Claude Boutet November 8th. 2005

Riots in France

English people have probably been informed by the different media of the events that have been taking place in the suburbs of many towns in France. Maybe they have better information than French people can have. My feeling is that the media and the French Government are trying to minimise the events. These headlines are not presented as the main news, the reports on the TV are very short and only show no shocking images. The journalists’ comments are not very virulent and people questioned in the streets say only that the riots have to stop. Now the riots are probably being organised because they are spreading to most parts of France… except Bourges. Not yet, anyway!

The problem has been foreseeable for many years because the main difficulty is that our country is not able to provide work for everyone (over 10 % of unemployment). Generally, the level of education is not very high in the suburbs though the educative system is the same as in the other part of the towns and many people leave school without been able to read or write. People of the same nationality, same “colour”, same religion and same standards… are inclined to gather in the same place as we have seen throughout the centuries and the countries. It is almost something natural! Sometimes these places are quiet sometimes there are big problems! Often people don’t want to do anything because in these districts there are a lot of people who don’t work and live only off grants and trafficking, which are more lucrative and easy.

Today, in terms of damage, the result is frightening: over 3000 cars burned, many schools, shops, shopping centres… burned down and more serious, many injuries and two innocent old people dead.

Now the problem is: what can we do to stop the riots? And who will pay for the damage? I am not sure there is a short-term answer to the two questions!

Last news of the last night: 1000 cars burned, 10 schools burned down in France…and 11 cars burned in Bourges! The wrongdoing is spreading and there is a risk to spread abroad: Belgium, Germany and …Great Britain!