Staying local

 MAY DAY - May 1, 2024

Yet another RAINY, COLD day. So we are staying local. Some of us (Kim and I) are staying home as we're not feeling well. The others (Dave, Clark, Janis, and Dale) are off to visit Mirepoix, with a stop at the grocery store on the way home. (See the note at the end of this post.) I expect I'll have photos to share later today. 

For now, I want to show you how agricultural workers (wine makers, farmers, and those who work with them) are protesting to raise awareness of the challenges they face in making a living from their work. What began in the Tarn region just northeast of Toulouse has now spread across France. 

Agricultural workers, armed with screwdrivers, are turning upside down the town signs that are at the entrance and at the end of each town and village in France. Humorous, but effective, many towns are leaving them in place in a sign of solidarity with their agricultural citizens.

The main complaint is that the European Union (EU) has established many regulations on agricultural products that are not required of imported products. These imports cost less and therefore threaten the livelihood of local farmers. 

These protesters are asking the EU for 3 things:

1. remove livestock rearing from the Industrial Emissions Directive whose purpose is an industrial permit requirement which:

"...means that permits must take the whole environmental performance of the plant into account. This covers emissions to air, water and land, generation of waste, use of raw materials, energy efficiency, noise, prevention of accidents, and restoration of the site upon closure." https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/industrial-emissions-and-safety/industrial-emissions-directive_en

2. strengthen respect for the EGalim law. This French law is supposed to level the playing field between producers and large supermarket chains. It is meant to prevent pressure on farmers to sell their products cheaply because of market pressure. However, currently, distributors can simply buy from other countries (Spain, Italy, etc) who don't have such a law, thus sidestepping this requirement. https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/what-is-frances-egalim-law-and-why-does-it-matter-to-farmers/592442

3. renegotiate the EU "set aside" policy, whereby farmers must leave 4% of their land out of intensive production. This policy was seen as an incentive both environmentally and to diminish over-production of food to stabilize prices. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set-aside

To date, no changes have come about.

So now you are "au current" (caught up) on some of the local politics. Possibly more than you wanted to know about what's going on here but I thought you should know. 

Note: By the way, the grocery store is closed today - It's May Day and a national holiday (La Fête de Muguet - Lily-of-the-Valley Fest) so of course everything's closed. Sprigs of lily-of-the-valley are given to loved ones to wish them good fortune for the next year. Janis came home with one that Clark bought from some kids selling them outside the gate at Mirepoix. 

Happy May Day!