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Living in substandard conditions
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Three busses left Paris, on a Saturday
morning, to go towards a small town east of France: Bar-le-Duc.
I was aboard one of them, sitting next to young people from the
Revolutionary Communist League. A truly delightful trip. |
The national demonstration against
the burying of nuclear waste assembled some 5000 people of which
many were young, coming from all parts of France. The atmosphere
was festive, hearty and pleasant. The march goes through the
old city to the sound of music with symbolic gestures hitting
the imagination of the inhabitants. A real success. All along
the march I kept meeting people coming to greet me.
The police operation was impressive.
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The local population, which had been
warned against this demonstration, did not hesitate to come out
in the streets, to kindly look at the antinuclear militants and
to ask them questions. |
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The nuclear power stations continue
to produce radioactive waste that we do not know what to do with.
Burying them just as we would push dust under a carpet is unacceptable.
This waste will be dangerous for thousands of years to come.
It is exposing the subsoil to an uncontrollable contamination.
This is a senseless gamble of which the victims will be the future
generations.
It is less a question of finding a site to bury the waste than
to find a solution for the future. The radical solution would
be to close all nuclear power stations and to resort to other
forms of energy. Other countries have made this choice.
Is the combat against the burying of radioactive waste not the
same as the one we are making to demand other choices for society
like the organization of transport? |
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Expulsion of a family
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In the suburb of Paris, a family from the Ivory Coast with
no official papers insisted I go to visit them. That I did. The
father works and earns a mere 300 Euros per month. The mother,
who I found on the verge of exhaustion, is expecting a child
for Christmas. |
The oldest daughter who is 18 years old and who has just
received her official papers is attending the College. The second
daughter is 7 years old. And twin boys, 3 years old.
The night before, the police had turned up at their flat
on the 4th level of the building for a rapid expulsion. The woman
was alone with her young children and had received no notice.
She had to leave immediately. Fortunately, one of her neighbours
on the same level, an unemployed person, opened his door for
this emergency.
The family was re-housed at the other end of the Paris
area in an apartment where cooking is not allowed.
The father kept his dignity throughout this hardship. He observes
the Ramadan. Having me close to him and his wife gives him strength.
He has so many obstacles to overcome! First having to go to the
hospital for his wife who is not well.
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But he knows he is not alone. A movement of solidarity is
getting into place. Already people are getting mobilized around
him. A demonstration is going to take place in front of the Prefecture. |
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At the Botanical Garden
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The weather is simply fantastic on this Sunday of Autumn.
It is a beautiful day to take a stroll in my preferred garden.
The trees that still have their leaves and flowers, in a large
variety, have my admiration. The sun has brought out many people.
I decided to sit on a bench and watched as young children liberate
themselves mischievously from their parents. |
Suddenly, someone came to me and interrupted my meditation.
He was 25 or maybe 30 years old and he seemed preoccupied. I
stood up and held my hand out to him.
From the outset he told me: " I am a traditionalist Catholic
". It is not customary for me to have this type of meeting
especially surrounded by flowers.
This man whom I do not know made his demand: "A traditionalist
priest friend of mine would like to have a debate with you. Would
you accept?"
" First, I would like to meet him and get to know him, the
person goes first before the debate".
The man seemed satisfied and believed it is best to start
by getting acquainted. I asked him if he wanted my address. He
reassured me saying he knew where I lived.
Before leaving me, he knelt and kissed the ring on my finger.
This was done so swiftly, I was the first to be surprised. The
people sitting on the bench and those walking on the road stared
at me with a strange look. |
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Basques in Court
The newspapers reported about the young Spanish Basques
who climbed a prison wall in Paris and used banners and slogans
to ask to move the Basques political prisoners closer to their
home. These prisoners are scattered all through France and Spain
and demand to be transferred to prisons closer to the Basque
country. This is an old and just demand.
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This situation is contrary to various European and International
resolutions. But nothing has changed for the last twenty years.
The families of the prisoners still have to make a round trip
of 1600 km to have a half an hour talk with the prisoners! |
That a dozen of young Basques had the courage to come to
Paris to make their demands has my admiration. They have dared
to climb the prison wall where the political Basque prisoners
are held. There has been a police operation. They have exposed
themselves to a prison sentence and a fine.
The trial was held in Versailles. Around fifty young Basques
were present to support them. They had to travel all night to
be there. As always, combat goes hand in hand with a celebration.
Two of them were playing the accordion.
I was there for the press conference in front of the Courthouse.
Then we went in to attend the trial.
I am hopeful that these young people will not be convicted. |
