We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Monday, November 8, 2010

One million march in eighth national protest against Sarkozy’s pension law

by Antoine Lerougetel from World Socialist Web Site

It is very encouraging to see the French people continuing their fight against their right-wing government's plans for more social spending cuts. 
Over 1 million people marched Saturday in the eighth national day of action against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension cuts.
     Amiens: The banner reads: "Solidarity between generations"
 





















This on-the-scene report of the French protests appears to support Petras' thesis that the left politicos and union leaders are impeding the fightback. See also this analysis.