First, thank you to all those who left us encouraging comments on our going blog-public post. As I said, we have yet to find a good reason not to move forward and your words of support proved that again. Now the tough part is waiting patiently for the pieces to come together and continuing on with life as usual here in Lyon...
Yesterday I kept an eye on my favorite news source. All day long I got the play-by-play that schools were closing and people were getting the day off work because of tremendous ice and snow storms across the US.
No ice or snow here in Lyon, but a lot of schools are closing and people getting the day off today. Why you ask? Well, I'd tell you but I'm thinking of going on strike too.
Map showing locations of organized demonstrations on January 29th. I just had an email from the US Embassy in Paris warning that police expect 40,000 to 50,000 participants at the main demonstration.
Today, January 29th, has been named Black Thursday and is the kick off The Strikes of 2009. It is expected to be the worst strikes since 1995, which were the worst since the famous strikes of 1968, and counted 6 million strikes days. People started hitch-hiking to work. Hitch-hiking!
I got this today in the Fluent French newsletter
The strike's website (did you know strikes have websites?) had these handy posters all made up and print-ready.
According to a recent survey, more than 70% of the French population approves of thes strikes and thinks they are justified. It's truly a different world over here.
I can't even imagine what it would take for 70% of Americans to approve of strikes that are expected to "paralyse" the country. But if that day comes, remember that you can download posters here.
Yesterday I kept an eye on my favorite news source. All day long I got the play-by-play that schools were closing and people were getting the day off work because of tremendous ice and snow storms across the US.
No ice or snow here in Lyon, but a lot of schools are closing and people getting the day off today. Why you ask? Well, I'd tell you but I'm thinking of going on strike too.
Map showing locations of organized demonstrations on January 29th. I just had an email from the US Embassy in Paris warning that police expect 40,000 to 50,000 participants at the main demonstration.
Today, January 29th, has been named Black Thursday and is the kick off The Strikes of 2009. It is expected to be the worst strikes since 1995, which were the worst since the famous strikes of 1968, and counted 6 million strikes days. People started hitch-hiking to work. Hitch-hiking!
The strike will unite private and public sector workers from schools, hospitals national TV and radio to postal services, bank clerks and supermarket employees. Even helicopter pilots and staff from the company that operates the French stock exchange are taking part. High school pupils, university lecturers, lawyers and magistrates will also protest a raft of Sarkozy's reforms and planned job cuts.
From The Guardian
I got this today in the Fluent French newsletter
The strike's website (did you know strikes have websites?) had these handy posters all made up and print-ready.
According to a recent survey, more than 70% of the French population approves of thes strikes and thinks they are justified. It's truly a different world over here.
I can't even imagine what it would take for 70% of Americans to approve of strikes that are expected to "paralyse" the country. But if that day comes, remember that you can download posters here.
5 comments:
You're right - a strike that had a 70% approval rating would be unbelievable here!
Although, if we don't get some money funneled back into our schools in the next year, I may start one of my own! :-)
I'm always in awe of the strikes here. I've never had one effect me until now though! I have NO idea how I'm getting home from work tonight...à pied? à velo'v...no idea.
This was my first big strike in Lyon, and it was quite exciting. I work on Gambetta, which is on the main strike route, so I had a window seat to the protests. I think we would strike more in the US if they were as entertaining as French strikes. This strike had a marching band!
Good thing you're already prepared with your signs. I would have to swim home if all the transit and taxi workers went on strike here...that would be a MESS!!
He!he! I just stayed cozy at home all day, catching up on housework and such. Thankfully the grocery store I went to had cashiers, though! I liked the signs posted at all the public transport stops indicating things would not be running normally---"Perterbations" was the headline. Great choice of wording!
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