French fishermen block English Channel ports

[Fade]

French fishermen block English Channel ports
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS - French fishermen blockaded three major ports on the English Channel for a second day Wednesday, cutting European distribution routes, stranding travellers and costing ferry companies lucrative business.

The blockade of Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne-sur-Mer was the latest display of frustration by workers in France, who have sequestered bosses, marched through Paris and gone on hunger strike in recent weeks and months to protest the economic downturn.

Trawlers blocked ships from entering or leaving the ports. Passengers and freight trucks seeking to cross the channel to England stayed overnight in the ports after the blockade began Tuesday.

The fishermen are protesting catch quotas they call too low for them to earn a living. They say they plan to continue blocking the northern French ports indefinitely.Article continued at http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2009/04/15/9120861-ap.html

[BritSig]

I know striking is only the preserve of a few French and not the majority but why is it there always seems to be some kind of strike in France, I believe the last was the farmers (Prepared to be corrected on this one).

Im not a fan of the french and i know my views are biased, however, it seems apparent the striking teddy gets thrown in the corner far more than other EU countries, why?

BritSig.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

Im not a fan of the french and i know my views are biased, however, it seems apparent the striking teddy gets thrown in the corner far more than other EU countries, why?

BritSig.Or maybe they have got bigger balls than the rest of us. Our display's of simpering handwringing when we have been let down badly by our masters never gets us anywhere maybe a blockade or two would get their attention.p-)

[a_very_ex_STAB]

One wonders when the French fishermen and farmers ever actually find time to fit any fishing and farming into their hectic EU taxpayer-funded protesting and teddy-throwing schedules :roll:

[Connaught Ranger]

Ah! a little of the Trafalgar Spirit is needed.

Whats the optimum ramming speed on a cross channel ferry these days?p-)

[Bulletproof]

I know striking is only the preserve of a few French and not the majority but why is it there always seems to be some kind of strike in France, I believe the last was the farmers (Prepared to be corrected on this one).

Im not a fan of the french and i know my views are biased, however, it seems apparent the striking teddy gets thrown in the corner far more than other EU countries, why?

BritSig.

Well at least when they are against something, they stand for it. Here, we fight from our living room and complain to the tv.

[Panchito12]

I know striking is only the preserve of a few French and not the majority but why is it there always seems to be some kind of strike in France, I believe the last was the farmers (Prepared to be corrected on this one).

Im not a fan of the french and i know my views are biased, however, it seems apparent the striking teddy gets thrown in the corner far more than other EU countries, why?

BritSig.

Pull the ol' "Freedom Fries" boycott. I did.

Not that I agreed with Bush's policies, but I really did not like Chirac's backhanded actions.

Ever since.....NO FRENCH PRODUCTS FOR ME!!

Complete boycott since 2003woot

[Bulletproof]

..... What you rolled over french mustard with a tractor and dumped wine in the canal after the refusal of France to take part in the Irak war?

[Arfah]

We need a gung ho navy to step in and take these fisherman on !

In fact, we need to contract in a couple of dozen Somalis !

[Bulletproof]

We need a gung ho navy to step in and take these fisherman on !

In fact, we need to contract in a couple of dozen Somalis !

Or Rainbow Warrior style.

[a_very_ex_STAB]

We need a gung ho navy to step in and take these fisherman on !

In fact, we need to contract in a couple of dozen Somalis !

There's probably quite a few in London who could be gainfully employed in the socially useful pursuit of offing a few Froggies on the high seas.

But it would have to be on a strict payment for results basis - maybe they could bring back heads?

[Panchito12]

..... What you rolled over french mustard with a tractor and dumped wine in the canal after the refusal of France to take part in the Irak war?

Only ketchup & Spanish wine for me!

[Mordoror]

Pull the ol' "Freedom Fries" boycott. I did.

Not that I agreed with Bush's policies, but I really did not like Chirac's backhanded actions.

Ever since.....NO FRENCH PRODUCTS FOR ME!!

Complete boycott since 2003woot

I knew you were an ass**** .... and it explains a lot of thing when you post something related about the French military



Now for F*** sack somebody explains me the How Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer ended up to be written in the same sentence that the English Channel

because when i read "three major port of the English Channel are blocked by French Fishermen i clearly expected something like Dover/Southampton/Nowheven to be blocked here !!
Question for our english fellow (any joke aside) is it normal that the Channel in front of the French ports was called English Channel or is it like i am fully entitled to think just a BS way to make the event more attractive to english readers that usually don't care a sh*** about what happens in French ports

[a_very_ex_STAB]

I knew you were an ass**** .... and it explains a lot of thing when you post something related about the French military



Now for F*** sack somebody explains me the How Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer ended up to be written in the same sentence that the English Channel

because when i read "three major port of the English Channel are blocked by French Fishermen i clearly expected something like Dover/Southampton/Nowheven to be blocked here !!
Question for our english fellow (any joke aside) is it normal that the Channel in front of the French ports was called English Channel or is it like i am fully entitled to think just a BS way to make the event more attractive to english readers that usually don't care a sh*** about what happens in French ports

It's only the Frogs who call it La Manche. If the OP called it that no one would know what it's about. The ROTW call it the English Channel. Get over it or we'll repeat Trafalgar on your Froggy arse.:)

[gustav]

I knew you were an ass**** .... and it explains a lot of thing when you post something related about the French military



Now for F*** sack somebody explains me the How Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer ended up to be written in the same sentence that the English Channel

because when i read "three major port of the English Channel are blocked by French Fishermen i clearly expected something like Dover/Southampton/Nowheven to be blocked here !!
Question for our english fellow (any joke aside) is it normal that the Channel in front of the French ports was called English Channel or is it like i am fully entitled to think just a BS way to make the event more attractive to english readers that usually don't care a sh*** about what happens in French ports


Jesus I hadn't noticed that either:bash:

I thought these were english ports the fishermen were blocking. :cantbeli:

[a_very_ex_STAB]

The only realistic long-term solution for this situation is for Calais to be handed back to its rightful rulers - the English crown.

Then British commerce won't be affected every time the Frogs get asked to do some work.

[Mordoror]

Jesus I hadn't noticed that either:bash:

I thought these were english ports the fishermen were blocking. :cantbeli:

Loool
was expectable....



It's only the Frogs who call it La Manche. If the OP called it that no one would know what it's about. The ROTW call it the English Channel. Get over it or we'll repeat Trafalgar on your Froggy arse.:)

Cultural misunderstanding from our side then
No need for Trafalgar again ..... i leave you the icy/stormy/foggy waters of the Channel p-) as long as you keep you Beef pale skin out of my warmy/sunny and full of babes southern coast :)

[Nige]

What does it matter if the ports are blockaded? Simply use the tunnel we spent so much money on. With the extortionate fees charged, the tunnel operators could pay back the tax payers money spent on bailing out the project :)

If the farmers block the tunnel, send a couple of Challenger 2s down first...

[Hyde]

I know striking is only the preserve of a few French and not the majority but why is it there always seems to be some kind of strike in France, I believe the last was the farmers (Prepared to be corrected on this one).

Im not a fan of the french and i know my views are biased, however, it seems apparent the striking teddy gets thrown in the corner far more than other EU countries, why?

BritSig.

Because they have invented the Republic and they know that "governments" are not there to govern them but to do what the people want from them. So whenever the government does something wrong, the people affected by it fight for their rights.


Pull the ol' "Freedom Fries" boycott. I did.
Ever since.....NO FRENCH PRODUCTS FOR ME!!

Complete boycott since 2003woot

You do realize "French Fries" are actually invented in Belgium? And you do realize that they are not "French product" but are produced by every kind of company/restaurant/takeaway in every country of the world? So you are not doing any harm to the french industry but only to your own. But if you feel good about it, just go on being "smart"...

[BritSig]

Because they have invented the Republic and they know that "governments" are not there to govern them but to do what the people want from them. So whenever the government does something wrong, the people affected by it fight for their rights.

So let me get this right...

The French fisherman are not happy with the fact the recession is causing the price of fish to drop and that the EU has reduced the fishing quota?

Because to me thats just plain stupid to block ports in protest!!

a) You prevent comerece and money from coming into the country.

b) Its an EU imposed quota which the french goverment had nothing to do with, also if they fish hard to day they will be redundant in 10 years when the fish run out!!!

Long live the republic, sounds great! Why cry about spilt milk? Clean it up and move on!

BritSig

[a_very_ex_STAB]

Loool
was expectable....




Cultural misunderstanding from our side then
No need for Trafalgar again ..... i leave you the icy/stormy/foggy waters of the Channel p-) as long as you keep you Beef pale skin out of my warmy/sunny and full of babes southern coast :)

I think we've already been there and tried out your overrated cuisine. Isn't there a Boulevard des Anglais in Nice? ;-)

I prefer Italy anyway - the food is better, the locals are friendly and the women are better looking.

[Arfah]

i leave you the icy/stormy/foggy waters of the Channel p-) as long as you keep you Beef pale skin out of my warmy/sunny and full of babes southern coast :)

You mean the 'Mittelmeer coast ?' p-)

As has already been stated, the French refer to our stretch of water as 'La Manche' I don't have a problem with that, you could call it Pierre for all I care.

I do think that every time the EU sets down rules and laws the first thing French protesters do is attack free trade of the UK. (seems convenient that the strike has occurred over Easter)
I find it even more annoying that we aren't boycotting French Ports and using Belgium instead.

Entente Cordiale ? Non merci ! :)

[Hyde]

So let me get this right...

The French fisherman are not happy with the fact the recession is causing the price of fish to drop and that the EU has reduced the fishing quota?

Because to me thats just plain stupid to block ports in protest!!

a) You prevent comerece and money from coming into the country.

b) Its an EU imposed quota which the french goverment had nothing to do with, also if they fish hard to day they will be redundant in 10 years when the fish run out!!!

Long live the republic, sounds great! Why cry about spilt milk? Clean it up and move on!

BritSig

They are not happy with the fishing quota because the reduced amount of fish they are allowed to catch is not enough for them to live, so why "get over it" and go to work if your work is not going to pay off? By blocking the ports not only france but all EU companies which export via those ports are affected, but it is not about the practical thing of the protest, it is about rising awareness. And that they have achieved.

[Mordoror]

So let me get this right...

The French fisherman are not happy with the fact the recession is causing the price of fish to drop and that the EU has reduced the fishing quota?

Because to me thats just plain stupid to block ports in protest!!

a) You prevent comerece and money from coming into the country.

b) Its an EU imposed quota which the french goverment had nothing to do with, also if they fish hard to day they will be redundant in 10 years when the fish run out!!!you are quite right here
howere as said by MareCare the French strike tradition (a long lasting one) is the way the people have to be listen (if not heard) by the politicians here

the fact is that in France the "syndicats" (transl ?) are not as powerful and united that in Germany for example. So as they have very few power (relatively) and they don't represent the corporations (being fishers/peasants/nurses or any thing you can think about) in their totality, the people are more entitled to strike in order and hope to be heard by the gov

the issue here is to put the pressure on the french representants at the EU to change the quotas or to give directly some help in order to balance what will be lost with the price and quota drop
i agree with you that given the fact that it is a EU decision it is almost hopeless to change it at the EU level.....but perhaps the fishermens will get compensations from the French gov.
Anyway you have to see the strikes not like events that are done only for fun but much more like a lobby action
In England your lobbies are more entitled to work "undercover" between the walls of the big institutions....In France we have weak lobbies but the people make its own lobby when he feels the need for it

[ilmakas]

It's only the Frogs who call it La Manche. If the OP called it that no one would know what it's about.

heh, it's not much but in estonian it's also called La Manche.quick wiki search shows that italians, spaniards and russians call it also La Manche.

[PUG]

Only ketchup & Spanish wine for me!

All this blockade nonsense aside, why on earth would you limit yourself to just Spanish wines? Fair enough a nice 20 year old Rioja goes down nicely but there are greater things out there. Why not stretch yourself to some of the New World's finest? A New Zealand Pinot Grigio would be a good start if you were to have it with something along the lines of risotto. South African Sauvignon Blanc? Expensive Pinot Noirs? Even the Argenti.... Actually no.

Oh, and in relation to this English Channel debacle:

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2448/pram.jpg (http://img245.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pram.jpg)

[Mordoror]

I think we've already been there and tried out your overrated cuisine. Isn't there a Boulevard des Anglais in Nice?
Nice is far overrated, i agree with you
you should try Collioure/Banyuls sur mer/Frontignan/Montpellier.....(Western to Middle part of the coast)


the first thing French protesters do is attack free trade of the UK. (seems convenient that the strike has occurred over Easter)
Paranoia anyone ??
sorry to be a little harsh but you are seeing a pure franco-french problem (with yes side effects on the Englo-French trade i agree) as something willingly done to attack the trade with UK. This is BS here
When your dockers made strike they impacted also the trade between France and England and nobody said that it was an attack aimed especially at us
to make it clear, i dont' even think that the fishermen here was clever enough to note that they were blocking international trade
sure they do but i rather think that they blocked the ports because it is the only way they have to protest and the trade is impacted as a side effect not as the primary target ....

[gustav]

I do think that every time the EU sets down rules and laws the first thing French protesters do is attack free trade of the UK. (seems convenient that the strike has occurred over Easter)

This is a socialist conspiracy (EU+ French unions) against good old Britannia. I tell ya.

C'mon on guys do you even export anything, don't look for an excuse. p-)

[a_very_ex_STAB]

This is a socialist conspiracy (EU+ French unions) against good old Britannia. I tell ya.

C'mon on guys do you even export anything, don't look for an excuse. p-)

Yeah but this blockade is slowing down our consumption of illegal immigrant prostitutes ;-)

[Arfah]

I do think that every time the EU sets down rules and laws the first thing French protesters do is indirectly attack free trade of the UK. (seems convenient that the strike has occurred over Easter)


There you go, fixed it !

[gustav]

Yeah but this blockade is slowing down our consumption of illegal immigrant prostitutes ;-)

I know its difficult to say it, but someday you will have to sleep with your wives.

[a_very_ex_STAB]

I know its difficult to say it, but someday you will have to sleep with your wives.

But it's always more exciting with somebody else's ;-)

[CMNot]

You see, this is why I'm deep down a rabid Francophile. Politicians do something in France that pisses everyone off...they just down tools and **** off, clog up the motorways or blockade the ports until such time as something gives.

In Britain, we take all our Gov't ****, moan for 50 years then buy a poorly built villa outside Marbella and **** off to die in hot misery as opposed to cold misery.

There is something in that pragmatic French spirit worth admiring.

All that said, you're chavs are a lot worse than ours. Which balances things nicely.

[Eoin666]

What does it matter if the ports are blockaded? Simply use the tunnel we spent so much money on. With the extortionate fees charged, the tunnel operators could pay back the tax payers money spent on bailing out the project :)

They just blockade the tunnel in France (as well as the ports), as they always used to when I had leave booked :fork:.


I find it even more annoying that we aren't boycotting French Ports and using Belgium instead.

Entente Cordiale ? Non merci ! :)

If an airport is closed, the aircraft is diverted, so I could never understand why ferries/cargo isn't diverted to Zeebrugge or Antwerp, I'm sure they'd welcome extra business, crossing might take a couple of hours longer, but better than sitting on the M20 for 2 days.

Fines and loss of revinue might force the French authorities to sort it our next time.....probably around May bank holiday, or will that be Spanish air traffic controllers!


This is a socialist conspiracy (EU+ French unions) against good old Britannia. I tell ya.

C'mon on guys do you even export anything, don't look for an excuse. p-)

Beef.....oh hang on, you refused to accept it for 6 yrs after being declared safe
Lamb....oh hang on you burned all the sheep
Horses......

"France and the UK are major economic and trade partners. France is the UK’s third largest export market (the second in Europe) and the UK's third largest supplier. Exports to France amount to some £20 billion per year and account for nearly 10% of UK visible exports worldwide. Manufactured goods represent 80% of exports, energy 12% and agri-food products 7%. The trade balance is in France's favour but the UK has substantial surpluses in the machinery, pharmaceutical and energy sectors"

[IronFinn]

I have always admired the french of their will to demonstrate and go to stike when ever they feel their rights have been violated. We finns could lear from them. People here are like sheeps, nobody objects anything.

[a_very_ex_STAB]

I have always admired the french of their will to demonstrate and go to stike when ever they feel their rights have been violated. We finns could lear from them. People here are like sheeps, nobody objects anything.

Nah they just throw a hissy fit, their government ignores them and all the drama queen act ends up just being for show.

[Hyde]

heh, it's not much but in estonian it's also called La Manche.quick wiki search shows that italians, spaniards and russians call it also La Manche.

Germans also call it "Ärmelkanal" which would be La Manche Canal.

[a_very_ex_STAB]

Germans also call it "Ärmelkanal" which would be La Manche Canal.

So no 'important' countries call it La Manche then! ;-)

[gustav]

Well it seems to be over now, the fishermen voted for the end of the blockade.

http://www.deltafm.fr/actu/actu-13083.html

[Eoin666]

Germans also call it "Ärmelkanal" which would be La Manche Canal.

But don't you also call the North Sea the German Sea, which would make the Baltic the.....German lagoon

[Hyde]

But don't you also call the North Sea the German Sea, which would make the Baltic the.....German lagoon

No, the Germans call the North-Sea the "Nordsee" and the Baltic Sea is called the "Ostsee".

[Chimera]

Nah they just throw a hissy fit, their government ignores them and all the drama queen act ends up just being for show.

Strange, the fishermen have just recieved a 4 million euros package from the government to get through this crisis.

http://www.lexpress.fr/actualites/2/michel-barnier-propose-4-millions-d-euros-aux-pecheurs_754314.html

Seems like it was worth fighting no?

80 Billion for the banks, 4 Million for the fishermen...

[Atlantic Friend]

Apparently British geography teachers have been on strike for quite some time themselves... ;)

[Pezy]

(...)
You do realize "French Fries" are actually invented in Belgium? And you do realize that they are not "French product" but are produced by every kind of company/restaurant/takeaway in every country of the world? So you are not doing any harm to the french industry but only to your own. But if you feel good about it, just go on being "smart"...

You are ruining it for him. Besides we should all stop eating junk food and if some need extra motivation... what the hell

In Greece when we want to refer to them we use "Channel of Manche" and "fried potatoes".

[Eoin666]

No, the Germans call the North-Sea the "Nordsee" and the Baltic Sea is called the "Ostsee".......that's just so....German of you p-)

[Hyde]

No, the Germans call the North-Sea the "Nordsee" and the Baltic Sea is called the "Ostsee".......that's just so....German of you p-)

German Kindergarten and school did their work. ;)

[dredger14]

LOL there probably is a short Frenchman amongst them called Napoleon and this is his Grande Armada. I really hope they invade Britain this time.p-)

[Nansouty]

It's only the Frogs who call it La Manche. If the OP called it that no one would know what it's about. The ROTW call it the English Channel. Get over it or we'll repeat Trafalgar on your Froggy arse.:)


Then you'd better hurry up before Mr Brown's budget cuts have finished dismantling the Royal Navy, cher Rosbif! p-)

[a_very_ex_STAB]

Then you'd better hurry up before Mr Brown's budget cuts have finished dismantling the Royal Navy, cher Rosbif! p-)

We don't need a Navy. We could sink you lot with a rowing boat ma cherie ;-)

[Lazy Lob]

It's in the garlic, I'm pretty sure it is.

[Panchito12]

Fishermen.....fishing boats.....fish.....Frenchmen.....oh la la Mon Dieu, the smell alone ought to make Pepe Le Pew woozy!!

http://images.spiderpaws.com/looney/images/pepe11.gif

[Hollis]

BS Removed



Knock of the petty nationalism and petty bigotry, or your stay here will be short lived.

[Atlantic Friend]

LOL there probably is a short Frenchman amongst them called Napoleon and this is his Grande Armada. I really hope they invade Britain this time.p-)


- What makes you thinkk the battle of Trafalgar was fought here in Cudworth ?

- Because...Drake... was... too clever... for the German fleet !