The privileges of the former presidents of the French Republic

Yesterday, the President of the Republic, François Hollande, established a degression of resources granted to former presidents of the Republic, with a reduced number of employees beyond the fifth year following their departure from the Elysee.
Before the reform, a former president was receiving an annual grant of 65.000 euros, but also enjoyed a service apartment, a car with driver, was entitled to seven employees, two personal home and train tickets and free aircraft.

What do you think of the reform that made François Hollande?
Do you agree

Discuss "Fiction" and "Non-fiction"

For example, biopic movies : 
We can speak about it in this case because it arise from the life of a particular person, they are thus supposed to represent the reality but not the total imagination of the director.  However, in these movies, the fiction hold an important place, indeed, actors are not generally people with whom the movie deals. So there is a contrast between the fiction and the non-fiction, furthermore, the movie is the work of a person, who very often did not know the person involved. The movie, although it is not the purpose has practically always the imprint of the director. We can thus notice that the reality is something that cannot be transmitted such as it is, whatever the domain: autobiographies, biopic movies...
Nathan

"Ethics and Animals"

"What concrete measures should we, us students, take ?"

To begin with, I didn't watch the video because I had previously seen a report on TV about the mistreatment of animals in factory farms and slaughterhouses and I found it highly shocking and shameful. 

So, I would like to share my view because I really feel concerned about this issue. 

Indeed, I am a strong advocate of animal rights and I can't understand why people who harm and ill-treat them are not punished more severely by law. 

Anyway, we have to think about concrete measures that we should take. 

As far as I am concerned, I am trying to eat as much as possible organic food or to buy labelizzed meats and poultries since in this types of livestock, animals can roam freely on small farms and ranches, never from a feedlot. 

I know that it can be quite expensive to buy such food products but we can sometimes make an effort so as to improve things.

Furthermore, I agree with the people that suggest to reduce our consumption of meat because on the one hand, it may limit the slaughter of animals and on the other hand doctors say we really need to eat less red and processed meat since it leads to arterial sclerosis, cancer and autoimmune disease.

To conclude, by making every effort to protect animals, we will protect ourselves as well.

Magali

"Do you think pacifism is a good thing ? To what extent (militarism, defencivism, pacificism, absolute pacifism…) ? "

First of all, I am quite in favour of pacific beliefs because to my mind, war in general brings misery and grief to people and doesn't truly solve conflicts. Moreover, in some cases, I'm not really convinced that war is warranted. For instance, I am outraged by colonial wars. 

However, I am aware that war is sometimes inevitable in the event of invasion of our country. For example, we can live in peace nowadays thanks to the actions and to the sacrifice of the resistance during World War II.

We could also say that in the face of mass atrocities and genocide, pacifism is hardly relevant. But we could take a everyday lives' example as well : if we witness an assault, I think that it's not excusable that we let the person mugged without trying to rescue her only because we back absolute pacifism. Furthermore, in France, the failure to assist a person in danger is punishable by law.

So, as far as I am concerned, I believe that pacifism is a good thing if it doesn't turn into passivity on crime.

Magali 

Surrogate mothers

Nowadays, we suspect that the phenomenon of surrogate mothers will spread. Indeed, this practice is already used in other countries like the United States for example. 

• What do you think of this phenomenon?
• Do you agree with this idea?
• Should we extend this practice also in France?

China and the United States signed the COP21 agreement

During the COP21, an agreement has been written to limit to 2°C the global warming until 2100 instead of 4-6°C for the worst-case scenario. 

China and the United States have recently ratified the agreement.

Barack Obama said:"Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimatly prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge today's effort as pivotal."

Do you agree? Do you think that it is an important moment in history?

Here are some links for you to make your own idea:

official info from the US government

news article from the Guardian

Please always justify your position. 

Editions - (classe TL)

"The Boleyn Inheritance" Philippa Gregory, édition : FSC + HARPER COLLINS
"Of Mice and Men" John Steinbeck, édition : Modern Classics, Penguin Classics
"The White Witch of Rosehall" Hebert G. de Lisser, édition : MacMillan Caribbean, (Novelty Trading Company).
Enjoy!
P.S.  If you love reading, you can buy all three books, otherwise wait until you know who your teacher is to buy : "Of Mice and Men" and "The Boleyn Inheritance".