Photo of scarecrow at the 75th Foire Nationale aux Antiquites, a la Brocante et aux Jambons at Ile de Chatou. The brocante continues through October 7th.
Scarecrows? Halloween horror films? Pffft! This is what's scary and it's happening right in front of our eyes. Remember when a birth certificate and social security number were considered the definitive personal identification? Not anymore, if you're an immigrant coming to France: now you need a DNA test! The French Senate said the tests are voluntary - but will any immigration officer consider the appeal of someone who refuses a DNA test?
Anyway,you shouldn't worry, because the French government will pay for the test. Guess that makes it alright then - NOT! What's next, medical histories and implanted microchips? Where will this encroachment of personal privacy and civil liberties end?
Meanwhile, the French oil firm Total faces legal action for its alleged complicity with the military government of Burma. Read that horror story here. And Western diplomats have visited 15 monasteries in Burma, only to find them empty! Apparently, all the monks have been taken to prisons.
All these shenanigans make Halloween hobgoblins seem rather tame.
Photo of Burmese monks marching peacefully in silent protest against the military government courtesy of the US Campaign for Burma.
The group has called for global demonstrations on Saturday, October 6th to demand the United Nations Security Council take action on Burma.
Yes there seems to be a haunted world our there! Terror of some sort in every nook and cranny! It's exasperating...why can't people just play nice! It's all so sad...
Posted by: giggles | 05 October 2007 at 10:50
What to say about Burma...
So sad and incredible! Fortunately lots of people and ONGs in the world keep an eye and talk about this! It looks not enough though...I hope the news awake people a little more to oppose any kind of oppression and protect the weak just around them in everyday day life
Posted by: Catalina | 05 October 2007 at 09:31
almost every country "limits" or "choose" their immigrants, and then have a "quota" for refugees ( 4% in Canada some years ago, for example ) Then (I wish no frontiers, the Earth is every living been home) to me the problem is also "the way" to choose.
Thank you again Tara to talk of all these topics.
Un beso grande
Posted by: Catalina | 05 October 2007 at 09:25
I've been musing lately about the increasing popularity of blood and gore flicks, and thinking about how horror films have changed through the years. I used to be a big fan of them, now? Not so much.
But it seems to me that the more horrific the world becomes the uglier we need our movie horror to be just to get that same jolt we once could obtain from the sight of Boris Karloff's creature reaching for that little girl on the river bank. It's a sad statement on the condition of the collective unconscious, isn't it?
Posted by: dargie | 05 October 2007 at 08:46
Tara
Sad at the plight of the Burmese monks. What kind of world are we living in? I am disgusted at how the innocent are victimized, how can you gun down a monk in the street for simply walking?
Mum and I went to see the Dalai Lama two years ago. Before the venue would let us all in there was a security issue. They were making the audience wait outside in the hail and cold rain.
Saffron robed monks saw us standing there freezing, there must have been about four or five of them, and they walked over to mum and I and huddled around us and started to keep us warm. They totally cocooned us. Smiling and giggling like little kids, not at all complaining about their circumstances. They taught us one of our biggest lessons that day. We are grateful to have met those monks, and not because they kept us warm.
xo
Gillian
Posted by: Gillian @ Indigo Blue | 05 October 2007 at 04:38
If you want to tackle such sbjects as DNA testing , you should be fair, or better informed, and give the full picture.
- DNA testing wll only be done at immigrant request and approved by a judge.
- testing can only be made to prove filiation mother-child. Not father-child.
- What other recourse do you suggest for people coming from countries where there are no such things as "birth certificates" or "social security number " ?
- did you mention that 12 other countries in the EU already practice DNA testing for immigrants when needed ?
Tara responds:
Some other countries use DNA testing only in extreme circumstances where there is no proof of identity; certainly it is not a widespread practice. I did not write a definitive piece about the French legislation, as it just passed yesterday - I linked to other news articles and provided my opinion. The concern for opponents of the bill is that the French are limiting the DNA test requirement primarily to African countries, which smacks of racism. Opponents of the bill also are worried about the invasion of privacy and civil liberties of would-be immigrants - but perhaps that is the price immigrants must be prepared to pay if they want to live in France. Of course authorities say the DNA test is voluntary - but do you really expect an immigrant's application to be considered without such a test, now that this bill has been approved?
Posted by: Alain Q. | 05 October 2007 at 03:46
Hi Tara,
I noticed a call to boycott Chevron as a means to voice outrage. It was on Daily Kos; I have a link up at stoney moss. There is a French firm who supports the junta, as well as other international firms. Perhaps others will do something like this.
I can't link so follow my name to my blog or Google "Daily Kos Burma" and you should be able to find the information. There's a mass-call-into the head of Chevron planned for October 9th.
Posted by: ...deb | 05 October 2007 at 03:01
I'm not deep enough to comment on this one Tara but I have to say that each time I come to your blog I am in bewildered awe at the depth and content of your photos. Bravo.
Posted by: Rach | 05 October 2007 at 00:24
That is horrible about the monks!
:(
Posted by: Amber | 05 October 2007 at 00:05
I just signed a petition calling on Burma's powerful ally China and the UN security council to step in and pressure Burma's rulers to stop the killing. The petition has exploded to 600,000 signatures in a few days and is being advertised in newspapers around the world, delivered to the UN secretary general and broadcast to the Burmese people by radio. We're trying to get to 1 million signatures this week, please sign below and tell everyone!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/tf.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK
Posted by: studio wellspring | 04 October 2007 at 23:38
It's truly frightening, when real life news is as horrifying as anything you'd see on Halloween.
Since the linked article mentioned that immigrants would have to prove their families could support them (and that they would be able to find employment) when they arrived in France. does that mean the DNA tests are meant to prove potential immigrants are really related to their family members who are already living in France...which still begs the question, what about those who might be adopted?! No matter what excuse they're giving, it seems it's still one more unnecessary invasion of privacy - one I hope and pray the U.S. never thinks of employing. It just opens the door to the possibility of so many potential misuses of the information - and where human beings are involved, sooner or later, abuses are almost certain to happen.
The situation in Burma is too horrifying for words - even calling it barbaric, makes it sound too civilized. I can't believe how humanity seems to be devolving in the world right now. After all the horrors throughout history, you'd think we'd have learned something by now. Humanity should have reached the point where it could do better than this...
Peace.
Posted by: tinker | 04 October 2007 at 22:32
dna...are they ethnic cleansing...what are they trying to rule out???...blessings, rebecca
Posted by: Cre8Tiva | 04 October 2007 at 21:31
what a weird id control in france!! i guess it's linked to the inspiration of monsieur sarkozy. get prepared tara, he will have some more surprise coming out of his sleeves in the coming years. just a scary little man!
have to think twice now before settling in provence...
Posted by: marita | 04 October 2007 at 18:13
What do you think the French Gov is really getting at?
What is the deeper meaning?
Tara responds:
The words "limiting immigration" come to mind.
Posted by: rochambeau | 04 October 2007 at 18:03
Salut! I study design in Brasil and I just loved everything here...all these antiquitys, details and poems brings me a smell of something I can't even recognize...what a dream to travel collecting smells, thoughts, conceptions, filling the eyes and the heart!
Can I link you with the related blogs of my page?
Baiser =)
Posted by: Cami | 04 October 2007 at 15:36
ooh, it is such a sad state of affairs for so many across the globe and so much of it by another human's hand! but i digress...
i have found you via Di at Designers Block and i have enjoyed my visit. your blog and your photographs are lovely. i can not wait to return to paris next year. i wish we could stay for good! i will have to pay you a daily visit here instead.
Posted by: designdna | 04 October 2007 at 15:15
Mon Dieu!!! I love the title of the article and the word "controversial". That's putting it very mildly indeed. I'm all for screening and having specific requirements for entering a country to live, but DNA testing?? I could just picture how well that would go over here in Canada where we welcome the world and it's relatives, with our loose almost "no questions asked" policies!!
Posted by: Cherie | 04 October 2007 at 15:04
Tara,
My friends 3rd generation French husband took his French passport, French Drivers License, French Birth Certificate...etc..etc to renew his "State ID Card". They turned him away telling him he did not prove he was 'French'! Oh France...gotta love it!!!
Posted by: My Melange | 04 October 2007 at 13:20