Ayrault announces plan to combat racism
Published: 11 Sep 2012 10:40 GMT+02:00 | Print version
Updated: 11 Sep 2012 10:40 GMT+02:00
French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has announced a “plan of action” to use education to fight racism and antisemitism in the country.
In a speech at the inauguration of a new memorial at the Camp des Milles in Aix en Province, Ayrault said he would be meeting with an interministerial committee in the next few days to discuss the project.
“[The project] will be first of all based in education, and the will to fight against foreign, or other, prejudices which are still anchored in some mentalities, and which bad winds have stirred up again over the past few years,” Ayrault said.
“No one can deny the resurgence of anti-semitic and racist behaviour.”
Ayrault said he was “astounded” at the publication of a leaflet by French author Richard Millet defending the actions of Norwegian gunman Anders Behring Breivik.
“I was very shocked by it, the risk is that is trivialises everything. Trivialisation and this kind of glorification of violence is always scary,” he added.
Today's headlines
Aedes albopictus - the Tiger mosquito. Users can check an interactive new map to get warnings and when and where to invest in some bug spray. Photo: Vigilance Moustiques/CDC
As temperatures rise in France, concerns have turned to the country’s surging mosquito population. A new interactive map, however, looks set to give residents and holiday-makers a head start in avoiding those nasty mossie bites.
READ () »
Reptile enthusiast Dieter Zorn, 53, died after being bitten by a viper during a demonstration aimed at helping the public "get over unfounded fears and eliminate prejudices." Photo: Reptile Show
A reptile enthusiast died after being bitten by a viper during a demonstration in southern France, which was aimed to help audiences overcome their fear of snakes. The man died from a heart attack due to a rare allergy, his colleague told The Local.
READ () »
File photo of a Chopard necklace. Photo:AFP
A suspected member of the notorious Pink Panther gang of international jewel thieves has been arrested near Paris,
police sources told AFP on Wednesday.
READ () »
Photo: George Groutas
Two of France's most famous luxury brands look set for a bitter court battle after deluxe bag maker Hermès accused the Louis Vuitton group LVMH of "historic fraud", as a long running bitter feud took a new twist on Wednesday.
READ () »
Airbus's new A350 long-haul aircraft does a taxi test at Toulouse-Blagnace aerodrome in south-western France on June 11th. Photo: Eric Cabanis/AFP
French airline company Air France confirmed on Wednesday a multi-billion euro order of Airbus's new A350 planes. The planes are not yet in service and only recently carried out a test flight (see video).
READ () »
"Do you know where is the Eiffel Tower?" A new campaign hopes to teach tourism professionals in Pairs how to understand their international clients. Photo: CCI/CRT
The days of the rude Paris waiter or shopkeeper may soon be over. As part of a new campaign, Paris tourism chiefs published a training manual this week aimed at teaching Parisians who come into contact with tourists how to offer them a better welcome.
READ () »
The Catholic shrine of Lourdes, Haute-Pyrénées under 1.4 metres of water after severe flooding in south-western France, which claimed its victim in the early hours of Wednesday. Photo: P. Pavani/AFP
An elderly woman has drowned in south-western France after severe floods swept away her car in the town of Pierrefitte-Nestalas. In all 43 departments across the country were place on alert for storms and flooding.
READ () »
Lourdes floods
Lourdes under flood waters in 2012. Photo: Laurent Dard/AFP
The historic Catholic pilgrimage site of Lourdes in south west France was evacuated on Tuesday after flash floods hit the area. Management at the shrine have told The Local they are growing increasingly concerned as waters continue to rise.
READ () »
Opinion - Smacking
Photo: Screengrab/Youtube/Fondation pour l'Enfance
As a provocative new anti-smacking video campaign by the Fondation pour l'Enfance (Foundation for Childhood) causes a stir in France, the man behind the drive Dr. Gilles Lazimi tells The Local why France needs a law banning parents from smacking their kids.
READ () »
Karim Benzema (left) with French team mate Franck Ribery (right) and Zahia Dehar the former call girl at the centre of the scandal. Photo: Franck Fife/AFP / ZahiaOfficiel
French football stars Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema, went on trial on Tuesday, accused of paying to have sex with then underage call-girl Zahia Dehar. The process was adjourned until January, however, on a legal technicality.
READ () »
.jpg&mode=resize&size=300x200)
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.