French youth are rioting...big time

Turn to Fox News Channel to see live feed...but here's the story

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,189301,00.html

200,000 Join Labor Protest in France
Tuesday, March 28, 2006

French Legislation May Kick Apple's iPod Out of Country
PARIS — Nationwide strikes disrupted airline, train and bus services, and sent more than 200,000 protesters into the streets across France on Tuesday as unions joined in solidarity with students angered by a new youth labor law.

As public pressure mounted amid the largest demonstrations yet against the controversial employment contract, cracks appeared within the conservative government.

In a clear break with Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy suggested that the measure be suspended to allow talks with unions.

Paris and other cities deployed thousands of police to prevent a possible resurgence of violence that marred previous demonstrations against the law, which would make it easier for companies to fire young workers. Protest marches took place in scores of cities and towns.

"We have to defend the rights that were won by our ancestors and which the current government is trying to take away," said Maxime Ourly, a literature student who joined tens of thousands protesting on Paris' Left Bank.

Students and labor unions say the law will erode France's cherished workplace protections. Set to take effect next month, it would let companies fire employees younger than 26 without reason in the first two years on the job.

Even with huge marches under way, Villepin held firm. He told parliament that he was open to talks on employment and possible changes to the law but did not say that he would withdraw it.

"Only in action will we convince all of the French that tomorrow can be better than today," he said, loudly heckled by opposition politicians.

Villepin says the greater flexibility will encourage companies to hire young workers, who face a 22 percent unemployment rate — the highest in Western Europe. But as protests have grown, his government — and chances of running for the presidency next year — have appeared increasingly fragile.

Sarkozy, who is also seeking to be the conservative camp's presidential candidate, told a meeting of lawmakers from the ruling UMP party that the law should not go into force as long as talks to resolve the crisis are still possible, his aides said.

Villepin's sputtering effort at reform underscores the dilemma facing many countries in Europe that have lush jobs protections and social safety nets under threat by competition from fast-rising Asian economies with cheaper labor and fewer workplace protections.

According to police estimates, 31,000 marched Tuesday in the southwestern city of Bordeaux, 28,000 in the southern port city of Marseille, 26,000 in the Alpine city of Grenoble, 17,000 in Lyon and more than 120,000 in nearly a dozen other cities and towns.

Protesters in Paris said they wanted to defend the status quo.

"We are here for our children. We are very worried about what will happen to them," said Philippe Decrulle, an Air France flight attendant. "My son is 23, and he has no job. That is normal in France."

Light rain did not dampen the festive atmosphere, with red union flags and balloons floating over the marchers and stands selling sausages.

Police were deployed, as the authorities feared a repeat of the violence at a march last week when suburban youths attacked peaceful demonstrators and officers.

Sarkozy, meeting with police before the Paris march began, urged them to arrest as many troublemakers as possible.

"It will be another difficult day. You will be judged on the number of arrests and on your cool," he said.

The State Department advised Americans in France to avoid areas where crowds were expected to gather and to exercise caution, particularly at night.

The strike slowed train, plane, subway and bus services across the country to a fraction of their normal levels. It was the first time that unions had ordered walkouts in solidarity with students spearheading protests against the job contract.

National newspapers were not on sale at newsstands, and radio and television broadcasts were limited. About a third of public school teachers and other education workers also were on strike.

France's top five labor union federations also refused Villepin's invitation to meet Wednesday for talks, insisting that he shelve the contract first.

President Jacques Chirac canceled a planned trip Tuesday to the northern port city of Le Havre "in light of events," his office said.

France is pretty screwed up now.

you could have just stopped at... "France" but yes i agree