# data[].attributes.body
On May 8, 1902, a volcanic eruption shook a small island in the Caribbean. This island was the French territory of Martinique. The volcano that brought devastation to the island was named Mount Pelée. This volcano destroyed the town of Saint Pierre. At the time Saint Pierre was known as the Paris of the Caribbean and was a hub for ships that exported sugar and rum from the small island. During the week leading up to the catastrophic explosion, many people had no idea what was coming or how to deal with the threat of a volcanic eruption. Their ill-preparedness was due to the fact that the only documented volcanic eruption up until that time was the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. After some strange isolated events like the overflowing and disappearance of a nearby river, a cloud of soot spewing from the volcano, and the arrival of snakes and centipedes from the mountains in the town, on May 8, “an infernal blast of hot gas and volcanic debris obliterated St. Pierre. Moments later, all but a handful of its nearly 30,000 residents were dead”(Rosen). In memory of this disaster Martinique celebrates Mai de St-Pierre with live jazz performances and a candle-lit procession through town to the sea-front Cathedral in honor of the dead(Lonely Planet).

Sources:

https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/benchmarks-may-8-1902-deadly-eruption-mount-pelee

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/martinique/st-pierre/events/mai-de-st-pierre/a/poi-fes/1396422/358105

# data[].attributes.body
Measles may seem like a disease of the past to many in developed countries, but in countries with lack of sufficient medical care, there is still a high level of risk of infection. This can be shown in the recent measles outbreak in Madagascar. In Madagascar, which is a small Francophone country off the coast of Africa, a measles outbreak has killed more than twelve hundred people. The death toll related to this outbreak demonstrates the fact that this is the largest outbreak in Madagascar's history with over one hundred fifteen thousand cases. Unlike many of the stray cases that occur in other places in the world that are caused by refusal to vaccinate, a large majority of these cases are caused by a lack of medical resources. Only fifty eight percent of the population on the main island of Madagascar have been vaccinated against measles which is a huge contributor to this massive outbreak. This lack of vaccination is so widespread because many people in Madagascar do not know that the measles vaccination is free. To save the future of their nation, the parents of children in Madagascar need to vaccinate their children so that they're not another number added to the death toll.

Source:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/measles-outbreak-madagascar-africa-vaccination-health-a8870816.html

# data[].attributes.body
Volkswagen is planning a bold move. The German company plans to test the infrastructure and performance of a new line of electric cars in Rwanda's climate and conditions. Volkswagen plans to do this because Rwanda is a good place for foreign investors due to its reliable infrastructure, stability in comparison to other African countries, and ease of business. Volkswagen also already holds a presence in Rwanda with their manufacturing site. The car company plans to expand into other nations and increase its global market share through this testing. Volkswagen plans to hit a global manufacturing target of one million electric cars a year by 2022 (Bizimana). They plan to start small in Rwanda by importing 50 e-Golf models in the first few months that will be used by the company’s move service which is a ride sharing application. To power these cars, a German power equipment firm, Siemens, will build 15 charging stations around Kigali Rwanda. Rwanda is unique in comparison to many African nations in the fact that it has a reliable power grid. The Rwandan Prime Minister stated that he hoped electric car use could expand because fuel products were Rwanda’s biggest import last year. One leader at Volkswagen, Schaefer, stated "The Rwandan government is working on electric vehicle policy, and if that policy favours electric cars over traditional [ones], then that development can happen very fast''(Bizimana). The development being that peoples’ use of electric cars would become more and more common.

Source:

https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/coming-rwanda-vw-bringing-golf-cars-ride-hailing-system-191029174816820.html

# data[].attributes.body
In the music business, it is common for artists to be influenced by each other and to gain inspiration from certain tunes. Many times the songs that are most popular have clips of old songs or mixes and have been heavily inspired by the artists idols. Although all of this is well and good, in the music world borrowing tunes and melodies without proper permission is a big no-no. In 2013, a popular French producer and DJ, Breakbot, was subject to having his tunes taken. Breakbot had some memorable tunes like “Baby I’m yours”, “One out of Two”, and “Fantasy” but he was not a huge presence in the American music scene. Bruno Mars however, was beginning to make a name for himself in American pop music with his song “Locked Out of Heaven” hitting number one of the Hot 100 charts. When Mars released “Treasure” Breakbot noticed something fishy. Mars track was strikingly similar to Breakbot’s song “Baby I’m yours” and Breakbot even went on to state, “Bruno asked my label if he could cover “Baby I’m yours” a few months ago and we said no. Then he recorded “Treasure”.” Is this just a coincidence or is this an example of a big artist ripping off a small artist?

Source:

https://justnoisetome.com/breakbot-vs-bruno-mars/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
¿Plagio? Bruno Mars VS Breakbot: Treasure (2012) -  Baby Im Yours (2010) comparison

# data[].attributes.body
On Tuesday, October 22, Islamophobia showed its face at a Muslim event in a Muslim country. During a discussion on pacifism at the twelfth annual Fez Festival of Sufi Culture in Morocco, a Muslim woman who was asking a question was ordered to remove her Hijab by another audience member. The order came in French and it is believed from the woman's accent that she was from France. The Moroccan woman replied in French stating that she had no right to tell her what to wear (Hekking). This example of discriminatory remarks is a clear demonstration of Islamophobia which is becoming more and more commonplace in France. This, in turn, leaks into Francophone countries and other countries with French ties. Recently France has passed many anti-muslim laws under the guise of secular ideology. These laws include laws barring Muslim students from participating in classes while wearing hijabs, banning full face veils in public spaces in France, and prohibiting Muslim women from wearing swimsuits that cover their bodies completely. These controversies are covered by the idea that “the hijab is an oppressive tool used by Muslim men to hide and silence Muslim women” (Hekking). Although this may be true in countries that women are still very much controlled by men, in France --a country that so readily seeks equality-- no one should be able to make a choice on what a woman must wear other than the woman herself.

Source: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/10/285439/woman-attacks-hijabi-moroccan-sufi-festival/

# data[].attributes.body
The need to be eco-friendly is increasing day by day, and the populations of Francophone communities are not ignoring that need. In New Brunswick Canada, there are five francophone communities that have proposed plans for electric car sharing between the government and members of the communities. The municipalities that are proposing these plans include: Dieppe, Beresford, Saint-Quentin, Shippagan, and Tracadie. Each of which will purchase either one or two electric vehicles to be shared by government officials and community members. These programs are part of the green initiative that the Canadian government has set in place and the cars and charging stations will be purchased using money from the green fund. The program will foster interest in alternative power sources and help educate members of the community that are skeptical or unfamiliar with how electric cars work. The head of francophone municipalities, Luc Desjardins, detailed the plan, “municipal staff will have priority use of the vehicle, but at night and on weekends, members of the public will be able to book an electric car through an online program”(Letterick).

Source:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/electric-car-sharing-dieppe-1.5325066

# data[].attributes.body
In September 2019  a landslide in an illegal gold mine in Chad killed 30 people. This mine was in the Tibesti region of Chad(1). The discovery of gold in this region has led to a surge in illegal mining which brings hoards of traffickers, gangs, and rebel armies contributing to civil unrest. “Gold was discovered around Tibesti in 2012, and since then people have flocked to the mines from across the region”(2). This landslide is just one among many, and these mishaps have drawn attention to the crisis of illegal mining in Chad. A large portion of the miners who work in these installments are not even citizens of Chad. The majority of the workers in the mines are Sudanese refugees who are working in these mines to pay off smugglers who have promised to take them to Europe(2). These refugees from Sudan risk their lives pounding rock in deep holes lit by torch light. Many of the refugees wishing to gain asylum in Europe have their dreams cut short by injuries or even death in the mining camps. The sites are dangerous and corrupt and many who are involved never make it out.

Sources:

1.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49839574?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c302m85q5zmt/chad&link_location=live-reporting-story

2.https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jan/17/deadly-african-gold-rush-people-smugglers-northern-chad-mines

# data[].attributes.body
Each year in Monaco the streets are blocked off and people watch as cars race around the city at neck breaking speed. This event is one of the most well-known and flashy races that is part of the F1 tour. Even those who do not actively watch the sport have likely heard of the race and its legacy. The race is known as the Monaco Grand Prix. This race is so well known because of its three defining features. These features include, “The circuit is the only one to feature a long tunnel, forcing the drivers to adjust their eyes from sun to shade on every lap. It is the only event on the calendar not to feature a podium - the celebrations are held on the steps of the royal box. Finally, Monaco is the only event to hold its practice day on the Thursday before the race, allowing the roads to be opened to the public on Friday”(ESPN). The Monaco Grand Prix is part of the illustrious triple crown that all F1 racers aim to achieve. The triple crown is achieved when a racer wins all three of the following races: the Monaco Grand Prix, the Le Mans 24 Hours, and the Indy 500. The Monaco Grand Prix was founded in 1929 and is notoriously dangerous. Although this race has been host to countless fiery, dangerous crashes over the year, only one has claimed a life. The fatal crash which killed Lorenzo Bandini occurred during the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix.(ESPN)

Source:

http://en.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/page/2601.html

# data[].attributes.body
In New Brunswick, Canada there is a heated debate and legal battle over the rights of the many being affected by the abilities of the few. This conflict is over the requirement of paramedics in New Brunswick to be bi-lingual and proficient in French and English. The conflict was caused by the paramedics who did not speak French that were violating the act which specifically stated that paramedics must now be bilingual.This act by the paramedics takes away from the basic right to comprehensive medical care for the French population of New Brunswick. The issue is compounded by the shortage of paramedics. The decision of the government must take into account the availability of paramedics in general, not just those who are bilingual. The Official Languages Act ensures that those seeking medical care have the opportunity to receive services in the language of their choice. The new ruling states that the paramedics must be bilingual to meet the needs of those in the community. Michel Carrier who is the commissioner of official languages for the province stated, “Ambulance N.B. must respect New Brunswickers’ language rights and provide services of equal quality in the citizen’s language of choice in every part of New Brunswick” after the official ruling(Campbell).

Source:

https://globalnews.ca/news/5329578/nb-ambulance-paramedics-court-ruling/

# data[].attributes.body
In 2018 France won the Men’s World Cup. Not only did they win the final they dominated it. During the world cup much was said about how The French National Team represented the “young guns” of football and that they may usher in a new age of players to the world football stage. Throughout their journey one star shined brighter than the rest, Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé scored four goals in the 2018 World Cup and became the first teenager in sixty years to score multiple goals in a world cup. At just seventeen, Mbappé became the player that everyone was watching on a team with other amazing players like Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, and N’Golo Kanté. Although Mbappé performed amazingly and no doubt earned all of the fame he acquired, but the thing that attributed most to his making a name in the soccer world was what he did after the final match ended. Players in the World Cup earn huge amounts of money from playing and Mbappé was no exception. He earned $500,000 for his appearances in the World Cup, and didn’t keep a single cent of the money. He donated it all to Premiers de Cordee, a charity that provides sports activities to hospitalized and disabled children. After this gracious donation and his amazing performance in the World Cup Kylian Mbappé more than deserves to be recognized as a new force in the world of football.

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/07/16/frances-kylian-mbappe-made-around-500000-at-the-world-cup-its-all-reportedly-going-to-charity/?noredirect=on

https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/players/player/389867/

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTJwdL6du0U

# data[].attributes.body
In Belgium anti-racist groups are calling for an end of a festival that blantanly flaunts racist behavior. For centuries the people of Ath, a small town in Belgium, have celebrated The Ducasse d’Ath festival on the fourth Sunday of August. This one hundred fifty year old festival began as a way to commemorate the creation of their city and celebrate their patron saint, but over time it has morphed into something totally different. Today this festival includes floats that represent historic or religious figures. Most of the characters simply represent these figures that are important to many members of the society, but there is one character that is causing a large amount of conflict,; the savage. “The character played by a white Belgian man wearing blackface, a large nose ring, a headdress and chains has appeared on a parade float each year since 1873. The ‘savage,’ chained and agitated, testifies to the taste of exoticism in the 19th century”(Parker) Those who oppose this character have claimed that it is a direct attack on people of color and is celebrating the colonial past of Belgium when they enslaved and colonized. Something must be done to turn from the old ways and into a new unified future.

Source:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/08/20/belgian-festival-has-long-featured-savage-blackface-is-it-time-un-stop-honoring-it/

# data[].attributes.body
Francophone culture has made its way into countries across the world. Our country is no exception. Throughout Louisiana, those who trace their heritage to French roots are referred to as Cajun. The Cajun people differ from the Creole in the fact that their ancestors did not originally settle Louisiana from France. Instead, they are actually descendants of, “Acadians, who emigrated from Northern France to colonize the eastern portions of Canada in the early 17th century”(1). These settlers were then dispersed among the English colonies after the war between the French and English. Those who ended up in Louisiana came to be called Cajun and developed their own unique way of life. This way of life included their own variation of French and adaptations of French recipes to include the types of food that were available in the swamps of Louisiana. Because so many of the Acadians arrived in Louisiana in poverty, they learned to “cook on a budget”. Many dishes that are famous in cajun cuisine reflect this. Famous cajun dishes include: gumbo, boudin, jambalaya, dirty rice, crawfish boil, crawfish étouffée, and beignets to name a few.(2) The cajun culture is rich with French tradition and unique because of the toil that so many of their ancestors experienced.

Sources:

1.https://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/NewOrleansLA/articles/CajunCulture.cfm

2.https://www.zagat.com/b/8-cajun-dishes-you-need-to-know

# data[].attributes.body
The Seychelles are a group of islands just off the Eastern coast of Africa about 7000 km from France. Throughout their long history of colonization and trading with the French, the people of the Seychelles have spoken Creole, which is a language very closely related to French. The nation also has French and English as official languages. One of the most amazing things about the Seychelles is the vast amount of natural resources they hold. The Seychelles is comprised of 115 islands that cover an area of about 400000 square kilometers. In addition to being home to many nature preserves and protected heritage sites, the Seychelles are home to one of the most unique fishing destinations in the world, the Cosmoledo Atoll. The shallow waters surrounding the atoll are home to countless species of fish and other rare sea creatures. Some of the fish that can be caught include; giant trevally, bonefish, blue trevally, bohar snapper, barracuda, milk-fish, and many different species of triggerfish. The numerous species of fish and beautiful landscape draws fishermen from around the world to the atoll for a chance to catch in paradise. Hundreds of thousands of kilometers of water to be explored is no small task so many fishermen employ locals who have fished the waters surrounding the Seychelles all their lives. Not only does this create jobs for the locals of the islands, but it also helps them gain a greater appreciation for the protection of the valuable resources at their disposal.

sources:

https://www.alphonsefishingco.com/destinations/cosmoledo/?utm_campaign=Alphonse-Desitnations&utm_source=google-cpc&utm_medium=e&utm_content=Cosmoledo&utm_term=cosmoledo%20island&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzsXXs5nM5AIVkVuGCh2FCQN9EAAYASAAEgIeJPD_BwE

http://www.seychelles.org/seychelles-info/seychelles-religion-culture

https://www.britannica.com/place/Seychelles

video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNfBHLp_FKg&t=305s