French Guiana, in South America, seeks more autonomy from France Protests in the second-poorest of France’s overseas departments enter their fifth week OF ALL the voters fuming about neglect by out-of-touch politicians in distant Paris, the people of French Guiana have perhaps the strongest case. It is the second-poorest of France’s five overseas departments (DOMs).... Continue Reading →
The Economist explains: Why shark attacks are on the rise in Réunion | THE ECONOMIST
Overfishing and the island’s unique geography both play a role WHEN Julian Creedon moved from Jersey to Réunion in 2006 the island seemed like a surfer’s paradise: “White beaches, epic waves, it was perfect.” But last month Alexandre Naussance, a 26-year-old fellow surfer, became the eighth person to be killed by a shark in the... Continue Reading →
Marine Le Pen and post-colonial overseas departments | AL JAZEERA
Scattered across the globe, thousands of miles away from the mainland, France's overseas departments are often sidelined by the country's politicians - except during the run-up to presidential elections. In November, Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, visited Reunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, then French Guiana in the Caribbean in December. The same month... Continue Reading →
The False Sense of Secularism Behind France’s Burkini Ban | FAIR OBSERVER
France’s veiled prescription of what Islam should be is a poor guise of secularism for the country’s citizens and migrants Burkinis are “not compatible with French values,” said Prime Minister Manuel Valls on August 17. He was defending the French mayors who have recently banned the body swimsuits, usually worn by Muslim women, from beaches.... Continue Reading →