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Trouble In The Suburbs (Again)
Rioting has flared up once again in some of the bleak suburbs surrounding Paris. Over a hundred youths, some armed with baseball bats, went on rampage in what cops describe as the worst rioting since last autumn. As if that wasn't enough, liberal groups are questioning why an anti-Semitic "black power" group was allowed to march through the city's oldest Jewish quartier.
Flogging A Dead Horse
All successful businessmen know that when a trade-mark brand does not attract customers, the next step forward is to sell the same goods but under a different name.
So Long, Marianne
"France is a bitch, don't forget to f*** her till she's exhausted, you have to treat her like a slut, man." Charming stuff from one of France's hottest rappers, Monsieur R. In the same song, FranSSe, the artist promises to "I piss on Napoleon and on General de Gaulle."
L’État, C’est Moi
The president of the EU constitution's drafting committee has demanded that France be forced to vote again on the treaty.
"It is not France that has said no," claims Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the 80 year old former president of France, "It is 55 per cent of the French people - 45 per cent of the French people said yes." Eh? Even by the Jesuitical terms of Eurocrats and French politicians, we're talking serious semantics here.
It appears Giscard's objection is that France didn't give a symbolic no. Of course, no boom rejecting the EU constitution echoed from the orchards of Normandy to the hills of Provence. Sculptures of Marianne in town halls across the country didn't spring to life to yell "No!" in unison. Jacques Chirac, current incumbent of the post which is supposed to combine French identity in mysticism and politics, didn't say no on behalf of his people (he said yes, and look where it got him).
Le Charm Offensive
Does this count as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic? Prime minister Dominique de Villepin has announced a set of measures designed to convince international companies that France isn't the anti-business basket case it appears to be.
Lottery Of Life
Ken Loach's new film, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, sounds like a bundle of fun. According the the BBC, it's "unashamedly one-eyed, told entirely from the perspective of the Irish who turn to armed struggle after witnessing countless acts of brutality by British soldiers, who are seen to be indiscriminately violent."
Why Oh Why?
It used to be so easy to take a position in a conflict: Just check which side Robert Fisk supports, and take the opposite. Substitute Ken Loach or Madeleine Bunting for Fiskie as appropriate.
Other conflicts were easier still. Last year's protests in Lebanon, for example. Not knowing a huge amount about the debate, should we support the bouncy, beautiful anti-Syria crowd in their tight t-shirts and sunglasses, or the beetle-browed, foaming-at-the-mouth lot in their beards and hijabs? Well, durrrr, as our American friends might say, and with the added bonus of not having to read Fisk or watch another dismal Loach movie to find out.
But EURSOC admits, we're confused on yesterday's independence vote in Montenegro. The Serbians were the bad guys a couple of years ago, but weren't the Montenegrans as bad?
The Mainstream Media has been slack in providing footage of opposing camps (pro-western honeys vs neanderthal fascists, for example) to help us make our minds up. So it's over to EURSOC readers. Let us know what you think!
Sounds Alright
Sometimes support can come from unlikely quarters. Conservative "wet" Matthew Parris' column in the Sunday Times is meant to frighten readers away from David Cameron's New Tories, but it might just have the opposite effect.
Supply And Demand
While the US debates a tougher line on illegal immigration across its southern border and Britain wonders how Home Office incompetence allowed hundreds of criminal immigrants loose on its streets, France too has addressed the immigration issue, with a new law aimed at regulating the supply of newcomers to the demand for their skills.
You Will Become Like Us
EU Serf reports on the birth of Europe United, "the first pan-European party, which works towards United Europe."
"We serve the needs of an important and fast growing group of people, the pro-Europeans. Our mission is to defend integration and ultimately, advance the establishment of United Europe."
You Will Become Like Us
EU Serf reports on the birth of Europe United, "the first pan-European party, which works towards United Europe."
"We serve the needs of an important and fast growing group of people, the pro-Europeans. Our mission is to defend integration and ultimately, advance the establishment of United Europe."
If It Moves, Tax It
OMG! WTF? From No Pasaran comes a report that a French MEP is advocating a tax on SMS text messages and emails. The cash extracted from the multi-billion pound industry would be directed towards the EU's budget.
Hug A Fascist Today
Regular readers will know that one of EURSOC's favourite gripes concerns the heroes welcomes that have greeted former Guantanamo Bay prisoners when they have returned to the UK. It is only to be expected that the detainees' radical allies welcome their co-jihadists home; what grates, however, is the joyful welcome arranged by media organisations, including the Guardian, the Independent and the taxpayer-funded BBC.
Wherever Hugo, We Go
Thankfully not everyone on the British left has joined in this week's Hugo Chavez love-in - surely the most embarrassing get together of 1970s and 80s rejects since someone decided it was a good idea to reunite the Sex Pistols for one last tour.
Why Oh Why?
Over to EURSOC's readers for this one: Why have Ken Livingstone, a cluster of theatre people and intellectuals, several trade unions and some CND demonstrators given Mr Hugo Chavez such a hero's welcome to London?
Answers in the Comments box below, please.
Merkel's Eurovision Entry
Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a new look for Europe.
"We must, and I am deeply convinced of this, critically review the state of the European project," she told members of the Bundestag (the lower house of parliament) in Berlin.
Tearing Down The Wall
Tyrants fear the internet. That's why countries like China and Iran are trying to prevent their people accessing alternative news sources, like-minded dissidents and supporters from the outside world via PCs. In China alone, authorities have hired troops of censors; installed primitive but effective blocking technology and cajoled international web corporations to produce Beijing-friendly versions of their products. Google and Yahoo have been only too happy to comply in return for access to the huge Chinese market: In Yahoo's case, China's authorities were able to track down a dissident journalist thanks to information provided by the company.
Let Them Eat Cake
It may have escaped your attention, but yesterday was Europe Day - a celebration of all that is marvellous and wonderful in the European Union. Believe it or not, May 9 2006 was the 20th Europe Day so far... has anyone been paying attention?
Yob Stars
Other Europeans believe that Britain has Europe's worst yobs, according to a survey published prior to the world cup finals, where English thugs are expected to face tough competition from local German and visiting Polish hooligans.
Wishful Thinking?
Are Gordon Brown's faction overestimating the chancellor's support among members of the parliamentary Labour Party - and the voters?
