A free monthly review of French news & trends VOL. 10.08 OCTOBER 30 France Passes Law Banning Facial Concealment in Public France passed a law in early October banning the public wearing of garments that cover the professional grounds, face, declaring that "No one shall, in any public space, wear clothing designed to conceal the or is part of artistic or face." The legislation is the result of a year-long earnest debate held throughout France led traditional festivities by a bipartisan commission of 32 members of Parliament. The commission interviewed or events." dozens of human rights associations, women's rights associations, legal scholars, specialists Although ratified of the Islamic world, and Muslim faith associations, including the French Muslim Faith this October, the law Council and the Great Mosque of Paris. will not be enforced The statute does not target any one group of people, but rather addresses several areas of for another six social concern in a broad manner. Throughout the consultation, various schools of thought months. The interim were weighed and a consensus was formed around two prevailing elements. First, conceal- period is intended to ing the face in public runs counter to the values of the Republic, specifically relating to pub- allow for "mediation lic policy.The latter covers not only the demands of security,but also the rules of sociability between the public France passed legislation in early October that prohibits wearing garments that cover the face in public. (facilitating open social dialogue between peers in which citizens are easily identifiable) and authorities and the public service (complying with certain administrative formalities: marriage, trials, etc.), persons likely to be concerned by [the] statute." Starting next spring,any person found to be among others. Secondly, the full-face veil is not a universal religious obligation and is only in violation of the law could face up to a 150-euro fine, while any person found to violate the worn by a minority of Muslim women throughout the world. Conversely,the law includes "dignity of[a] human being" by compelling "another person,by reason ofthe sex ofthat per- several exemptions and shall not apply "if such clothing is prescribed by law or regulations, son, to conceal their face" could be sentenced to up to a year in prison and receive a 15,000- or is authorized to ensure the anonymity of the person involved, is justified on medical or euro fine. Smashing Reception for New dietary elements. "Smashable" foods include pizza, hamburgers, sodas, milkshakes, and jelly Children's Nutrition Game doughnuts. On September 29, "Smash Your Franco-American "serious game" designer Food Food" was honored at a White House award N' Me, in collaboration with French public service ceremony with an honorable mention in the institution Universcience, has produced an award- games division of the "Apps for Healthy Kids" winning internet game to educate children and competition, held as part of First Lady Michelle their families about healthy eating habits. Obama's nation-wide campaign, "Let's Move." The game, called "Smash Your Food™," is the Food N' Me will continue collaboration first of many planned game releases, and was with Universcience, the institution responsible inspired out of a recent collaboration between for the current "Bon Appétit" children's nutri- the two organizations. In the game, users are tion exhibit at the Cité des sciences et de l'in- encouraged to manipulate a large mechanical dustrie in Paris, to "bring scientific consultation press to literally "smash" unhealthy food items, © Food N’ Me and expertise to the production of Food N' exposing the amount of sugar, salt, and oil in Me™." those foods. The results are then compared “Smash Your Food” received an honorable mention in For more information and to play Smash against the recommended daily amounts of these First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign. Your Food, please visit: www.foodnme.com. Recent Retirement Reforms in France INSIDE The French Parliament is debating a reform of the country's pension sys- the system to balance itself. Although 2 Current Events tem. To be implemented gradually by 2018, the controversial new law will plans to rebalance the ratio of workers to Ocean Exploration raise the legal age at which citizens may retire from 60 to 62. Conversely, retirees have been met with strong oppo- 3 France & America provided they meet the minimum level of contributions, those who began sition, the French system is currently fac- France and North Carolina working at the age of 18 will not be affected by the increase in the legal ing a major obstacle: due to the advanc- retirement age. Additionally, the legislature will, by 2023, progressively ing age of the Baby Boom generation, the 4 In Depth increase the age at which a person is entitled to receive a full pension from ratio of workers to retirees is a strained France’s Best Craftsmen 65 to 67. 1.8: 1, as opposed to the 4:1 ratio in 1960. 5 Business & Tech The pension reform introduces, for the first time in Europe, recognition The economic and financial crisis that hit Paris Motor Show of the long-term tolls of strenuous labor. In practical terms, those who have the world accelerated and exacerbated the 6 Society had physically grueling jobs can retire at 60. For senior citizens, the pension existing deficits. In 2010, one pension in First Carbonated Fountain reform makes provision for the creation of a system to offer recruitment 10 is paid by government credit, further assistance to job seekers over the age of 55. increasing public debt. Without reforms, 7 Culture In the French pension system, contributions from those who work pay the the government projects that its deficit New Light on Impressionism pension of those who are retired. To guarantee the success of the system, the from pensions alone could reach 45 bil- 8 France in America ratio of workers to retirees must be stable, requiring the input and output of lion euros by 2020. French Art in Nashville En bref [ Current Events ] PUBLISHER METRO INTERNATIONAL LOOKS TO EXPAND IN FRANCE Symposium on Ocean Exploration, Governance and Discovery In an age when some The Embassy of France held a sympo- Elizabeth Moore ofthe National Oceanic traditional sium on Ocean Exploration,Governance and Atmospheric Administration media out- and Ten Years of Discovery on October (NOAA). lets are scal- 19. The Symposium brought together Finally,Jesse Ausubel, Director of the ing back pro- distinguished guests from NGOs, think Program for the Human Environment at duction, tanks, universities, and federal agencies to © CNRS/ Elodie Domenge Rockefeller University, presented the global pub- provide insights on current marine bio- Census of Marine Life (CoML) findings. lisher of free commuter dailies, Metro diversity issues, from scientific explo- The CoML (www.coml.org) is a decade- International SA, recently launched ration to international governance. long project began in 2000, which three new dailies in France. With the Guest speakers from France included brought together 2,700 scientists from addition of free publications in Metz, Olli Barbé from Galatée Films, who worked for six years on Jacques more than 80 nations to assess and explain the diversity,distribution, Nancy, and Toulon, Metro papers Perrin's film Océans.Philippe Lebaron,director ofthe Marine Station and abundance of life in the oceans. The symposium marked the are now available in 15 major in Banyuls-sur-Mer; Philippe Bouchet, of the French National first time the CoML findings were released in the United States. French cities. In partnership with Museum of Natural History; and Philippe Goulletquer of Ifremer The symposium was organized by the Office for Science & local television broadcast company also gave presentations on marine biodiversity exploration. Technology at the Embassy of France in partnership with the French TF1, Metro has begun distribution U.S. guest speakers included Ron O'Dor from the Consortium National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). The event was fol- of 60,000 additional copies of its for Ocean Leadership; Michael Vecchione, curator of the Sant Ocean lowed by a reception at the Smithsonian Institution's NMNH, with a Parisian edition, while undisclosed Hall at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH); and screening of Jacques Perrin's film Océans. production increases in Toulouse and Nice aim to bolster Metro's position in the south of France, France Welcomes 2010 Women's Forum Global Meeting where Metro is already the top free The coastal city ofDeauville,France,welcomed female leaders in cor- Engagement Team at Goldman Sachs, Anne Black, and the Video publication. In a statement from porate and public spheres from around the world for the 6th annual and New Media Director-Producer for Barack Obama's 2008 Metro, the company laid out its Women's Forum Global Meeting. Held from October 13 - 16, the Presidential Campaign, Kate Albright-Hanna. The meeting was goals for the expansion: "The aim is theme of this year's forum was "Change: Make it Happen." attended by over 1,200 guests, a 20 percent increase from last year. to differentiate Metro from other Held at the Deauville International Center,the forum featured A key contributing factor to the event's success, according to players by…acquiring the best panel discussions, brainstorming sessions, and a variety of meet- organizers, was the innovative Discovery Program, introduced national coverage of free newspa- and-greet events