“So, are there any lonely people here?” “says Karine Le Marchand, looking at the bridge overlooking the A4 motorway near Jossigny in Seine-et-Marne. “Minister Karine! – answered the rows of farmers, laughing. The host of the show “L’amour est dans le pré” on channel M6 came out to meet hundreds of operators who have been blocking this section of the A4 motorway since Monday, January 29. She handed out 300 croissants in support of their protest movement, which has been gaining momentum for several weeks.
Around 2 p.m., about 80 farmers placed their farm equipment on the highway to block access. Only the emergency lane remains accessible. With sandwiches and steaming coffee in hand, they set up straw bales, cooking equipment and toilets in the hut to set up camp. They plan to sleep in their tractor or trailer. A total of 400 people will be on duty there 24 hours a day at least until Thursday, the day of the extraordinary meeting of the European Council.
Around 3 p.m., Karine Le Marchand arrived, wrapped in a black coat, and handed out her baked goods to the demonstrators. “On Sunday, people have time to buy their children croissants for 1.20 euros. But farmers sometimes have neither the time nor the €1.20 to offer their children, she exclaims. I hope you don’t give up because you need concrete answers! »
“This is the gentlest social movement I know.”
The presenter shakes hands, smiles, and then exchanges a few words with the FDSEA union representatives. She jokes that she is “neither elected nor unionized.” » In the corner, smoke is pouring out of a huge container. “Oh, it’s soup,” she nods.
“I gave my word that if they come to Paris, I will come. This was important to me. I even said that I would ride a tractor. I haven’t done it yet! she’s joking. They are determined but not aggressive. This is the gentlest social movement I know. They know that the French support them. I don’t want to buy only foreign products, etc. I am at their disposal, but I am not a farmer, so I have to stay where I am. But if I can help them, I will! »
She even sits at the table to chat with the cameramen, beer in hand. Very quickly the discussion focuses on environmental topics. Samuel Vandaele, general secretary of the FDSEA, explains the hedge planting example: “When a farmer plants a hedge, he is subject to 14 different and sometimes conflicting directives on nesting etc. The environmental police come to our farms with guns. But we are not criminals! That’s why we don’t plant anything to avoid this. “And I ask the audience: “Did someone plant a hedge here? “No” is heard. ” That’s all ! “
“Warms the Heart”
Didier, a grain farmer, says he is “pleasantly surprised by the owner’s knowledge of the world of agriculture.” “It warms the heart,” he assesses. She works in the media, so if she can be a spokesperson, that’s good. I’ve been here since 1996, my parents ran the business and my son is taking over the management. We may worry about the future if nothing happens. »
With characteristic candor, Karine Le Marchand also insisted on the power of consumers. “Supermarkets don’t promote local food enough,” she observes, before summing up succinctly: “We need to stop buying crap! »
Benjamin, a former 2011 sixth season candidate and grain and grape grower, remains low-key but follows the leading eye. It was thanks to him that Karine Le Marchant chose this unifying point.
“This could help grow the movement!” »
“We keep her updated on our lives. Yesterday she told me You’re going to Paris, can I come? he reports. It doesn’t surprise me that she came. Some may think it’s overrated, but that’s not true at all! It’s natural for her. We don’t Love in the meadow for 15 years, without having the minimum desire for this profession. »
Rafael, another farmer, appreciates the owner’s speech. “We are silent and use jargon that only we understand,” he notes. This allows us to pronounce words that are understandable to as many people as possible. This can help grow the movement! »
Adrien De Rieux, a young farmer from Marles-en-Brie (Seine-et-Marne), says he will escape the siege “just to milk his cows.” “In the blink of an eye,” he hung a sign on his tractor… “Death in the meadow”!
Source: Le Parisien
I am John Casanova. I am an author at 24 news recorder and mostly cover economy news. I have a great interest in the stock market and have been writing about it for many years. I am also interested in real estate and have written several articles on the subject. I am a very experienced investor and have a lot of knowledge to share with others.
