Headlines of Hope Today

Talks Begin with Government; Trains, Buses and Metro Continue Stillstand

As France still faces a general strike of public workers next Tuesday, and nearly all those who were on strike yesterday, still are, the pressure on the government remains intense.

For the third time in a week, after the demonstration in Nantes (several hours west of Paris), the destruction.

Here are some of today's morning headlines:

Liberation : "Juppe's Small Concessions"

France-Soir : "Juppe Loosens Up"

Le Parisien : "Christmas Despite All"

International Herald Tribune : "Rail Union Claim Concession by Juppe"

Nevertheless, residents intending to work on Monday are passing a certain amount of time this weekend in organizing their alternate means of transport - a new place in a car pool, a connection to a special bus, or even a cruise on the Seine.

For many, after a week of camping in Paris hotels, there were family reunions last night. While Paris merchants groan about the vertical drop in pre-Christmas sales, suburban shopping centers are clogged by shoppers and are surrounded by monster traffic jams.

This is the time of year when many people order - by mail, telephone, Minitel - traditional Christmas treats such as Foie Gras and Champagne, as well as toys; but with the means of delivery severely restricted, orders are either not made, or won't be filled - and many companies throughout France that traditionally realize as much as 50 percent of their annual sales will be in dire straits if the conflict is not rapidly resolved. There are always substitutes of course, but it is not quite... the same thing.

The government has taken full-page ads in 61 newspapers throughout France today to explain its position with the headline, "Do You Know the Juppe Plan?" The Prime Minister has called a meeting for Sunday with the ministers most directly concerned with the conflict.

French television's Annual Telethon has just begun.

On this weekend of hope, French television's annual Telethon, is currently being broadcast on channel A2. At this time, 14:35 CET, 138 million francs has been pledged. If you wish to pledge something to this worthy cause, here are the contact numbers: In France: Minitel code: 3615 Telethon. Also in France, a unique telephone number: 36 37. That's correct, just four digits. From outside France, call 33 - 36 37 11 11.

If you are a regular reader of my contributions to the Paris Pages, I suggest you give the hotlink 'The Paris Pages' or 'Les Pages de Paris' at the top of this page a hit, and go to the large features section about the strikes - Kiosque Greves - (http://www.paris.org/Kiosque/Greves/) and have a look at all the other features concerning these dramatic times in France. You will also find hotlinks to other Web sites that are featuring the same subject, but from different angles.

Like the Paris Pages, a lot of these Web sites have only small budgets or no budgets at all; most of them are either understaffed, or their contributions are made by volunteers, so if you see occasional 'typos' and some overlapping graphics, don't be too critical. We're working very hard to prove that the Internet and the Web have no frontiers, and if we're losing a little sleep and running on air; it may show. Let our sponsors, if there are any, know what you think about our efforts. And tell your friends where you read this. Thanks.

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Updated 07/95