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Tag: France

Pieter Wezeman the 42 year old Dutch Senior researcher with the SIPRI Arms Transfer Programme with expertise in Arms flows and procurements claims the Asian states are the largest of the arms buyers of the world. In an article published on the Press Service News Agency, Thalif Deen following his interview with Wezeman states “China, India and South Korea – three of the most vibrant economies in Asia – are also beefing up their military arsenals with new weapons systems from the United States, Russia, Germany, France and the UK… beating out the traditional frontrunners – the rich, oil-blessed Middle Eastern countries. India was the world’s single largest recipient of arms, accounting for 10 per cent of global arms imports, followed by South Korea (six per cent of arms transfers), Pakistan (five per cent), China (five per cent) and Singapore (four per cent). The five biggest arms suppliers in 2007-2011 were the United States, Russia, Germany, France and the UK. With the exception of Germany, the four other suppliers are veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council. The top five suppliers accounted for 75 per cent of all international arms transfers.”

 

Inspired by Thalif Deen http://ow.ly/a6WSs image source Thella Johnson http://ow.ly/a6Xiy

Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona the 45 year old French former international footballer and current film actor affectionately nicknamed “King Eric”, has declared he will be a candidate in the 2012 French presidential election. Cantona has written to the mayors throughout France to gain the 500 signatures required to campaign for election, with his primary aim to give social housing a priority in the campaign, with support to homeless charities. Cantona had previously in 2010 called for a social revolution with a run on the major retail banks, encouraging bank customers to withdraw their funds in protest at the global financial crisis. Cantona’s call was labeled irresponsible and misguided, and his call was not taken up after condemnation from politicians and bankers due to the potentially disastrous outcomes if pursued. In the letter to the French mayors, Cantona stated he is “a citizen very much aware of our times” and he needed to speak out “at a time when our country faces difficult choices”.

 

Inspired by France 24 http://ow.ly/8BOYG image source Georges Biard http://ow.ly/8BP53

Anri Sala the 37 year old Albanian artist renowned for his favored medium in video has been announced as a representative for France at the 2013 Venice Biennale. Sala is currently based in Paris, represented by Hauser & Wirth Gallery along with the Marian Goodman Gallery. Sala studied video production at the French Ecole Nationale des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and film direction in Le Fresnoy-Studio National des Arts Contemporains, Tourcoing. Sala currently has a video installation titled ‘Dammi i colori’ (Give me the colors) on display at the London Tate Modern. The installation explores the colour transformation of his hometown Tirana in 2003. The installation includes a discussion between Sala and a personal friend Edi Rama, the Mayor of Tirana. Daniel Birnbaum wrote in Artforum in 2004 that Sala “is an expert in creating mesmerizing forms of repetition that produce strange states of mind, but he never goes so far as to cause pain.”

 

Inspired by Artinfo http://ht.ly/8qZp9 image source http://ow.ly/8tPHX

Michel Neyret the 55 year old French ‘Super-cop’, the deputy police chief of Lyon, France’s second largest city, has been charged with associating with criminals and supplying drugs to informants. Neyret, while highly respected for his effective methods in reducing violent and drug crimes, is renowned for his glamorous social lifestyle. Neyret admitted he may have been just “imprudent” when accepting a trip to Morocco and the use of a Ferrari from significant crime figures. Neyret claims that he is not corrupt but just portrayed that way, but is now suspended from duties and remanded into custody after phone taps related to international drug investigations suggested otherwise. Neyret is accused of corrupt activities including drug trafficking and associating with criminals. Five other police officers are also under investigation raising larger issues of ethics within the National Police Force.

 

Inspired by Tony Todd http://ow.ly/6TuYL image source rtl.be http://ow.ly/6TuIB

Yevgenii Nikolaevich Prilepin the 36 year old Russian writer and political dissident known as Zahar Prilepin has been the subject of an article published by Owen Matthews, who describes Priepin’s writing as “dark and violent, yet it shines with a Tolstoy-like faith in the Russian people”. Priepin a former military commander of the brutal OMON unit was subjected to howls of protest following remarks at a literary festival in France when he matter-of-factly stated “All I can say is that the Russian soldier has a natural talent for fighting and he’s ready to demonstrate that skill in any European country you like”. Priepin now heads the local branch of the banned National Bolshevik Party, is an admirer of the assassinated investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, and despises the “thieves” in the Kremlin particularly Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Inspired by Owen Matthews ow.ly/69b0I image source Serj Nickel ow.ly/69bc9 In Russia everything has been destroyed (August 30 2011)

Yevgenii Nikolaevich Prilepin the 36 year old Russian writer and political dissident known as Zahar Prilepin has been the subject of an article published by Owen Matthews, who describes Priepin’s writing as “dark and violent, yet it shines with a Tolstoy-like faith in the Russian people”. Priepin a former military commander of the brutal OMON unit was subjected to howls of protest following remarks at a literary festival in France when he matter-of-factly stated “All I can say is that the Russian soldier has a natural talent for fighting and he’s ready to demonstrate that skill in any European country you like”. Priepin now heads the local branch of the banned National Bolshevik Party, is an admirer of the assassinated investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, and despises the “thieves” in the Kremlin particularly Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

 

Inspired by Owen Matthews http://ow.ly/69b0I image source Serj Nickel http://ow.ly/69bc9

Benoit Julien de Pommerol a French military chaplain stationed in Afghanistan has been reassigned to the French Antilles following accusations of Islamophobia in a report he wrote published on the internet. In the report de Pommerol denounced the French army’s deference to Islam as “babouche-licking”, citing examples including of a female soldier forced to wear a head covering veil and preparation of religious feasts for nationals. The French army officials rejected de Pommerol’s accusations claiming “it’s a matter of courtesy, common sense and education to respect other people’s religion” attempting to try and “earn acceptance by respecting local customs” and were specific decisions “made in a specific operational context.” The report has played into the national sensitivities that have grown towards Islam in France, resulting in tense anti-islamic reactions. Inspired by Nathalie Guibert ow.ly/5DfX4  image source Military Photos ow.ly/5DfIJ Accused the army of babouche-licking (July 26 2011)

Benoit Julien de Pommerol a French military chaplain stationed in Afghanistan has been reassigned to the French Antilles following accusations of Islamophobia in a report he wrote published on the internet. In the report de Pommerol denounced the French army’s deference to Islam as “babouche-licking”, citing examples including of a female soldier forced to wear a head covering veil and preparation of religious feasts for nationals. The French army officials rejected de Pommerol’s accusations claiming “it’s a matter of courtesy, common sense and education to respect other people’s religion” attempting to try and “earn acceptance by respecting local customs” and were specific decisions “made in a specific operational context.” The report has played into the national sensitivities that have grown towards Islam in France, resulting in tense anti-islamic reactions.

 

Inspired by Nathalie Guibert http://ow.ly/5DfX4  image source Military Photos http://ow.ly/5DfIJ

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