Refurbishing the French Republic [I mean the square]...

Designed to provide a more pleasant living area and improve the overall quality of
of the environment, the renovation of the iconic place de la République just begun
with its completion expected in spring 2013.

So far the 60% of space was dedicated to car traffic - the future sharing of public space
will be more balanced and pedestrians will enjoy a central plaza with trees, a basin
surrounding the statue and two water mirrors.


But the square, its name and the statue itself have their own story. (check it HERE)

Representing the French motto 'Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité', the statue was inaugurated
on July 14, 1883, replacing the fountain built in 1811 and enlarged in 1865 as well as
the square, whose name was at that time Place du Chateau d'Eau.
(see the Haussmann urban planning).

Finally, in 1889, the Place du Chateau d'Eau was renamed and took its current name
and... reputation!

(Credit: Roswitha Guillemin & Yann Foreix).

(by bananiacool)
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As for refurbishing the French Republic... the time is ripe for a change and major
operations are in progress!

Time Out for Bastille-day 2011...

Tonight and tomorrow, the Paris firefighters brigade,
which celebrate this year its 200th anniversary, organize
a dozen free balls in various 'casernes' all around the city...




... click on the map, check the addresses and make your choice!

* The Bals des Pompiers, hosted by bands and some DJ, will begin at 21 pm to close at 4 am.
As usual, admission is free, but you will find the traditional barrel at the entrance to collect
donations for the Association for the development of social work of Paris' firefighters.
* Several free Bals populaires are also provided tonight and tomorrow in the streets of Paris.
[check LeMonde.fr for details].



July 14 Défilé' : Fighter jets overflying Ieoh Ming Pei pyramid...

[Thomas Cox - AFP/Getty Images]

And later on, at night...

[sjangro] has caught the fireworks from the street level, which gives back a very Parisian
and almost confidential view of the final bouquet.
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A la Bastille, for a Real Democracy

E SI LOS FRANCESES TAMBIEN MANIFESTARON
SU INDIGNACION?


Published in October 2010, the pamphlet "Indignez-vous!"/Time for Outrage, by Stephane
Hessel, quickly made ​​its way into the minds already made ​​alive by the financial scandals
that has led to one of the major international crises.

A few months later, Hessel's call seems to have triggered an alert:
"CRITICALSYSTEM ERROR, PLEASE REBOOT FOR A REAL DEMOCRACY!"


[1. RéelleDémocratie, Live streem from the Bastille - 2. A la Bastille, May 29/2011]

Manifesto of the 2011 revolutionaries
"Since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008, our leaders have decided to crush the people instead of charging
the banks. European democracies have been hijacked by the financial markets. We are caught around the throat
by austerity plans that multiply across Europe.
Unemployment has soared and plunged millions into poverty and misery. The crisis affects everyone. In France,
while profits doubled on the CAC 40, youth unemployment reached 25%. In Spain, 40% of those under 35 are
unemployed. In response, the Spanish people rose up. Since May 15, tens of thousands of Spaniards are camped
out day and night. Real Movement Democracia Ya! (Real Democracy Now!) is organised around two main demands:
regeneration of the democratic political system and advocacy of proper social policy…
Following a solidarity rally organized by Spaniards living in France, we citizens who recognise the aspirations of the
Spanish people urge everyone to become an actor for dynamic change. The revolt of the Arab countries across the
Mediterranean and the uprising of the Spanish people has sent a clear message to all Europeans, let us seize this
opportunity. Faced with a political oligarchy that holds all power, we demand the convening of a Constituent Assembly
to remind our leaders that the only sovereign (as in sovereign debt!) is the people!“
(Source Real Democracy statement).
- Contacts: ARLES BAYONNE BORDEAUX CHALONS-SUR-SAÔNE GRENOBLE LILLE MARSEILLE
PARIS POITIERS TOULOUSE VALENCE...


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#frenchrevolution on twitter

Biodiversity shows up on 'Les Champs' !

... but G@tto goes South [Sanremo, Nice and Marseilles] !

2010 is World Biodiversity Year, a celebration of nature and life on Earth...
and thanks to Gad Weil and Laurence Médioni, Parisians will enjoy a 2-day
stroll on countryside along the Champs Elysées...



Check out NatureCapitale site and blog...
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A few bites of biodiversity seen from the TGV...





. . . and so on.

France : Mutatis Mutandis on March 21st

aka > the necessary changes
have been made !





"BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH, Sarko" !

G@ttus : Sarkus!
Sarkus : Ha! Who calls?
Casca : Everyone, quiet. Peace!
Sarkus : Who’s calling for me? I hear a voice
that is more shrill than all the music
yelling, "Sarkus"! Speak, I’m listening.
G@ttus : Beware the Ides of March!
Sarkus : Who is that man?
Brutus : A c@t who can tell the future is telling
you to beware March 21.
Sarkus : Bring him here; let me see his face.
Cassius : Felis, come here; look at Sarkus.
Sarkus : What do you say to me now? Speak again..
G@ttus : Beware the Ides of March.
Sarkus : He is a c@t; let's get away from him.
Let's go. [Exeunt]


Click sur logo Libé
pour résultats définitifs.
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Dix ans plus tard... ça va !

Les 26 et 28 décembre 1999, deux tempêtes d'une violence exceptionnelle,
dénommées Lothar et Martin, ont traversé la France d'Ouest en Est, puis
une partie de l'Europe, laissant derrière elles un indescriptible chaos.

www.ina.fr

Qualifiées de "tempêtes du siècle", elles ont fait de nombreuses victimes, décimé des milliers
de forêts, privé de courant des millions de foyers pendant plusieurs jours, provoqué
d'importantes inondations et dégâts matériels.

La première tempête est partie de la pointe de la Bretagne vers la Normandie, l'île de France,
la Champagne Ardennes, la Lorraine et l'Alsace, puis vers l'Allemagne, la Suisse. La seconde
s'est développée au large de la Bretagne, puis s'est dirigée vers Nantes, Dijon et l'Alsace.
Les régions de toute la côte Atlantique ont été les plus touchées, en particulier le département
de la Charente Maritime. La tempête a soufflé vers le sud, la Corse et affecté l'Espagne et le
nord de l'Italie.
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France and National Identity...

"Pour être Français, il faut avoir du sang français"... ?
... if this is true, then there are no genuine countries, they have never existed.


____________

fait le tour de la presse internationale sur un débat
qui fait rage en France...
____________

Eric Besson : The most hated man in France
- Charles Bremmer

Tensions grow for Muslims as French debate national identity
- Edward Cody

As the French debate their identity, some recoil
Devorah Lauter

Sarkozy Stands By France's Hated Immigration Minister
- Bruce Crumley

French identity debate is getting out of control
- René Moerland

La mala idea de Sarkozy sobre la identidad
- Eduardo Febbro

La identidad nacional divide al partido de Sarkozy
- Antonio Jiménez Barca

Growing restrictions placed on Muslims
- Jonathan Eyal

Now France Debates Islam’s Role in National Identity
- Iman Kurdi

Identité nationale : le racisme s’invite dans le débat officiel
- Denis Carlier

Touche pas à mon identité !
- Modou Mamoune Faye
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A dive in Nice "Vièia Vila" Atmosphere...

The "Old Nice" district lays between the Place Garibaldi (north), the Castle
Hill (east), the Espace Masséna (west) and the coastline (south).

Snake with G@tto along the ruelles du vieux quartier...

















The French Riviera Traveller says : "With its narrow, shadowy streets, cozy
squares, colourful markets, baroque churches and jumble of pastel houses,
Vieux Nice looks and feels much as it must have about two centuries ago.
The sounds are different though, at least at night when music from the bars
and nightclubs fills the air with rhythm.
The bustle of tourists and shoppers is replaced by teams of young clubbers
prowling the streets for the latest hangout. Especially on summer evenings,
the Old Town resembles a vast open-air party".


One more time, the open air market on the Cours Saleya is gone...


... and the hose-man is cleaning the place.









Farewell Nice, farewell the French Riviera...
G@tto's planning to move somewhere,
on the coast, in a few years !

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