By John K. on February 24, 2011
Racism starts with the belief that there are races, and that the skin colour can reduced to nature of a people.
Fashion faux-pas, or underlying racism of post-colonial France?
http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/beyonce-tribal-photos-criticised-2556463.html
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-610995.0.html
http://hard2knockshoppe.blogspot.com/2011/02/beyonce-criticized-for-blackface-photo.html
Beyonce has been criticised after appearing in a photo shoot daubed with brown face paint.
The Crazy In Love singer – who was recently photographed looking fairer than usual – is now under fire for a tribal-inspired look in French publication L’Officiel Paris. Continue reading »
Posted in Articles, Media watch Tagged Celebrities, France, Racism
By John K. on February 22, 2011
Original French article: http://www.liberation.fr/societe/01012321757-l-academie-de-medecine-veut-faciliter-l-adoption-nationale
Original report by the French Academy of Medecine: http://www.academie-medecine.fr/Upload/Mantz_rapp_15fevr_2011.pdf
The finding of the latest report on adoption by the French Academy of Medecine should insire France, but also Ireland, to have a hard look at how children’s best interest are not served by making domestic adoptions so hard.
At the same time, some support group for people suffering financial hardship want to avoid children being removed fromloving families because of poverty. Continue reading »
Posted in Media watch, Publication, Research Tagged Adoptees, Adoption, France, Institutional forces
By Noel on February 13, 2011
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0212/1224289636274.html?via=mr
- The LGBT lobbying group Act-up and the 9th Collective of the undocumented (people) have plastered that poster to highligfght the fact that in Sarkozy’s vision of the wolrd, an undocumented migrant does not qualify as “people”.
RUADHÁN Mac CORMAIC in Paris
FRENCH PRESIDENT Nicolas Sarkozy has declared multiculturalism a failure and has taken issue with Muslims praying on the streets of French cities.
In a televised exchange with selected voters, aimed at setting out his plans for the year ahead, Mr Sarkozy echoed the recent critiques of multiculturalism by British prime minister David Cameron and German chancellor Angela Merkel.
“It’s a failure,” he said. “The truth is that in all our democracies, we’ve been too concerned about the identity of the new arrivals and not enough about the identity of the country receiving them. This raises the issue of Islam and our Muslim compatriots.
“Our Muslim compatriots should be able to live and practise their religion like anyone else . . . but it can only be a French Islam and not just an Islam in France.”
Mr Sarkozy’s public approval ratings have held constant at about 30 per cent for the past year and cracks have begun to appear in the centre-right coalition that ensured his victory in 2007.
With a presidential election due next year, his UMP party has been unsettled by the improved standing of the far-right National Front under its new leader, Marine Le Pen. Continue reading »
Posted in Exclude, Media watch Tagged France, Institutional forces, Racism, Religions
By John K. on February 4, 2011
http://www.lezbelib.com/en/news/life/518
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8105060-symbolic-gay-marriage-mayor-of-montpellier
In Montpellier, France, the mayor of the city decided to married a gay French-Portugese couple and even if the gay marriage is not authorized in France.
The union was first refused by the embassy of Portugal whereas Portugal is one of the European countries allowing same-sex marriage. As a result, the marriage will be celebrated in France.
“We can go to Portugal to marry, but we want the things progress in France.” Continue reading »
Posted in Articles, Media watch, The law Tagged Civil Partnership, Discrimination, France, Institutional forces, Legislation, Marriage
By Noel on January 28, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12305858
The French constitutional court has upheld a ban on gay marriage, which was challenged by a lesbian couple with four children.
The court ruled that the ban, challenged by Corinne Cestino and Sophie Hasslauer, was in keeping with the constitution.
Activists had hoped France would join states like Spain and Belgium in legalising same-sex marriage.
An opinion poll suggests most French people are in favour. Continue reading »
Posted in Articles, Media watch, The law Tagged Belgium, France, Iceland, Institutional forces, Legislation, Marriage, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK
By John K. on January 28, 2011
http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2011/01/28/mariage-homosexuel-la-decision-du-conseil-constitutionnel-attendue-ce-vendredi_1471682_3224.html
The Constitutional Council is due to publish its decision on the case refered to them by the Cour de Cassation, as mentioned here before: http://irishpinkadoptions.com/2010/11/16/2010-11-16-france-constitutional-court-to-decide-if-marriage-ban-is-illegal/
2 women who have lived together for 14 years, are raising 4 children, and have contracted a civil partnership (they are “PACSéare”), are seeking full constitutional and legal protection for their children.
The PACS is similar to the Irish Civil Partnership: it casts away the natural rights of children to be raised in a family protected by Society.
The Council has to decide if articles 75 and 144 of the “Civil Code”, which excludes same-gender people from civil marriage, are constitutional. Continue reading »
Posted in Articles, Media watch, The law Tagged Belgium, France, Iceland, Institutional forces, Legislation, Marriage, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK
By John K. on January 18, 2011
Posted in Articles, Media watch, The law Tagged Belgium, France, Iceland, Institutional forces, Legislation, Marriage, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK
By John K. on November 16, 2010
http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2010/11/16/mariage-homosexuel-la-cour-de-cassation-saisit-le-conseil-constitutionnel_1441025_3224.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/French-court-to-examine-legality-of-same-sex-marriage-ban/articleshow/6938061.cms
PARIS: France’s highest court of appeal, the Court of Cassation, on Tuesday asked the Constitutional Council to rule on whether gay marriage should remain illegal.
The request came after individuals in August asked a court in the northeastern city of Reims to look at the legality of articles of the civil code, France’s law book, which ban same-sex marriages. Continue reading »
Posted in Articles, Media watch, The law Tagged Belgium, France, Iceland, Marriage, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK
By John K. on September 14, 2010
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0914/roma.html
The European Union is considering taking disciplinary action against France over its treatment and expulsion of Roma migrants.
EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding described the actions of the French government as a ‘disgrace’.
She added France had been duplicitous in how it had dealt with the European authorities over the issue.
Ms Reding said she believed proceedings should be brought against France in the coming weeks.
‘I am personally convinced that the commission will have no choice but to initiate infringement proceedings against France,’ Ms Reding said.
She rebuked the French government over a leaked memo which ‘openly contradicted’ assurances given by two ministers to the Commission that specific ethnic groups had not been targeted in France. Continue reading »
Posted in Exclude, Media watch Tagged Bulgaria, France, Institutional forces, Racism, Romania
By Noel on September 5, 2010
What connection with pink adoptions? You may ask.
Well, it is a sign of a very intelligent way of living religion, and can be a good model for an internationally adopted child who may be struggling with a birth religion that is too often demonized.
http://www.leprogres.fr/fr/article/3653388/Ahmed-nouvelle-gargouille-de-la-cathedrale-Saint-Jean.html
http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2010/08/lyon-allah-akbar-gargoyle-on-lyon.html
A new gargoyle was put up on the Lyon cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon, in honor of Benzizine Ahmed, the Muslim foreman who led the restoration work on the cathedral tower. The gargoyle stands over a sign saying “Allah Akbar” (God is greatest) in both Arabic and French.
” ‘Allah Akbar’, everybody agrees with that! It’s not as if we wrote that Mohammed is our prophet…” says one of the diocese people. Father Cacaud, rector of the cathedral, wouldn’t confirm that agreement was given by the archbishop. The diocese spokespeople said that the builders sometimes take certain liberties outside the sacred area.
Repellin Didier, head architect for historical monuments, says the stonemasons and sculptures of the cathedral have a tradition to portray the people they esteem. Ahmed, who worked for 30 years on the cathedral, is competent and very humble. A quiet man who is appreciated. It’s a beautiful human gesture, says Didier. Continue reading »
Posted in Media watch Tagged Catholicism, France, Islam, Religions
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