Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
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The French take to the barricades
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TENS of thousands people demonstrated in Paris on Saturday to demand the resignation of President Macron. They first protested on the Champs Elysees and were violently repressed by the police.
Some tried to set up barricades and the protest continued later in the streets of Paris. This was the culmination of week-long actions throughout France.
No-one was expecting the grassroots protests triggered by the rise in fuel prices — 14 per cent in a year — to grow after its first day. Entirely organised through social media (Facebook page La France en colere) and without any input from political parties, unions or established organisations, the protest movement began on November 19 with a day of “road blockades.” The press reported that 283,000 took part and that they brought France to a stand-still.
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