Alert! France to run out of fuel in days as strikes escalate

Emergency

"We ran out of gas yesterday already. There's nothing left," said Alpha Sysavane, a worker at a BP station in Paris. "All we have left are a few litres of diesel fuel."

The government has authorised oil companies to use emergency stocks, but has not yet touched its three-week strategic reserves.

One motorist from a village near Fontainbleau said she had driven 30 miles to Paris in order to buy fuel. "At home, the filling stations are closed," said Emilia Scoubel (30), an office worker.

On Saturday, the ecology ministry warned that Roissy Charles de Gaulle, France's main international airport, could run out of fuel today. But yesterday Dominique Bussereau, the transport minister, insisted the pipeline to the airport was now working. However, planes had been advised to fill up before returning to France, he said.

The CGT union complained that the pipeline feeding Paris's airports had been reopened by "untrained executives", warning their action "posed a serious security threat" and was an "unacceptable breach of the right to strike".

www.independent.ie...



This is beyond serious. Not much commentary from me on this, other than just to be alert and keep an eye on this.

So the French are having a strike, how original! Thinking right out of the box with that one.
They are protesting and bringing their nation down for having to work 2 years longer (detracting time lost over numerous strikes). Big deal, people should be grateful they even have jobs to go to.

reply to post by Joshuadrooney


Well, at least the french people have the nerve to stick it out till the end, even if it means they can't drive because there is no gas. Be grateful for the jobs they have? Oh, you mean those jobs otherwise known as slave labor? Oh. Yeah. Those jobs. mmmk.

reply to post by TrueAmerican


If you don't like working, simply quit. Then you can give one of the many millions of unemployed a chance.

Hmm... Isn't France under a heightened terror threat? The Saudi's having indicated that "al qaeda" is planning something? But wait the nation is a standstill and they're running out of fuel and protests are running rampant...how long till martial law is declared and the citizens are being arrested for "terrorism". People forced back to work. Protest instigators and eventually rebellious thinkers will be round up by secret police. I mean didn't France just kick out a bunch of undesirable 'roma'? Doesn't the INS do the same to illegals... We're always just a step away from anarchy, or maybe I just look at things from a glass half empty perspective.

reply to post by the cynic jester


I thought the terror threat proved to be a hoax? And besides, I'm not sure you could tie France running out of gas because of massive strikes with a terror threat from CIAQueda. As alarmist as I am, I think that might be pushing it.

reply to post by TrueAmerican

TrueAmerican,

I was wondering when this would be put up. I only saw a report on that UK refinery blockade but all I hear on the local news is the situation in France. Air traffic is even avoiding France because it is getting harder to refuel.

I like there style and will give them big thumbs up for expressing their anger in this way. whether or not it is right is irrelevant, if you ask me. How else are you going to get a government to listen to you?

Hit them where it hurts....there cash flow. (without fuel.....not much flowing).

Peace

good, more gas for america.

French are so crazy!

Originally posted by camaro68ss
good, more gas for america.

Frence are so crazy

Who are the Frence??? How's your freedom fries from McHeartAttack in salt heaven??

reply to post by camaro68ss

camaro68ss,

Apathy can get you a lot of things as well, this is true!! Not always desired but at least you don't have to leave the couch...

Peace

reply to post by TrueAmerican


I hadn't heard about the hoax, good to know. This story is up on the BBC now. Running out of gas is a serious issue, I'm saying coupled with their recent French protests, the increased terror threat levels seen across Europe, and the political stance of the nations leaders...when the country stops working how long until it's a threat to national security?

Originally posted by john124

Originally posted by camaro68ss
good, more gas for america.

Frence are so crazy

Who are the Frence??? How's your freedom fries from McHeartAttack in salt heaven??

edit on 18-10-2010 by john124 because: (no reason given)

There i fixed it, FRENCH! fries are good i guess, i have not had them in a long time. I like the nuggets better!

Gas stations ran short or dry, while truckers jammed highway traffic Monday by driving at a snail's pace, a tactic known in French as "operation escargot."

www.deseretnews.com...



God, I hate to laugh in a time of crisis for those people, but jeez...

"operation escargot?"

On a more somber note:

Many in France consider retiring at 60 a pillar of France's hard-won social contract — and fear this is just the first step in eroding their often-envied quality of life. Critics say President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to adopt an "American-style capitalist" system and claim the government could find pension savings elsewhere, such as by raising contributions from employers.

The protests in France come as countries across Europe are cutting spending and raising taxes to bring down record deficits and debts from the worst recession in 70 years.

Hehe, sounds to me like it's about time the American people won a similar social contract to reduce the retirement age down to 60. Hell, McDonalds insured that none of us would make it past 55 anyway.

reply to post by the cynic jester

I'M running both my renaults on vegetable oil now, olive oil to be precise, it's fine if you dont have a turbo.
and it smells better.
revolutions gotta start somewhere.
I'll never call the french "cheese eating surrender monkeys" again.

reply to post by TrueAmerican

"operation escargot?"

Yep, "operation escargot". And it's not some rare occurrence, it's every year. Especially around black Saturday......

Try enjoying an 18-hour traffic jam with three screaming kids in the backseat "en route" to your holiday destination.....

But I take it in stride because it is such a beautiful demonstration of the phrase "power to the people". I'm from the Netherlands and we are no strangers to striking when we don't agree but the French have made it into an art form.

Peace

Originally posted by TrueAmerican
reply to post by Joshuadrooney

 

Well, at least the french people have the nerve to stick it out till the end, even if it means they can't drive because there is no gas. Be grateful for the jobs they have? Oh, you mean those jobs otherwise known as slave labor? Oh. Yeah. Those jobs. mmmk.

What exactly is that slave labor people are complaining about?

reply to post by wutone

Wutone,

About having to work two years longer than was promised. Yeah I know it's only two years but it is the principle that matters!! Just like standing up to your government when they take a little bit of your freedom away in exchange for security......(hint)

Peace

reply to post by Joshuadrooney


If they quit like you suggest they will not have the full pension payment

think about it 2 sec..

If average life expectancy is 80.7 in France

then IMO, one should be given the option to retire at 53.8 years old.

My reasoning?

You should spend 1/3rd of your life Learning
You should spend 1/3rd of your life Working
And the final 1/3rd of your life Retired/Civil Society

26.9 learning
26.9 working
26.9 retired


By my reasoning, Cubans would get to retire before Americans also.








But yeah there is so little coverage of this, in Australian media in any case, perhaps the idea of civil disobedience is too scary for some. And its usually when you start affecting things like the fuel etc, that the powers that be cave... So lets see.

reply to post by TrueAmerican


The French seem to have more guts and unity than Americans thats for sure. Here we are letting big business take everything away, while the retarded response from Americas are that unions / unity is bad. Next time you are in traffic look at the faces of the people around you. Fear. Scared they are going to be late for work, scared someone will take away there job, so scared we are ready to take scraps and be glad to get them! While the elite dance on out backs most of you scream for trickle down economics!!

We get what we deserve, I just wish I was not caught in the storm most of the brainwashed masses have let happen.