Jean de La Fontaine revisited

The ongoing strikes in Guadeloupe inspired my friend Bubulcusibis a beautiful translation and détournement of the French poet Jean de La Fontaine. Cheeky and well-focused.

THE AGING LION by Jean de La Fontaine

A lion, mourning, in his age, the wane
Of might once dreaded through his wild domain,
Was mock’d, at last, upon his throne,
By subjects of his own,
Strong through his weakness grown.
The horse his head saluted with a kick;
The wolf snapp’d at his royal hide;
The ox, too, gored him in the side;
The unhappy lion, sad and sick,
Could hardly growl, he was so weak.
In uncomplaining, stoic pride,
He waited for the hour of fate,
Until the ass approach’d his gate;
Whereat, ‘This is too much,’ he saith;
‘I willingly would yield my breath;
But, ah! thy kick is double death!’

THE AGING LION, A French Modern Tale by Bubulcusibis

France, mourning, in its age, the wane
Of might once dreaded through its wild domain,
Was mock’d, at last, upon its throne,
By subjects of its own,
Strong through its weakness grown.
Guadeloupe his head saluted with a kick;
Martinique snapp’d at its royal hide;
Reunion, too, gored it in the side;
The unhappy France, sad and sick,
Could hardly growl, it was so weak.
In uncomplaining, stoic pride,
It waited for the hour of fate,
Until Guyana approach’d its gate;
Whereat, ‘This is too much,’ it saith;
‘I willingly would yield my breath;
But, ah! thy kick is double death!’

Please find the full version of the article here

"Seize the moment" - Ford Visteon Occupation

Source: Socialist Worker

A Ford Visteon workers support group is helping to coordinate support by sustaining the pickets and publicising the Ford Visteon workers struggle for justice. By agreement with the pickets, Haringey Solidarity Group will channel financial support to the pickets through their bank account. Cheques made out to 'Haringey Solidarity Group' or 'HSG' may be sent to HSG, PO Box 2474, London N8 0HW (write Ford Visteon on the back). Next support group meeting Thursday 16th, 7.30pm, Millennium Centre, 386 West Green Rd, N15 3QL.

Jean Charles de Menezes, Ian Tomlinson, who's next?

"The man who died during last week's G20 protests was 'assaulted' by riot police shortly before he suffered a heart attack, according to witness statements received by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Investigators are examining a series of corroborative accounts that allege Ian Tomlinson, 47, was a victim of police violence in the moments before he collapsed near the Bank of England in the City of London last Wednesday evening. Three witnesses have told the Observer that Mr Tomlinson was attacked violently as he made his way home from work at a nearby newsagents. One claims he was struck on the head with a baton." (Guardian 5/4/9)

"Exclusive footage [here] obtained by the Guardian shows Ian Tomlinson, who died during G20 protests in London, was attacked from behind by baton–wielding police officer." (Guardian 7/4/9)

"In the statement after his death, policemen initially said protestors impeded medics from treating Tomlinson." (Guardian 7/4/9)

Trade unionist shot dead in French Carribbean

It is been a month now since a general strike started in Guadeloupe (French Carribbean). The "Committee against outrageous exploitation" (LKP) brought together fifty associations and trade unions calling for a 200 euro pay rise of the minimum wage, ie 20%. French President Nicolas Sarkozy increased his own salary of 140% in 2007 when he got elected - upgrading his annual wage from 101 488 to 240 000 euros.

In the beginning of this month, the government started negotiations. Prime Minister François Fillon refused to raise the minimum wage and Nicolas Sarkozy said about the 25 000 people demonstrating on the island: "they are desperate". And sent more gendarmes, 300.

On February 17th, a trade unionist from LKP has been shot dead as he went back from a meeting.
According to the government and the police, it is "a group of young people" who killed Jacques Bino.

Jean-Marie Nomertin, from the same union, said: "There was a red ribbon on the car which is a sign of affiliation to LKP." It is quite incomprehensible that "young people" fired the car of someone they support. He concluded : "We need to shade some light on the parts that are not clear."

Mort d'un syndicaliste: le LKP veut des explications - Nouvel Obs
Le collectif LKP qui mène le mouvement de grogne en Guadeloupe veut que toute la lumière soit faite sur les circonstances du meurtre d'un syndicaliste.

Mots-clés : outremer guadeloupe social grèves violences

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