

[Ray4AJ]

Report about tourism in Corsica

http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/corse/le-tourisme-en-corse-les-dessous-d-un-rapport-bien-optimiste-826791.html

[Scruffydog777]

Trying to read through the Bing translation, looks like the hotels financially are doing okay but that might be threatened by a tax break they'll be losing in the next few years, but overall they have a good tourist industry there.

I guess one of the main places they would get visitors from is Italy, but that has dropped off. I'm sure due to economic conditions there. I have a co-worker who's Italian and he goes back every year to the Naples area where he has a second home. He's often spoke of how bad things are there economy wise. He just got back last week from this years trip. When ever I get back to work, I'll have to get an update.

It also said most hotels are privately owned which helps keep costs down and the health up of the industry. There are not many big hotels there, maybe because the industry is very seasonal.

Air traffic is slowly overtaking marine traffic which I think can be expected.

The ferry is a pleasant trip over. When I went, I opted to take one at night that arrived early in the morning. There was one leaving from Marseille around 9pm and one leaving from Nice around midnight. I opted for the 9pm one so I could get more sleep on the way over, but after getting on board, I found the one that leaves from Marseille goes over to Nice and leaves from there. Less sleep but more to see.

[ALS]

More young French saying 'au revoir' to their homeland

Paris (AFP) - Jessica caught the travel bug and never came back, Frederic wanted a bigger market for his start-up and Nicolas was just tired of the vexing daily grind in France that was eating away at his joie de vivre.

So they left to Australia, New York or Canada, becoming part of the growing wave of young French citizens seeking a future elsewhere.

The official statistics agency INSEE said this week that between 2006 and 2013, the number of French emigrating jumped from 140,000 a year to 200,000, 80 percent of them between 18 and 29 years old.

Full Story: More-young-french-saying-au-revoir-homeland (http://news.yahoo.com/more-young-french-saying-au-revoir-homeland-103419881.html)

[Scruffydog777]

More young French saying 'au revoir' to their homeland

Paris (AFP) - Jessica caught the travel bug and never came back, Frederic wanted a bigger market for his start-up and Nicolas was just tired of the vexing daily grind in France that was eating away at his joie de vivre.

So they left to Australia, New York or Canada, becoming part of the growing wave of young French citizens seeking a future elsewhere.

The official statistics agency INSEE said this week that between 2006 and 2013, the number of French emigrating jumped from 140,000 a year to 200,000, 80 percent of them between 18 and 29 years old.

Full Story: More-young-french-saying-au-revoir-homeland (http://news.yahoo.com/more-young-french-saying-au-revoir-homeland-103419881.html)

So what's fueling the exodus; high taxes, lack of good job opportunities in France? I heard years ago they weren't going to be able to support all the people who would be retiring in the future; a similar situation to what's expected to happen with our social security system. They tried bringing in a lot of immigrants, thinking that would add more taxpayers to the country and that back fired on them so their future probably looks as bleak as ours right now and any drastic moves needed to correct it such as raising the retirement age goes over like a lead balloon.