NFF1707 by News From France

Vol. 17.07 - July 2017 NEWS FROM FRANCE IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE

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©Armée de l’air/défense / O. Ravenel

Celebrating France on Bastille Day!

©Nicolas Chavance

French citizens celebrate BASTILLE DAY with a dazzling fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower. Bastille Day events occur outside of France as well— and they attract lots of people. Read our In Depth article (page 4) and find out about how this day of French pride is celebrated all over the globe.

2 Current Events

French Series: Syrian refugees NGA opens French Painting Exhibit

A message from Ambassador Gérard Araud

3 Interview

Murielle Perrier, a passionate advocate of intercultural exchange

4 In Depth

Bastille Day, a worldwide celebration

6 Science & Technology

France opens the largest solar farm in Europe French agricultural startups compete for American markets

7 Culture & Society

WWI museum opens virtual tours

8 Destination of the Month Aix-les-Bains

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Emmanuelle Lachaussée EDITOR Benoît Cormier MANAGING EDITOR, GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kamilla Hassen STAFF WRITERS Nicole Kempis, Luca Didomenico, Nisha Srinivasa

Dear Friends, This month, spectators around the world closely followed one of France’s biggest sporting events, the Tour de France. The Tour’s popularity has grown every year since its conception on July 1, 1903. Although the race was initially designed as a French event, we are proud that today the race has expanded to include riders from over 30 nations, including the United States. Despite its competitive nature, the Tour de France provides an avenue for international unity and athletic excellence Throughout France, communities will celebrate La Fête Nationale (Bastille Day) on July 14. This day marks the storming of the Bastille in 1789, a symbolic date in French Revolution and national history. The United States also celebrates its national holiday during the month of July. Both France and the U.S. experienced revolutions that changed the course of history and eventually founded some of the world’s first representative republics. This shared past has resulted in long-lasting ties between our two countries that

continue to be reinforced by mutual democratic values. Since the French presidential election, France has looked forward to working closely with the United States government. The two governments may have some disagreements, for instance on climate change, but remain close allies and need cooperation on many issues, in particular the fight against terrorism. The visit of President Trump to Paris on Bastille Day is a new opportunity to discuss these common challenges. France is also renewing its commitment to serving as a leader in sustainable and profitable innovation by creating partnerships with other nations, such as the United States, to expand the availability of new French technologies and services in the growing fields of sustainable energy, agriculture and transportation. July is one of the months in which France receives many of its 85 million annual visitors. If you are planning to travel to France, we hope you enjoy your experience in our beautiful country and that you will be inspired to return!

Guests from left to right: Arshad Mohammed, Gideon Maltz, Audrey Singer, Leila Hilal, Hakan Bilgin

©French Embassy

French Series: Syrian refugees

ON JUNE 14, THE FRENCH EMBASSY HOSTED A PANEL on the Syrian refugee crisis and resettlement process. Held at the embassy’s Maison Française, it featured five panelists, including specialists on Syria, resettlement, and frontline asylum countries, and a moderator, journalist Arshad Mohammed.

The event began with opening remarks from the Embassy’s Deputy Press Counselor, Benoît Cormier, followed by the Executive Director of Doctors of the World, Joёl Weiler. Discussions covered a range of subjects, from the potential consequences of President Trump’s budget cuts to the provision of psychiatric services for refugees. Hakan Bilgin, Doctors of the World’s Turkey director, described the complex racial, social and religious interactions that may result in “humanitarian fatigue” in countries of first asylum. Ultimately, he asserted that “closing the door to them [refugees] is the biggest mistake we can make.” Gideon Maltz, Executive Director of the TENT Foundation, distinguished between formal and informal modes of migration, reiterating the importance of official channels of resettlement for more vulnerable populations, such as children and the elderly. There are 21 million externally displaced Syrians, according to Audrey Singer, so the number of resettlement slots is small compared to the demand. To combat this shortage of official placements, Leila Hilal, Senior Fellow at The New America Foundation, discussed the importance of incorporating new state actors into international refugee assistance and supporting countries of first asylum, such as Turkey and Lebanon. The Embassy was pleased to welcome more than 200 guests for this French Series. The audience posed compelling questions and everyone enjoyed cheese and wine at the cocktail reception after the discussion.

A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART in Washington, D.C., “America Collects EighteenthCentury French Painting,” brings a collection of 68 works from American museums. All the pieces in the exhibit were received via private collectors who had obtained them in France. The exhibition’s curator, Yuriko Jackall, spent several months traveling to places like Birmingham, AL, Muncie, IN, and Portland, OR, to select the best pieces from 48 museums all across the U.S. The exhibit has two objectives: to present French painting from the 18th century; and to provide a glimpse of American taste for French painting during this period. Each of the eight sections of the exhibit examine a different theme of the era. The exhibition begins on a light note, paying tribute to art collector and leading figure of Louis XV’s court, Madame de Pompadour. Next are rooms on the theme of love and art from the Gilded Age. Americans of the period were especially fascinated with French costumes, such as grand court outfits as well as masquerades. Many paintings in the collection focus on French dress, as many Americans bought paintings with this subject matter and copied the outfits in their own social gatherings. Later rooms in the exhibition take a more somber, intellectual trend, focusing on the French Revolution and the dawn of the Enlightenment in French art and thought. Many pieces in this section are inspired by Greek and Roman mythology, which was thought to encourage civic and domestic virtue. The eighth, and final, room is a tribute to the Enlightenment and includes a portrait of Benjamin Franklin, the first U.S. Ambassador to France and beloved on both sides of the Atlantic. Left: “Madame de Pompadour” by François Boucher (1750) Right: “Blind Man’s Bluff” by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1769)

Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, The Toledo Museum of Art

National Gallery of Art opens French Painting exhibit

Murielle Perrier, professor of French at Princeton University, advocate of intercultural exchange Murielle Perrier is a professor of French and the Acting Director of the French Department at Princeton University. Originally from Madagascar, she received her PhD in French Literature at the University of Colorado Boulder, and has taught at many other institutions, such as the Alliance Française in Denver. She is passionate about using language as a tool for cross-cultural communication and exposing students to new ideas and identities.

Courtesy of Murielle Perrier

In your 20 years of experience as a professor of language, why do you think language studies are important to someone’s academic experience? I think it is crucial to learn a language. To learn a language only to speak it and use it for travel isn’t a great thing. I don’t expect my students to remember the subjunctive in 10-20 years. But rather, language opens them to a different way of thinking. It encourages them to understand other people better, and to have a broader idea of what it is to be somebody else. Of course, the linguistic part of language learning is very important to me, but opening people’s horizons is one of the main goals, in my opinion. Is there a lot of diversity in your classroom? How does that classroom diversity affect your teaching methods? We have people from different social backgrounds and, increasingly, from lower income backgrounds. We also have international students from China and Europe. I’ve noticed that they have to find different ways of thinking and communicating. I think more integrative methods are effective—visuals, readings, movies, etc. These help the students understand the language, culture, and literature, which you can’t separate from one another. It’s also important that the teacher is patient and able to observe each student in a classroom. They’re all different, with different styles of learning, different backgrounds, and different races. You need to be able to perceive these differences for the integrative methods to work, and you need to be able to adapt. Working with a group of people from different backgrounds helps build tolerance in the classroom, because we discuss issues from different perspectives. Everyone needs to learn to understand one another while also engaging with the material.

Have you observed any similarities and differences in French and American approaches to higher education? The French system is more rigid, because you have to choose your course of study when you are 18, which can be difficult for young people. In the U.S., students have more time to think about what they want to do. They also experience a wider curriculum at university that allows them to try many subjects, broaden their horizons and decide what they want to do. However, in my opinion, in both countries, there is a markedly high desire to learn other languages and experience other cultures, a desire made a reality by programs found within both educational systems. What are the benefits of cross-cultural cooperation between American and French higher education institutions? This is an important question. At Princeton, a number of undergraduates go to France. In my class 40% of students have never traveled before. Exchange is essential because students see things that they would otherwise never have seen. I think cooperation between campuses helps students to understand the world better. It’s about language, but it’s also about being able to understand cultural differences. I think this understanding is a skill that will help students find future jobs. The language they gain from exchange will also allow them to function in another country, whether it’s a French-speaking country for American students who have spent time abroad, or an English-speaking country for French students who come to the U.S. Are American students excited about learning French? Sometimes we have students who are just fulfilling a language requirement, but after one or two semesters, they change their minds and continue taking French classes. As a team, we try not to focus on just teaching the language or helping students construct sentences. We concentrate on conveying something beyond the language itself, so that people can compare their own culture to what they learn in French. We are not only there to teach them how to conjugate verbs, French professors are also there to expose students to their own identities and to teach them how to question things.

Le 14 juillet en chiffres...

800,000

the number of people gathered each year on the Champs de Mars to view the fireworks launched from the Trocadéro garden.

40,000

4,000

the number of soldiers, police officers, firefighters, and other military academies that take part in the spectacle on the Champs Elysées.

the number of spectators at last year’s Bastille Day celebration in New York.

$800,000

the approximate cost of the 35-minute-long Paris fireworks display. This is far less expensive than the New Year’s Eve celebration in London ($2.6 million for 11 minutes), or in New York ($3.4 million for 25 minutes). 3

©Cheryl Gerber

Bastille Day, a worldwide celebration The history behind Bastille Day Bastille Day is rooted in the French Revolution. In July 1789, the EstatesGeneral, including the Third Estate representing the people of France, were invited by King Louis XVI to air their grievances with the monarchy. The Third Estate advocated for creating a constitution, and although King Louis XVI was initially reticent, he was forced to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Third Estate, later renamed the National Constituent Assembly. The king then claimed to hear the concerns of the Assembly upon his forceful recognition of it, but soon thereafter dismissed Jacques Necker, an official who expressed support for the Third Estate. This made the commoners of France fearful of attacks on their representatives and so on July 14, they stormed the Bastille. The Bastille prison was a politically and socially significant structure. The Bastille was built as a royal

prison, to be used only by the kings of France. In 1659, it began to be used as a state penitentiary and by 1789, more than 5,000 prisoners had been locked away in the jail. King Louis XV and King Louis XVI were the primary contributors to that high number, both known for detaining prisoners of more “varied backgrounds” than just royals. Not only was the Bastille used for imprisoning common people, it was also used as a support center for the Parisian police, who enforced France’s then rigid censorship laws. Thus, the Bastille represented the structures of power. Though there were only 7 prisoners in the Bastille on the day it was attacked, the storming of the Bastille was a way for the French people to claim power and autonomy. This day marked a turning point in French history, because shortly after the conflicts of the day were subdued, feudalism was abolished and The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was written. Thus, it not only represents France’s immense disapproval of their previous repressive monarchy, but also marks the beginning of the people’s focus on liberté, égalité, and fraternité, the three central ideals of the modern French republic. Now, Bastille Day is a celebration of the idea that France should continue to encourage and foster progress when it comes to government. ©Michael-George

ON BASTILLE DAY, FRENCH CITIZENS EXPRESS THEIR PATRIOTISM with picnics, red, white and blue fireworks, and lavish celebrations. Bastille Day, which takes place on July 14, has a rich significance that those unfamiliar with French history may not know about.

Bastille Day in France

While anchored in French history, Bastille Day is celebrated by both French and non-French communities in many places across the globe. In Belgium, the city of Liège hosts a celebration honoring the battalion decoration by the Légion d’Honneur. The Liège celebration has been held every Bastille Day since the end of World War II. This year, Liège will have a fireworks show right outside Congress Hall. Pondicherry, India, a former French colony, also has a huge celebration. Apart from the all-day town-wide parades that take place, another more solemn tradition is followed. Retired Indian soldiers who fought for the French sing the French and Indian national anthems to honor French and Indian soldiers who were killed in battle. Global leaders have been known to attend Bastille Day events as well. In 2015, President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico went to Paris’s Bastille Day events, including a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of an unknown French soldier. The President of the United States will attend the ceremony this year to commemorate the U.S. entry in World War I a hundred years ago.

A celebration of a centuries-old friendship It is not only the American President who gets to participate, as the biggest celebrations outside of France occur in cities in the United States, such as in Baltimore, Boston, San Francisco, New Orleans, and New York City. These cities all have annual celebrations dedicated to capturing the historic revolutionary spirit that sparked the events of July 14. For example, in New Orleans, the French community and those who love French culture engage in week-long celebrations leading up to Bastille Day. In New York, a huge block party takes place every year. Guests often wear red, white and blue and decorate the streets with French flags. The celebrations of Bastille Day are in many ways similar to those on the Fourth of July. A similarly important historic day on which the United States signed the Declaration of Independence, the Fourth of July is rooted in the progression of the American spirit. Both Bastille Day and Independence Day stand for what each country represents in the modern day. Not to mention, the Fourth of July, much like Bastille Day, is usually filled with fireworks, food, and other festivities.

lemag@zoom

A global celebration

lemag@zoom

The typical Bastille Day celebration in France includes fireworks and festivities with family. Though the fireworks are a more modern touch and usually found in France’s larger cities, sharing food is a centuries-old tradition for all those living in the country. Concerts by the Orchestre National de la France, featuring international artists, are held near the Eiffel Tower, and the Firemen’s Ball festivities, an annual tradition of firemen opening their grounds and hosting dance parties for the public, are known to last until 4:00 AM. Another time-honored tradition of Bastille Day is the military parade in Paris, which has occurred every year on Bastille Day since 1880. The parade passes by the most iconic Parisian sites, including the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe, and ends at the Place de la Concorde.

From New York to Sydney and New Orleans to France, Bastille Day is always celebrated with French food, colors, parades and dancing. Clockwise from top left: “Let them eat (cup)cakes” in New Orleans; the French festival in Sydney; a battle re-enactment in northern France; cancan dancers and a mime on 60th Street in New York.

Sources https://www.indianholiday.com/fairs-and-festivals/pondicherry/bastille-day.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/france/galleries/Bastille-Dayworld-celebrations/liege-belgium/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille_Day https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storming_of_the_Bastille https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-revolutionaries-storm-bastille

http://bastilledaymap.com/ http://www.elysee.fr/la-presidence/la-fete-nationale-du-14-juillet/

Reuters

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/8-things-know-about-bastille-day

France opens the largest solar farm in Europe, embracing a sustainable future

Boris Horvat/AFP

Les Mées Solar Plant, one of the largest in France, covers almost 500 acres and produces enough electricity for 12,000 homes.

THERE HAS BEEN A RECENT SHIFT in the way France produces and consumes energy, in part thanks to the Cestas Solar Farm in Gironde. Before 2015, Electricité de France was largely responsible for the distribution and generation of energy in the country. However, that changed in

2015 when France passed the Energy Transition for Green Growth Act, aimed at reducing fossil fuel emissions by 30-40% by the year 2030 and reliance on traditional sources of energy. The Cestas Solar Farm, created by Eiffage and Schneider Electric in 2015, is one huge step towards

accomplishing the goals of the Green Growth Act. The solar farm is the largest in Europe, spanning roughly 617 acres, with an output of 300 megawatts per one million solar panels. One single megawatt can power 1,000 homes. Not only does it provide an abundance of renewable energy—the plant is also extremely efficient and cost effective, with energy selling for only about $100 per MW per hour. Site manager Guilhem de Tyssandier stated that in 2016, it provided electricity for roughly 300,000 people. This is much cheaper than the cost generated by using conventional means of energy production and marks an important breakthrough in the ways French citizens rely on energy sources. Because solar energy is so cost-competitive, it is the energy of the future, according to the International Energy Agency. However, though renewable energy is the fastest-growing form of energy production, accounting for half of the additional global electricity capacity in recent years, there is still progress to make. But the Cestas Solar Farm is one important development toward a future of renewable energy.

French agricultural startups compete for American markets

American farmers use new crop monitoring technology to improve harvests.

©aydinmutlu

AGRI NEST IS A NEW FRENCH-AMERICAN CROWD-FUNDING CAMPAIGN aiming to integrate French AgTech startups into the U.S. economy. AgTech is a research and development field committed to advancing agricultural technology to solve food insecurity. Six French AgTech startups were chosen to participate in an intensive two-week business immersion program in St. Louis and San Francisco, which will take place in September. Candidates were selected by a committee of American agricultural specialists and venture capitalists based on innovation, response to market needs and the robustness of their business model. Agri Nest, started by Business France, Credit Agricole and AgrOnov, is part of an effort to increase the presence of French innovation and technology in international markets. France has a long history of agricultural expertise, including new innovations and services that would be beneficial to American markets. The two-week program focuses on teaching participants strategy, marketing and business development, with the aim of adapting products to the American market. Ten previous participants, who took part in the 2015 and 2016 cycles, have already successfully transitioned into the American AgTech market. The 2017 cycle features a diverse array of AgTech startups, such as Carbon Bee, which provides plant health monitoring services, and I-Cownect, a herd software management. The program concludes with the Ag Innovation Showcase, during which the startups will compete for American contracts. Agri Nest ultimately aims to encourage agricultural innovation and solve global problems such as a growing population, agricultural pollution and crop instability.

THIS YEAR, THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN THE U.S. has organized a year-long commemoration of the centennial anniversary of United States entry into World War I. Now Americans wishing to gain a unique perspective can also learn about the war by virtually visiting the Musée de la Grande Guerre (Museum of the Great War) in Meaux, France. The museum offers “webvisits,” or virtual tours, to groups from around the world. Visitors can choose to take them in English, French, or German, to see artifacts up close and re-creations of scenes from World War I. The web visits utilize “telepresence robots” which that move throughout the museum with cameras to show visitors close-up views of specific parts of the museum. As institutions seek to attract more viewers, web visits make culture more accessible to the public by allowing them to experience the objects and artifacts in detail in a way that human tour guides are unable to do. Eléna Le Gall, a community manager for the World War I museum explains, “The idea is not to replace humans with robots, but to reach people and distant visitors, thanks to technology.” Though the robot is able to act as a tour guide, a human accompanies it to control where it goes in

the museum as visitors stop to look at different objects and artifacts. Highlights of the museum include over 50,000 original objects from World War I that were donated to the museum, such as dishes, uniforms, and weapons, as well as detailed re-creations of the

trenches, which also compare the different trenchbuilding strategies of opposing sides in the war. However, the museum aims to serve as a documentation of human history and society during the war, rather than solely the military aspect. http://www.museedelagrandeguerre.eu/en.html

The Musée de la Grande Guerre in Meaux is housed in audacious and original architecture by Christophe Lab. Bottom left: Visitors can now experience the museum virtually, thanks to new “telepresence robots.” Bottom right: Guests at the museum can see over 50,000 original WWI relics.

Courtesy of the Musée de la Grande Guerre

©Didier Pazery

Aix-les-Bains

Courtesy of Musée Faure

Office du Tourisme de Savoie et Haute-Savoie

ONE OF QUEEN VICTORIA’S FAVORITE VACATION SPOTS, Aix-les-Bains is a spa town in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of southeastern France. Nestled on the banks of Lac du Bourget and the foothills of the surrounding Bugey mountains, Aix-les-Bains’ picturesque surroundings are pleasant year-round, but especially in the summer when visitors can enjoy warmer weather and outdoor activities. The town was known as a favorite getaway for the wealthy and royal during the Belle Epoque, making it one of the best places to see the era’s architecture. Thermal baths are no longer its primary attraction, but Aix-les-Bains continues to draw visitors thanks to its great views, water sports, and other activities. Aix-les-Bains also has many cultural draws, including the Casino GrandCercle inside the Palais de Savoie, the Château of the Rock and the King, the

Tourists can enjoy a taste of the Belle Epoque by visiting an array of architectural jewels. Left, top to bottom: the Château de la Roche du Roi; the Casino Grand Cercle in the Palais de Savoie; the Faure Museum. Faure Museum, the Church of Our Lady, and many parks, for which the town has won several awards. With a population of around 30,000 Aix-les-Bains is small and easily walkable. Aix-les-Bains is also a thriving sports destination, with water sports such as sailing, rowing, waterskiing, and windsurfing on the Lac du Bourget. The town also boasts a horse-racing track and golf course, and holds an annual cycling competition. There are countless hikes in the Bugey mountains, which quickly ascend to give panoramic views of the town and the lake. Finally, Aix-les-Bains is also renowned for its ancient thermal baths, which have been famous in France since the Celts used them in the first century. Located at two different sites, these baths have been a popular destination for thousands of years and continue to provide stressed-out travelers with therapeutic relaxation.

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