Posts under News

Monegasque National Holiday

Posted by Chanda
Nov
19
2008

The members of the Royal Family of the Principality of Monaco celebrated their November 19th national day today in Monte Carlo.  It is also known as The Prince of Monaco Holiday as it commemorates Prince Ranier III’s coronation as the 30th ruling Prince of Monaco on November 19th, 1949.  Although many events have taken place and are planned for the entire month to celebrate, today’s main events included a military parade which took place in the palace courtyard and an invitation-only mass with various royals in attendance including His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince Albert of Monaco, HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover, her children Andrea, Pierre and Charlotte Casiraghi and Princess Stephanie of Monaco.  An invitation-only Gala Evening is to be held at the Palace this evening.

The small sovereign city-state is the smallest French-speaking country in the world.

 
Posted under Geography, History, News, People
Tagged with , , , , , , , , 		1 Comment | Post a Comment

The French Love to Strike

Posted by Chanda
Nov
18
2008

I remember when I was living in Paris, it seemed like there were always grèves all around the city.  We would have to walk every so often in the mornings to class as the metro was not running (the SNCF loves to go on strike).  The American Embassy would constantly warn us that we should not get caught up in them as they can often become violent…I’m not so sure they get violent as often as the Embassy would have liked us to believe, but the French do in fact sometimes become violent strikers…turning over cars, setting things on fire and such.  And they shout and whistle a lot.  It’s not like they just picket around their office building or factory…they parade through major streets, even shutting them down so they are sure they are heard and seen.  And the thing is, most often, these are not workers from private companies, but rather public servants.  Since the government has a stake in so much, strikes usually work.

I was just now reading Le Monde when I saw that there was an announcement made today that 70% of primary school teachers MUST be on strike on Thursday the 20th as ordered by the largest primary school teacher union in order to protest their deteriorating working conditions and the elimination of job posts.  That’s a lot of teachers!  So, what happens to all the kids who obviously should be in school as it’s a regular school day??  Well, there’s something that by law the unions have to make sure of…that there is a minimum reception service.  A minimum what?  Well, it is an agreement between the State and volunteer towns where the State pays these collectives up to €90 ($114) per group of 1-15 students for the six-hour school day to host the students on teacher strike days.  Parents usually find out about 48 hours in advance when and if their children’s school will be on strike, but some don’t until they arrive at the school door to drop off their children in the morning.  Often, that notice will also tell parents whether or not there will be a ‘minimum reception service’ in their town.  The school and town hall websites often also provide this information. Then, parents take their children to schools or community centers as assigned to basically have a fun day.  There are just enough staff members to ensure the safety and security of the students…but no teaching.  So, no wonder the French love to strike…they learn from a young age that it’s fun!

On fait la grève, alors!

 
Posted under News
Tagged with , 		3 Comments | Post a Comment

French Holidays - Armistice Day

Posted by Chanda
Nov
11
2008

As we arrive at the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I, today is Armistice Day in France.  French President Nicolas Sarkozy is hosting an international ceremony at the Fort of Douaumont in Meuse where the battle of Verdun took place, with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, the Australian Governor-General as well as the President of the German Senate and other leaders in attendance.  By inviting not only World War I allies, but also enemies to the ceremony, the French President is breaking with tradition in order to demonstrate that “ninety years after the end of the Great War, European countries are not only at peace with each other, but even better, have built a durable and profound Union together founded on reconciliation and respect for fundamental rights.”  Other solemn services will be taking place today throughout France in Paris as well as the various military cemeteries in northern France. 

Remembrance Day is being marked in Belgium with a reading at St. George’s Memorial Church as well as Saint Martin’s Cathedral in Ypres.  A Poppy Parade, which is inspired by the John McCrae poem written near Ypres In Flanders Fields, is also taking place.  Poppy petals are worn as they are in several other countries, including Canada and Australia, for the same reason.  In the middle of the parade, a stop is made at the Belgian Army Monument for memorial.  Finally, as is tradition, a 45-minute Last Post ceremony including prayers, speeches, hymns, a wreath-laying ceremony and Reveille (a morning bugle or drum call that lets soldiers know it is time to wake up) takes place.  This ceremony as well as memorial concerts take place twice during the day. 

There are also Remembrance Day services in Québec.  The large cemetery of Mount Royal is lined with blue Quebec flags and poppies are placed around the graves.  The wreath-laying ceremony was organized by the nationalist Société St Jean-Baptiste.  A song of peace by sovereigntist singer Raymond Levesque was played instead of the traditional O Canada.  In Montreal, the Royal Montreal Regiment and others participated in ceremonies around the city.

Veterans Day, as it is known in the US, commemorates the sacrifices made by the military and civilians at times of war.  It is held on November 11th as the Germans and the Allies signed an armistice in Compiègne, France to end major World War I hostilities which went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

Go to Le Monde to see a slideshow of Armistice Day pictures from France.

 
Posted under History, News
Tagged with , , , 		0 Comments | Post a Comment

Guillaume Depardieu Died Today

Posted by Chanda
Oct
13
2008

After being hospitalized for a few days, French actor Gérard Depardieu’s son Guillaume, also a famous French actor, died suddenly today in Paris at the age of 37 from a bout with pneumonia.  His mother is the actress Elisabeth Guignot and his sister Julie is also an actress.  

Although he was often present on movie sets from the beginning of his childhood and appeared in some of his father’s films, Guillaume’s acting career took off with Alain Corneau’s film “Tous les matins du monde”.  In 1996, he was awarded a most-promising male actor César for his role in “Les Apprentis” as well as the Jean-Gabin Prize.  Throughout his career, he starred in some twenty movies, including the made-for-TV “Le Comte de Montecristo”, “Les Misérables” and “Napoleón” as well as “Versailles” which was released in theaters in August and “Stella” which is scheduled to be on the big screen in November.

Often in legal trouble, he led a chaotic life which he described in a 2003 book entitled “Tout donner”.  He was involved in a very serious motorcycle accident and eventually had his right knee amputated after contracting two hospital-acquired diseases.  He later created a foundation for people who suffer from these types of diseases called the “Fondation Guillaume Depardieu”.  He is also a singer and has written an opera and songs for other famous artists.  

On salue sa mémoire.

 
Posted under News, People
Tagged with , , 		3 Comments | Post a Comment

Frenchman Le Clezio Wins Nobel Prize in Literature

Posted by Chanda
Oct
9
2008

It was announced today that a Frenchman will be awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature.  Born in Nice, France on April 13, 1940, Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio started writing when he was only 7 years old, has traveled extensively, grew up bilingual in French and English as he lived in various countries and has written more than 30 books.  He and his wife currently have homes in Nice, New Mexico and Mauritius.

He has written about crises such as fever and floods, ecological issues, war, North African culture, Indian culture, Europe as viewed by unwanted immigrants, Central America, refugees, cultural conflicts, youth and exile.  In 1994, he was chosen by the readers of Lire magazine as the best living French author.  He has been awarded other literary prizes including the Prix Théophraste Renaudot in 1963, Prix Larbaud in 1972, Grand Prix Paul Morand de l’Académie française in 1980, Grand Prix Jean Giono in 1997 and the Prix Prince de Monaco in 1998.

Although actually written for a pre-teen French public, I would recommend Le Clezio’s children’s books to anyone learning French.  The topics are interesting and the language easier to grasp for those just starting out with the language than his other novels. Celui qui n’avait jamais vu la mer is about a boy named Daniel who barely talks and doesn’t really have any friends.  He seems to come from somewhere else and only gets excited when someone talks of their travels and the sea although he has never seen the sea…until one day, without telling anyone, he sets off to never return.  Lullaby is about a girl of the same name who is rebellious, impulsive and a dreamer who one day decides to never again return to school.  She leaves her house and takes off to the sea, meeting all sorts of interesting characters along the way.  Voyage au pays des arbres is about a young boy who, bored, decides to take off to the ‘country of trees’.  He feels that trees are not all alike, can talk, think, listen and have personalities and so decides to become friends with all of them.  Balaabilou is about an African fisherman who tells children about Balaabilou who saved a beautiful princess named Leila from a horrible death and her entire kingdom from drought.  La grande vie peuple du ciel is about the power of the imagination and the frailty of dreams.

Le Clezio’s style is very Roald Dahl-like.  The Swedish Academy, in bestowing this internationally renowned award upon Le Clezio, said that he is the “author of new departures, poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy, the explorer of a humanity beyond and below the reigning civilization”.  For more detailed information on his biography and bibliography of works, click here.

Bonne lecture!

 
Posted under News, People
Tagged with , 		0 Comments | Post a Comment