ATTACk!!!

Credit: Via cbc, AP/F. Mori

Phew!

40 to 50,000 protesters in the streets of my city today. + 2,5 millions in France. Look at the Le Monde's infography map: total utter craziness.

Before starting the march this morning I spotted a small group with flags caught between two Unions and 5 political parties' representatives and supporters. The group in question is ATTAC (english link), of which I am a big fan. They're originally french but are now an internatiomal think tank/lobby, founded by Le Monde Diplomatique (english version link) (for those not in the know: An amazing, left leaning publication about foreign and policies/politics).

ATTAC works as a global network, and is an "international movement for democratic control of financial markets and their institutions". They're supported by professors, researchers, policy makers and activists, and they mostly attack Foreign Taxes Havens and financial criminality. They want to work towards the construction of an anti-economically-liberal Europe. the abolition of Third World Countries' public debts, the instauration of global taxes so as to finance development, alternatives to what's commonly referred to as 'The free Market', the right to an equal access to education & health care, and the extension of public services.

I came up to them and presented myself this morning,saying I was a big fan and really admired their efforts. Of course they immediatly tried to turn me into an adherent (which I wouldn't be opposed to), underlining that 'I was young, and should take actions!'. I guess that being a woman looking like a half-hipster, I didn't look like enough of an activist or a politics students to him :(

"Attac" 's logo

Bonus point: When I turned to Aurelie after chatting with them, she told me that ' i had actually talked to the President of the organization'. I felt a bit like a loser for having introduced myself as a 'massive fan', but hey, I imagine it's always cool to hear from random strangers that your work is important and respected? Even if it's just coming from a lousy-looking student.

I can't feel my legs anymore for having walked so much (hours!), and there are approximatively 10 vans packed with armed policemen parked in my street, ready to kick some a$$. It feels like troubled and dark - albeit very lively- times, but seeing so many diverse people protesting today made me really, really glad and hopeful.

Oh and yes, I love how much of the aglosaxon press only mentions 'violence' and 'protests' while they absolutely miss the entire points, seeing french people as 'brave people who did not seem to get that 1789 was over', or as 'spoiled youngsters who feel as if they are entitled'.

Uh, f+ck off?

Well surely I over-generalize on this one. Such articles made my day, such as this one for the Guardian Education, which makes a very valid points: "the anti-CPE movement is for the middle classes what last November's riots were to the suburban poor", and more importantly:

"There is simply no available evidence to suggest that higher flexibility translates itself into the net creation of long-term employment."

God knows I am not nationalist, nor I am patriotic. I don't even particularly like my own country - France.

But on this one, well, French people still believe in some(thing[s]).

Godisnowhere.

God is now here.

God is nowhere.