A UN committee has urged France to avoid collective deportations of Roma (Gypsies) to Romania. The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination also said it was concerned about "discriminatory" political speeches in France. The French government said it was "scrupulously respecting European law" and helping deported Roma reintegrate. France has recently sent hundreds of Roma back to Romania and Bulgaria and dismantled more than 100 illegal camps. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that 300 such camps are to be removed. The latest round of deportations took place on Thursday. 'Residency limits' The UN committee issued a series of recommendations urging France to "avoid" collective deportations and "strive for lasting solutions".
A UN committee has urged France to avoid collective deportations of Roma (Gypsies) to Romania.
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination also said it was concerned about "discriminatory" political speeches in France.
The French government said it was "scrupulously respecting European law" and helping deported Roma reintegrate.
France has recently sent hundreds of Roma back to Romania and Bulgaria and dismantled more than 100 illegal camps.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that 300 such camps are to be removed. The latest round of deportations took place on Thursday. 'Residency limits'
The UN committee issued a series of recommendations urging France to "avoid" collective deportations and "strive for lasting solutions".
Although the next French presidential elections are not until 2012 and French President Nicolas Sarkozy is yet to announce his intention to run for re-election, analysts argue that the forced repatriation of Roma to Bulgaria and Romania has in fact kick-started the election campaign. Pascal Perrineau, director of the Centre de Recherches Politiques at Sciences Po (CEVIPOF), believes that the 2012 election campaign has already begun. He identified two major issues that are antagonising French society. One is the Woerth-Bettencourt affair, in which a key minister, Éric Woerth, responsible for labour, solidarity and public services, stands accused of conflict of interest, as his wife works for Liliane Bettencourt, principal shareholder at L'Oréal and the richest woman in Europe. The Woerth-Bettencourt controversy has been dragging on since June, and Sarkozy has since seen his political ratings tumble. In what may have been an attempt to improve his standing, the French president ordered the repatriation of Roma from Romania and Bulgaria who live in camps on French soil. By playing hardball with the Roma, Sarkozy appears to have put the brakes on his "descent into hell," Perrineau is quoted by Europe 1 as saying, and his personal approval ratings have improved by 2%.
Pascal Perrineau, director of the Centre de Recherches Politiques at Sciences Po (CEVIPOF), believes that the 2012 election campaign has already begun. He identified two major issues that are antagonising French society.
One is the Woerth-Bettencourt affair, in which a key minister, Éric Woerth, responsible for labour, solidarity and public services, stands accused of conflict of interest, as his wife works for Liliane Bettencourt, principal shareholder at L'Oréal and the richest woman in Europe.
The Woerth-Bettencourt controversy has been dragging on since June, and Sarkozy has since seen his political ratings tumble.
In what may have been an attempt to improve his standing, the French president ordered the repatriation of Roma from Romania and Bulgaria who live in camps on French soil.
By playing hardball with the Roma, Sarkozy appears to have put the brakes on his "descent into hell," Perrineau is quoted by Europe 1 as saying, and his personal approval ratings have improved by 2%.
Among the groups the Nazi regime and its Axis partners singled out for persecution on so-called racial grounds were the Roma (Gypsies). Drawing support from many non-Nazi Germans who harbored social prejudice towards Roma, the Nazis judged Roma to be "racially inferior." The fate of Roma in some ways paralleled that of the Jews. Under the Nazi regime, German authorities subjected Roma to arbitrary internment, forced labor, and mass murder. German authorities murdered tens of thousands of Roma in the German-occupied territories of the Soviet Union and Serbia and thousands more in the killing centers at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka. The SS and police incarcerated Roma in the Bergen-Belsen, Sachsenhausen, Buchenwald, Dachau, Mauthausen, and Ravensbrück concentration camps. Both in the so-called Greater German Reich and in the so-called Generalgouvernement, German civilian authorities managed several forced-labor camps in which they incarcerated Roma. http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005219
Among the groups the Nazi regime and its Axis partners singled out for persecution on so-called racial grounds were the Roma (Gypsies).
Drawing support from many non-Nazi Germans who harbored social prejudice towards Roma, the Nazis judged Roma to be "racially inferior." The fate of Roma in some ways paralleled that of the Jews. Under the Nazi regime, German authorities subjected Roma to arbitrary internment, forced labor, and mass murder. German authorities murdered tens of thousands of Roma in the German-occupied territories of the Soviet Union and Serbia and thousands more in the killing centers at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, and Treblinka. The SS and police incarcerated Roma in the Bergen-Belsen, Sachsenhausen, Buchenwald, Dachau, Mauthausen, and Ravensbrück concentration camps. Both in the so-called Greater German Reich and in the so-called Generalgouvernement, German civilian authorities managed several forced-labor camps in which they incarcerated Roma.
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005219
Après le Pape, Mgr Le Gall monte au créneau. A Lourdes, à l'occasion du pèlerinage du diocèse de Toulouse, l'archevêque Robert Le Gall a fait un parallèle entre la situation actuelle des Roms et le sort des juifs durant la seconde guerre mondiale. Les Roms font-ils l'objet d'une déportation de la part du gouvernement français ? A entendre de très nombreuses voix, le parallèle est de plus en plus utilisé pour défendre les Roms en France. Dernièrement, c'est l'archevêque de Toulouse qui est monté au créneau pour défendre les gens du voyage roumains en déclarant « les Roms sont nos frères comme les autres ». Mais à Lourdes, à l'occasion du pèlerinage du diocèse de Toulouse, Monseigneur Roland Le Gall a également fait, devant les milliers de fidèles réunis aux Sanctuaires, un parallèle avec la situation des juifs durant la Seconde guerre mondiale. Il a notamment rappelé l'engagement de son prédécesseur de l'époque qui avait fait lire une lettre à la population qui indiquait que « des scènes d'épouvante ont eu lieu dans les camps de Noé et de Récébédou (installés en Haute-Garonne, ndlr). Les juifs sont des hommes. Tout n'est pas permis contre eux, contre ces hommes, contre ces femmes, contre ces pères et mères de famille. Ils font partie du genre humain. Ils sont nos frères comme tant d'autres. »
Les Roms font-ils l'objet d'une déportation de la part du gouvernement français ? A entendre de très nombreuses voix, le parallèle est de plus en plus utilisé pour défendre les Roms en France. Dernièrement, c'est l'archevêque de Toulouse qui est monté au créneau pour défendre les gens du voyage roumains en déclarant « les Roms sont nos frères comme les autres ». Mais à Lourdes, à l'occasion du pèlerinage du diocèse de Toulouse, Monseigneur Roland Le Gall a également fait, devant les milliers de fidèles réunis aux Sanctuaires, un parallèle avec la situation des juifs durant la Seconde guerre mondiale. Il a notamment rappelé l'engagement de son prédécesseur de l'époque qui avait fait lire une lettre à la population qui indiquait que « des scènes d'épouvante ont eu lieu dans les camps de Noé et de Récébédou (installés en Haute-Garonne, ndlr). Les juifs sont des hommes. Tout n'est pas permis contre eux, contre ces hommes, contre ces femmes, contre ces pères et mères de famille. Ils font partie du genre humain. Ils sont nos frères comme tant d'autres. »
Cannot find a link in English (yet), but the archbishop of Toulouse, speaking in front of several thousand faithful in Lourdes, made the same comparison as you did. The right is outraged by the comparison ("the Roms are not sent out to be killed" they say) but this is definitely hitting home... Wind power
After the Pope, Archbishop Le Gall up to the plate. In Lourdes, at the pilgrimage of the diocese of Toulouse, the Archbishop Robert Le Gall drew a parallel between the situation of Roma and the fate of Jews during the Second World War. The Roma are they subject to deportation by the French government? To hear many voices, the parallel is increasingly used to defend the Roma in France. Recently, the Archbishop of Toulouse, which is mounted to the plate to defend Travellers Romanian saying "Roma are our brothers like the others. But to Lourdes during the pilgrimage of the diocese of Toulouse, Bishop Roland Le Gall also, before thousands of faithful gathered in the Sanctuary, a parallel with the situation of Jews during the Second World War. He particularly recalled the commitment of his predecessor at the time who had read a letter to the people who stated that "scenes of horror were held in camps and Noah Récébédou (installed in Haute-Garonne ed.) The Jews are men. All is not permitted against them, against these men, against women, against these fathers and mothers. They are part of the human race. They are our brothers, like so many others. "
After the Pope, Archbishop Le Gall up to the plate.
In Lourdes, at the pilgrimage of the diocese of Toulouse, the Archbishop Robert Le Gall drew a parallel between the situation of Roma and the fate of Jews during the Second World War.
The Roma are they subject to deportation by the French government? To hear many voices, the parallel is increasingly used to defend the Roma in France. Recently, the Archbishop of Toulouse, which is mounted to the plate to defend Travellers Romanian saying "Roma are our brothers like the others. But to Lourdes during the pilgrimage of the diocese of Toulouse, Bishop Roland Le Gall also, before thousands of faithful gathered in the Sanctuary, a parallel with the situation of Jews during the Second World War. He particularly recalled the commitment of his predecessor at the time who had read a letter to the people who stated that "scenes of horror were held in camps and Noah Récébédou (installed in Haute-Garonne ed.) The Jews are men. All is not permitted against them, against these men, against women, against these fathers and mothers. They are part of the human race. They are our brothers, like so many others. "
After the Pope, Archbishop Le Gall steps up to the plate. During the diocese of Toulouse pilgrimage in Lourdes, Archbishop Robert Le Gall drew a parallel between the situation of the Roma people and the fate of Jews during the Second World War. Are the Roma subject to deportation by the French government? According to numerous voices, the parallel is increasingly used to defend the Roma in France. Recently, the Archbishop of Toulouse, who stepped up to the plate to defend the Roma travelers stating: "Roma are our brothers too". But during the pilgrimage of the diocese of Toulouse in Lourdes, before thousands of faithful gathered in the Sanctuary, Archbishop Roland Le Gall also drew a parallel with the situation of Jews during the Second World War. He particularly reminded the commitment of his predecessor at the time who had a pastoral letter read to the population, stating that "horror scenes were taking place in [internment] camps in Noé and Récébédou (set up in Haute-Garonne département ed.) The Jews are people. Not everything is allowed against them, against these men, against these women, against these fathers and mothers. They are part of the human race. They are our brothers, like so many others. "
During the diocese of Toulouse pilgrimage in Lourdes, Archbishop Robert Le Gall drew a parallel between the situation of the Roma people and the fate of Jews during the Second World War.
Are the Roma subject to deportation by the French government? According to numerous voices, the parallel is increasingly used to defend the Roma in France. Recently, the Archbishop of Toulouse, who stepped up to the plate to defend the Roma travelers stating: "Roma are our brothers too". But during the pilgrimage of the diocese of Toulouse in Lourdes, before thousands of faithful gathered in the Sanctuary, Archbishop Roland Le Gall also drew a parallel with the situation of Jews during the Second World War. He particularly reminded the commitment of his predecessor at the time who had a pastoral letter read to the population, stating that "horror scenes were taking place in [internment] camps in Noé and Récébédou (set up in Haute-Garonne département ed.) The Jews are people. Not everything is allowed against them, against these men, against these women, against these fathers and mothers. They are part of the human race. They are our brothers, like so many others. "
Note: Noé is a small town near Toulouse (the "département" of Haute-Garonne. The Vichy regime had set up an internment camp for Jewish people there during WWII. Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.
PARIS, Aug 28, 2010 (IPS) - The European Union (EU) is failing to fulfil its environmental commitments in practically all areas, from protecting biodiversity to improving air quality in the cities, according to official studies released this month.This worrisome trend is confirmed by the European Commission, the bloc's governing body, in its latest Environment Policy Review released on Aug. 2. In the document the EC says although many official environmental protection programmes have been launched and progress is evident in some areas, "further efforts are needed, in particular (to tackle) the loss of biodiversity." The study states that only 17 percent of protected habitats and species have a good conservation status. And goes on to add: "Grasslands, wetlands and coastal habitats are the most vulnerable, mainly due to factors such as the decline in traditional patterns of agriculture, pressure by tourist development, and climate change." In addition, the review warns, "The protection of soil biodiversity continues to present a challenge. The overexploitation of marine fisheries remains a threat to marine ecosystems, with some 45 percent of assessed European stocks falling outside safe biological limits."
Just 42% of Europeans say they trust the European Union, according to a new opinion poll, down six percentage points in just six months. The survey also found that fewer than half of Europe's citizens see their country's membership of the EU as a positive thing, but the European Commission is clinging to the positive elements of the report, particularly on economic governance. Officials are presenting the new Eurobarometer as an endorsement of greater budget oversight from Brussels, pointing to the 75% of Europeans who said stronger coordination between member states will help weather the economic storm. The research was done in May at the peak of negotiations on the €720 billion eurozone rescue fund (EurActiv 10/05/10). Ironically, it reveals that Slovaks (89%) are the most positively disposed towards an EU solution to the crisis - despite Slovakia's parliament recently pulling out of the EU-IMF bailout fund for Greece.
The survey also found that fewer than half of Europe's citizens see their country's membership of the EU as a positive thing, but the European Commission is clinging to the positive elements of the report, particularly on economic governance.
Officials are presenting the new Eurobarometer as an endorsement of greater budget oversight from Brussels, pointing to the 75% of Europeans who said stronger coordination between member states will help weather the economic storm.
The research was done in May at the peak of negotiations on the €720 billion eurozone rescue fund (EurActiv 10/05/10). Ironically, it reveals that Slovaks (89%) are the most positively disposed towards an EU solution to the crisis - despite Slovakia's parliament recently pulling out of the EU-IMF bailout fund for Greece.
When Europe asks whether she's still the fairest in the realm, only 49 per cent say "yes". The latest Eurobarometer poll published by the Commission shows that less than half the Community believe being part of the EU is "a good thing" for their country. Euro-enthusiasts haven't dipped below the 50 per cent mark since 2004, and in 2008 they came in at 58 per cent. This is the worst showing since the big eastward enlargement to form a 27-member club. The era of absolute majority is temporarily on hold. Is this a defeat for the Union? Yes, definitely. A defeat for Europe? Absolutely not. A victory for Eurosceptics? Don't kid yourself. The same opinion poll reflects a growing desire to pool and consolidate Europe's political energies. More and more people feel the EU should be the one to solve the problems of the recession. As a matter of fact, three quarters of Europe is calling for more policy coordination. Cure as clear as the illness And many would like to know what Europe can really do for them - because they are actually expecting it to do it. That's the point. Fewer people believe Europe is "a good thing" not because they're against integration per se, but because they feel betrayed by the 27 and the way they're handling it. They are demanding more. They feel they've been abandoned for sordid power games between Brussels and the member states. They want to know and participate.
When Europe asks whether she's still the fairest in the realm, only 49 per cent say "yes". The latest Eurobarometer poll published by the Commission shows that less than half the Community believe being part of the EU is "a good thing" for their country. Euro-enthusiasts haven't dipped below the 50 per cent mark since 2004, and in 2008 they came in at 58 per cent. This is the worst showing since the big eastward enlargement to form a 27-member club. The era of absolute majority is temporarily on hold.
Is this a defeat for the Union? Yes, definitely. A defeat for Europe? Absolutely not. A victory for Eurosceptics? Don't kid yourself. The same opinion poll reflects a growing desire to pool and consolidate Europe's political energies. More and more people feel the EU should be the one to solve the problems of the recession. As a matter of fact, three quarters of Europe is calling for more policy coordination. Cure as clear as the illness
And many would like to know what Europe can really do for them - because they are actually expecting it to do it. That's the point. Fewer people believe Europe is "a good thing" not because they're against integration per se, but because they feel betrayed by the 27 and the way they're handling it. They are demanding more. They feel they've been abandoned for sordid power games between Brussels and the member states. They want to know and participate.
If the EU had been more effective in resisting the neocon onslaught (and yes I understand that the UK was largely responsible for undermining it) it wouldn't have this problem now. If europe gets tough with the banksters and the trans-national financiers and rights the ship, it will recover popularity, if it cowers in the face of them it will not. keep to the Fen Causeway
Clashes have erupted in the northern British city of Bradford, during the staging of a rally by the far-right English Defence League and a counter-rally by the anti-Fascist Unite Against Fascism. Supporters of the English Defence League (EDL) threw bottles, stones and cans at Unite Against Fascism protesters in the multi-ethnic city of Yorkshire on Saturday. Fears of scenes of race riots seen in the city nine years ago had been raised by the proposed rallies. The government had banned all marches in the city on Saturday for fear of tensions spilling over. The 2001 riots began after a far-right march was held. The two groups therefore held static protests in different areas of the city.
Clashes have erupted in the northern British city of Bradford, during the staging of a rally by the far-right English Defence League and a counter-rally by the anti-Fascist Unite Against Fascism.
Supporters of the English Defence League (EDL) threw bottles, stones and cans at Unite Against Fascism protesters in the multi-ethnic city of Yorkshire on Saturday.
Fears of scenes of race riots seen in the city nine years ago had been raised by the proposed rallies.
The government had banned all marches in the city on Saturday for fear of tensions spilling over. The 2001 riots began after a far-right march was held.
The two groups therefore held static protests in different areas of the city.
