So, the strikes continue throughout France. The people here are very unhappy, to say the least, that president Sarkozy wants to raise the age of retirement from 60 to 62 in order to ease the financial burden on the government. The unions are having none of it.
This was the scene in front of the chateau after a group of kids burned some dumpster bins. This isn't the first fire I've seen this week. I walked by this one while it was going on but by the time I finished up my phone call with Max and headed out again with my camera, the fire was out and the kids were gone. I'm no journalist.
Shortly after that, the protest march started. Here is the beginning of the march, turning the corner and heading down our (small) street.
There was so much noise between the fireworks, music, drumming, singing, shouting, etc. The people chanted "soixante ans, ça suffit", which means "60 years, that's enough"!
I'm baffled by the whole thing. On the day to day level, we're experiencing gas shortages and disruptions in the transit system which has had minor effects on us so far but we are lucky since we get around mostly by foot; other people are not so lucky. On a larger scale, I'm really left wondering if these protesters realize how good they actually have it, compared to other workers around the world..and this coming from an American. I'm not sure that will happen but I hope for a peaceful, acceptable conclusion, soon.
This was the scene in front of the chateau after a group of kids burned some dumpster bins. This isn't the first fire I've seen this week. I walked by this one while it was going on but by the time I finished up my phone call with Max and headed out again with my camera, the fire was out and the kids were gone. I'm no journalist.
Shortly after that, the protest march started. Here is the beginning of the march, turning the corner and heading down our (small) street.
There was so much noise between the fireworks, music, drumming, singing, shouting, etc. The people chanted "soixante ans, ça suffit", which means "60 years, that's enough"!
I'm baffled by the whole thing. On the day to day level, we're experiencing gas shortages and disruptions in the transit system which has had minor effects on us so far but we are lucky since we get around mostly by foot; other people are not so lucky. On a larger scale, I'm really left wondering if these protesters realize how good they actually have it, compared to other workers around the world..and this coming from an American. I'm not sure that will happen but I hope for a peaceful, acceptable conclusion, soon. 