No matter how many times I go to the Sunday market in Divonne it is always interesting. Growing up in a city, I never really went to a farmers' market, although there was one in the area. In France most places have an open-air market twice a week; yes even in Paris.
Every Sunday vendors get up very early and set-up their stalls in Divonne. Most come from the Rhone -Alps region of France, but some others travel longer distances. They have everything from vegetables, fruit and meat to clothes and mattresses. The local shops such as the bakery and butcher are also open on Sundays. Going shopping at the market is a very different experience. You need to know what to buy. You need to know how to buy. There are no pre-package items. There are no frozen items. The vegetables which are available are those of the the season. In spring you find strawberries and asparagus. In summer there are many stands with apricots and cherries. In fall mushrooms and pumpkins are readily available. Today walking through the market, we saw all of the fall foods. Even in the bakery the pies are made most from pears and apples, two fruits which are in plenty of supply at this time of year.
One of the interesting places is the fish market. On display are many kinds of seafood. Some I would have no idea of how to cook. You find octopus, shrimp, oysters, and many types of fish. And if you like you can even eat oysters on the spot and have some white wine with them.
I completely understand why people go to the market on Sundays to buy fresh food. Not many stores are open in this area on Sundays. I don't get it why one would go there and by a mattress. Nevertheless there are people there selling mattresses and other small household furniture. Additionally, there are booths of baked chickens. These seem to be rather popular, because there are usually long lines in front of them. In summer you will find a large pan of paella. It looks good, but I have never ventured to try it. Now that it is turning cold, you can buy choucroute. Years ago, I was not a fan of choucroute, but I must admit on a very cold day, a good choucroute and some white wine are ideal.
Local markets are very interesting. The shopping experience is completely different than than in an American supermarket. As we were walking around, we noticed a new booth. A lady was selling an escargot product. She saw us curiously looking and reading the information, so she came to explain all about it. Vendors love to take the time to talk to customers.
Besides the different types of foods are the people from different countries. While Divonne is on the border of France and Switzerland, you hear people speaking English, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Arabic, as well as French. The community around Divonne is very international.
30 October 2011
27 October 2011
Will Tunisia Follow the Turkish Model?
Nearly twenty years ago, soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall and communism, Russia's moved towards freedom and democracy seemed irreversible. At that time Russia committed itself to uphold democratic principles and to safeguard basic freedoms and the rights of its people. Today, those ideals do not appear to be true.
Democracy in Russia is in retreat. After serving two four-year terms as president Vladmir Putin selected Dmitri Medvedev as the candidate of choice as his successor. Because of constitutionally mandated term limits Putin was not able to run for a third consecutive term. In return Putin was nominated by Medevedev to be Russia's Prime Minister. In September 2011 Putin announced that he would seek a third non-consecutive term in the 2012 elections. It is expected that he will run virtually unopposed. The Russian constitution has been modified and the presidential term now is 5 years. Thus Putin could now serve two 5 year terms.
Today Tunisia is at the same turning point. The country has just held its first democratic elections in 23 years. In the recent elections the moderate Islamist party, Ennahda won the most votes. Because the party did not gain more than 50%, it will have to govern in coalition. While Ennahda is an Islamist Party, it does not seek an Islamic state. Talks are underway with secular parties. The new government will form a Constituent Assembly. The purpose of the assembly is draft a constitution. They will have one year to do this. Tunisia views Turkey as its model.
Turkey is a parliamentary representative democracy and has a strong tradition of secularism. For years, Turkey has tried to have a closer relationship with Europe, even wanting to join the European Union; only to be told the discussions who come at a later date. While the European Union drags its feet, Turkey can now look to the countries in North Africa, and be a model for them, as well as a leader. While the results from the countries participating in the "Arab Spring" are still unknown, the Turkish model should be one that all consider.
Democracy in Russia is in retreat. After serving two four-year terms as president Vladmir Putin selected Dmitri Medvedev as the candidate of choice as his successor. Because of constitutionally mandated term limits Putin was not able to run for a third consecutive term. In return Putin was nominated by Medevedev to be Russia's Prime Minister. In September 2011 Putin announced that he would seek a third non-consecutive term in the 2012 elections. It is expected that he will run virtually unopposed. The Russian constitution has been modified and the presidential term now is 5 years. Thus Putin could now serve two 5 year terms.
Today Tunisia is at the same turning point. The country has just held its first democratic elections in 23 years. In the recent elections the moderate Islamist party, Ennahda won the most votes. Because the party did not gain more than 50%, it will have to govern in coalition. While Ennahda is an Islamist Party, it does not seek an Islamic state. Talks are underway with secular parties. The new government will form a Constituent Assembly. The purpose of the assembly is draft a constitution. They will have one year to do this. Tunisia views Turkey as its model.
Turkey is a parliamentary representative democracy and has a strong tradition of secularism. For years, Turkey has tried to have a closer relationship with Europe, even wanting to join the European Union; only to be told the discussions who come at a later date. While the European Union drags its feet, Turkey can now look to the countries in North Africa, and be a model for them, as well as a leader. While the results from the countries participating in the "Arab Spring" are still unknown, the Turkish model should be one that all consider.
23 October 2011
The End of a Regime and the Dawn of a New Era
It is a historical day in two countries in North Africa. The Libyan government has declared national liberation and in Tunisia more than 3 million people are going to the polls to vote for a parliament which will lay the foundations for forming a new government.
Late last year a vendor in Tunisia set himself on fire. At the time no one paid much attention to this event. No one knew that it would be the start of the "Arab Spring". Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was the first to go. The former President of Tunisia fled the country for Saudi Arabia. Next protester gathered in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt to demand that Hosni Mubarak step down. Afterwards protesters took to the streets in Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and Syria. In mid-February Mubarak left and the protest gathered momentum in Libya. Muammar Gaddafi took to the airwaves in a fiery and defiant manner urging his supporters to resist the countries new leaders, the National Transitional Council (NTC). First the city of Benghazi fell to the new leaders and then movement moved eastward towards the capital Tripoli. The NTC were able to convince the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to provide military support. While NATO did not send ground troops, it did provide significant military air power. Finally, on Thursday 20 October 2011, Muammar Gaddafi was captured and killed. While the exact details of his capture and death are still unknown at this point, 42 years of brutality are now hopefully over for Libya. The future of Libya is unknown. After so many years under a dictatorship, the country has no institutions, no government, and no constitution. The NTC have promised to write a constitution and hold elections by June 2012.
In Tunisia 3 million people went to the polls for the first time. This is estimated to be 90% of registered voters. Tunisians are electing a 217-seat assembly which will draft a constitution and appoint an interim government. There are more than 100 parties contesting in the elections, but Islamist Ennahda party is expected to win the most votes. The results are expected on 25 October 2011. Leaving the polling stations, voters were eager to show the dark blue ink on their fingers.
The elections in Tunisia are being watched closely around the world because the country is the first to hold elections after the fall of an authoritarian regime. The events in Tunisia may set the tone for other countries who have ousted leaders and are looking to hold elections in order to form a new government. Many voters have expressed the desire to have a government based on Islamic law, but emphasized that they want a modern Islamic society, not an ultra-conservative one. They feel it needs to be tolerant and open to in its dealings with other cultures.
The events of today will have ramifications for years to come, not only for their respective countries, but also for the global society . Therefore it is crucial that both countries make the correct decisions in these early days of democracy.
Late last year a vendor in Tunisia set himself on fire. At the time no one paid much attention to this event. No one knew that it would be the start of the "Arab Spring". Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was the first to go. The former President of Tunisia fled the country for Saudi Arabia. Next protester gathered in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt to demand that Hosni Mubarak step down. Afterwards protesters took to the streets in Yemen, Bahrain, Libya and Syria. In mid-February Mubarak left and the protest gathered momentum in Libya. Muammar Gaddafi took to the airwaves in a fiery and defiant manner urging his supporters to resist the countries new leaders, the National Transitional Council (NTC). First the city of Benghazi fell to the new leaders and then movement moved eastward towards the capital Tripoli. The NTC were able to convince the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to provide military support. While NATO did not send ground troops, it did provide significant military air power. Finally, on Thursday 20 October 2011, Muammar Gaddafi was captured and killed. While the exact details of his capture and death are still unknown at this point, 42 years of brutality are now hopefully over for Libya. The future of Libya is unknown. After so many years under a dictatorship, the country has no institutions, no government, and no constitution. The NTC have promised to write a constitution and hold elections by June 2012.
In Tunisia 3 million people went to the polls for the first time. This is estimated to be 90% of registered voters. Tunisians are electing a 217-seat assembly which will draft a constitution and appoint an interim government. There are more than 100 parties contesting in the elections, but Islamist Ennahda party is expected to win the most votes. The results are expected on 25 October 2011. Leaving the polling stations, voters were eager to show the dark blue ink on their fingers.
The elections in Tunisia are being watched closely around the world because the country is the first to hold elections after the fall of an authoritarian regime. The events in Tunisia may set the tone for other countries who have ousted leaders and are looking to hold elections in order to form a new government. Many voters have expressed the desire to have a government based on Islamic law, but emphasized that they want a modern Islamic society, not an ultra-conservative one. They feel it needs to be tolerant and open to in its dealings with other cultures.
The events of today will have ramifications for years to come, not only for their respective countries, but also for the global society . Therefore it is crucial that both countries make the correct decisions in these early days of democracy.
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