LE BILINGUE January 2020
ECOLE JEANNINE MANUEL PARIS STUDENT JOURNALISM
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Dear Readers, First of all, a happy (late) New Year to all! It’s only January, and what a year, in what a world it’s been already! While we’ve steered clear of a world-wide conflict, Australia is still ablaze and other conflicts drag on, leaving our world with a less than bright future. Yet, as always, the world trundles on, as does Le Blingue, whose team is proud to present you with its first issue of 2020. We hope it is the harbinger of many other such publications by our enthusiastic and ever-growing team of young journalists. As always, the new year brings about change, be it small and insignificant or consequential and life-changing. In Le Bilingue’s case, it takes the shape of an additional publication method. Some of you have in your hands the first print issue of the Student Press’ recent history! We believe a paper medium will help augment readership, especially among the younger generations at our school, attract a wider crowd of student journalists and help ensure the perpetuation of this publication. In this new year, Le Bilingue reiterates its mission statement to be first and foremost written for and by students. As such, we welcome article suggestions and new team members. Feel free to contact us using the information on the back cover. The Student Press Club commits to focusing on news affecting our everyday lives, with the goal of making the newspaper more relevant to its target audience. Our New Year’s resolution of sorts. On this note, we hope you enjoy reading and we extend our best wishes for a happy, successful and fulfilling 2020! Sincerely, The Editorial team
TABLE OF CONTENTS La Réforme des Retraites ....................................................... 3- 4 The Challenges of Plastic Recycling ............................... 5 - 8 Tokyo 2020: Les Jeux Olympiques d’aujourd’hui et de demain .............................................. 9 - 10 Christmas Traditions around the World: Nativity Scenes in Italy...................................................... 11 - 12 Society, Earrings and Me ............................................................ 13 Recipe: Pumpkin Bread ............................................................. 14
LA REFORME DES RETRAITES Opinion piece by Georges T.
Il y a quelques mois, la Présidence de la République et le gouvernement annoncèrent la réforme des retraites, la première d’une telle ampleur depuis 1953. Cette réforme s’ajoute aux nombreuses autres du gouvernement d’Edouard Philippe, annoncées lors de la campagne présidentielle d’Emmanuel Macron. La réforme a pour but de créer et de transformer le régime des retraites d’aujourd’hui, très complexe, en un régime universel, plus transparent et égalitaire, où « Un Euro cotisé donnera les mêmes droits pour tous », selon le président. Le système actuel est très compliqué: il y a 42 régimes, qui assurent aux employés de certaines professions des avantages; les plus notables étant les cheminots (employés de la SNCF), les fonctionnaires et les militaires. Ces personnes bénéficient du droit de partir à la retraite avant les 62 ans légaux, et perçoivent une pension plus confortable. Le montant de la pension est calculé grâce à système d’annuités, qui prend en compte l’âge, les meilleures années, le montant du dernier salaire et de nombreux autres facteurs. C’est donc un système peu compris et bien trop complexe pour fonctionner pour tous. De plus, les régimes spéciaux s’appliquent à tous les employés d’une entreprise ou d’un secteur, même s’il y a de nombreuses professions de pénibilité différentes au sein de ces entreprises. Par exemple, les employés de la SNCF qui ne sont pas conducteurs et ne travaillent pas sur le terrain peuvent prendre leur retraite à 55 ans, même si leur travail est, pour la plupart, peu pénible.
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Le projet de réforme fonctionnera par points, et viendra remplacer tous les régimes actuels. L’ensemble de la carrière sera prise en compte, non seulement les meilleures années, ce qui créera une rémunération plus juste pour la plupart des travailleurs, et surtout des mères célibataires et des personnes ayant eu une carrière plus courte ou fracturée, qui sont délaissées par le système actuel. Un autre grand point de la réforme est l'âge pivot de 64 ans. Dans le nouveau système, une personne prenant sa retraite entre les 62 ans légaux et 64 ans se verra attribuer un malus sur sa pension (ils recevront donc moins d’argent), alors que ceux prenant leur retraite après 64 ans auront un bonus. Ce concept a pour but d'équilibrer le système et d’inciter les actifs à travailler plus longtemps et de contribuer pendant plus de temps à l’économie. De plus, l’Etat assure que la pénibilité du travail d’un individu sera prise en compte lors du calcul de sa pension, et que seuls ceux qui méritent vraiment l’avantage le recevront. De nos jours, il y a 1,7 professionnels actifs pour un inactif, ce qui veut dire qu’une personne travaillant devra cotiser bien plus pour le retraité qu’elle ne devrait (Environ 970€ bruts en moyenne et par mois). Ceci empêche les actifs de profiter pleinement de leur salaire, car ils doivent en cotiser une grande partie. En plus d’être cher pour les contribuables, le système souffre d’un déficit énorme de 8 à 10 milliards d’Euros par an, que l’Etat doit payer.
L’argument majeur de l’exécutif est donc que le système actuel, dont certains régimes remontent à 1673, a été conçu pour une autre ère, et est trop coûteux pour fonctionner dans le long-terme. Cette nouvelle réforme, comme beaucoup d’autres de ce gouvernement, a suscité une réaction très forte de nombreux syndicats, qui ont appelé à une grève générale le 5 décembre, reconductible (c’est-à-dire de longueur indéfinie).
Cette réforme, qui sera présentée au Conseil des Ministres le 24 janvier, changera le contexte social de la France entière, et montrera la capacité du gouvernement d’Edouard Philippe à mettre en œuvre les réformes qu’il a annoncé.
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Cette grève, menée surtout par les employés de la SNCF, de la RATP et de GDF/EDF, a pour but de fragiliser l’Etat et de forcer le gouvernement à retirer le projet de réforme. Elle s’est prolongée à travers les fêtes de fin d’année, sans trêve, même si l’Etat essaie de négocier avec les syndicats.
MANIFESTATIONS A PARIS LE 5 DECEMBRE CONTRE LA REFORME DES RETRAITES
5 POINTS CLES A RETENIR SUR LA REFORME DES RETRAITES Un système à points, calculé sur toute la carrière
La suppression des 42 regimes spéciaux et leur remplacement par un système universel
Un age pivot de 64, un malus pour ceux qui partent avant et un bonus pour ceux qui partent après
Un système plus bénéfique pour ceux ayant eu une carrière courte ou fracturée
Un système qui prendra en compte la pénibilité du travail
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THE CHALLENGES OF PLASTIC RECYCLING By Calista C.
Over the past 7 decades, plastic has become widely used in the mass production industry. It has now become one of the most ubiquitous and adaptable materials on the planet whilst being one of the most difficult to dependably gather and recycle. Today, we have made vast improvements in the recycling industry: plastic recycling rates are the highest they have ever been, but much more effort is still required from us as they are still too low and increasing at too low a pace. Meanwhile, sustainability has become a far more important subject than ever before. So, why don’t our recycling rates reflect this rising interest?
PIGMENT AND TRANSLUCENCE OF PLASTIC If all plastics were consistent in their resin composition, pigment, translucence, and mass, there would be very few challenges in recycling plastic. But since there are so many different types of plastics on the market, it is impossible to recycle everything together.
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The best types of plastic are clear plastics as they can be dyed easily and have the highest marketing value. White plastics are second best as they can be dyed, but cannot become transparent. Pigmented and dyed plastics however, are the worst type of plastic. Colored and opaque plastics can cause some problems for materials recovery facilities (MRF’s) because of their inability to change color and translucence. In fact, colored plastics have a very low market value as they can only become darker shades of their original color when recycled. As a result, recycling facilities consider pigmented plastics as contaminants in the recycling process, and quickly dispose of them instead of trying to recycle them. In the end, a lot more waste is produced. A significant amount of that plastic ends up in the sea, forming giant continents of plastic that can gravely endanger the wildlife.
“ colored plastics can only become darker shades of their original color when recycled ”
NON-SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING Nowadays, many manufacturers direct themselves towards more eco-friendly and sustainable packaging forms than before. One of the most popular examples is multilayered or lightweight packaging. While source reduction is a great idea, the lightweight packaging trend has some serious long-term side effects: the sachets, flexible packs, and laminated plastic pouches that the manufacturers love and use are in fact considered universally non-recyclable. This is a concrete example of greenwashing, as it is proven that these lightweight plastic packs are in no way sustainable. When recycling rates are low, it makes sense to reduce the mass of plastic waste (it is better to have a light plastic item than a heavy one). However, when recycling rates start to rise, these considered eco-friendly and sustainable lightweight packaging make no sense whatsoever. Even though the production and transportation of these lightweight plastic packs is quite eco-friendly, its serious detrimental long-term effects after being thrown away diminish its positive aspects.
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“A significant amount of plastic ends up in the sea, forming giant continents of plastic that can gravely endanger the wildlife�
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CONSUMER CONFUSION: A rising problem nowadays is that of consumer-side confusion. The recycling process has become increasingly complicated and difficult for consumers to understand due to three main factors: improper labelling, a lack of uniformity, and the absence of clear disposal instructions. In the late 1980s, the Society of the Plastics Industry implemented the SPI’s Resin Identification Code for plastic containers and packaging. This simple coding system vastly improved the sorting of materials and plastic waste collection rates, but also made way for some complications. In fact, the system was initially designed for recycling centers and processing facilities, not for consumers. Additionally, the symbols can be misleading as they look very similar to the universal recycling symbol, yet do not necessarily indicate the recyclability of a product or package. On top of that, the types of plastic polymers accepted by municipal recycling systems vary greatly from place to place. Many people are unaware of what types of plastic their local recycling program accepts, causing them to throw all plastics – regardless of their respective RIC’s – into the blue recycling bin. This issue creates even more problems: recycling streams are contaminated, more human effort is spent on cleaning up this mess, and consumers remain ignorant about the recyclability of their plastic products and wrappers.
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A PLASTIC RECYCLING PLANT Another issue that generates consumer confusion is multi-component or hybrid packaging. However practical these may seem, they further complicate the sorting and processing of waste streams, so much that the value of the recycled end-product isn’t high enough to compensate for the processing cost of recycling, thus encouraging the production of new, virgin plastic polymers.
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SOLUTIONS TO CONSUMER CONFUSION: It is quite common for packages to contain several types of materials - we see and use them every day. In order to properly dispose of a multi-material product, one must identify each material present, properly separate them accordingly, and then determine whether or not the materials can be recycled by their municipality. This represents a significant problem, as it is quite time consuming, and there are no proper indications of recyclability on the package. As a result of this disorganization and lack of clear recyclability indications, the consumer is inclined to throwing the entire item away out of mere confusion. This action very often develops into a bad habit of not paying attention to the recyclability indications, and throwing plastic items away, even though they can be recycled. So, what can be done to mend the issue of consumer confusion? The answer is clear: create a more consumer-friendly label and plastic identification system so that consumer-side confusion can be mitigated. GreenBlue’s How2Recycle Label addresses this concern with an interesting solution. The label shows a standardized labeling system that precisely communicates the proper recycling instructions of the item it is on. It has already been adopted by many of the world’s biggest brands and manufacturers, and is making a big difference in recycling rates.
Separate and recycle the different packaging materials
Read labels closely to determine if the material is recyclable
Learn about recycling and what materials correspond with which bin
Create more consumerfriendly labels
In the end, there are many more challenges to plastic recycling as there may seem. This is why I believe that we must pay close attention to recyclability labels even though it can be time consuming and troublesome, and focus on disposing of our used items properly, whether it be at home or at school. Each and every one of us has a duty to protect our planet through recycling our plastic waste.
IS THIS A CAUSE YOU ARE PASSIONNATE ABOUT? JOIN THE SCHOOL’S ECO COMMITEE OR HELP REDUCE OCEAN POLLUTION THROUGH THE BLUE PLANET PROJECT’S BAG & BAKE SALES ON TUESDAYS! 8
LES JEUX OLYMPIQUES D’AUJOURD’HUI ET DE DEMAIN By Georges T.
Les Jeux Olympiques de 2020, qui seront accueillis par la ville de Tokyo, prendront place du 24 juillet au 9 août, cet été. A l’aube de ces XXXIIèmes Olympiades Modernes, nous avons d’ores et déjà de nombreuses informations sur leur déroulement. Comme tous les Jeux Olympiques modernes, ceux à Tokyo auront une base, le Stade Olympique de Tokyo, où se dérouleront les cérémonies d’ouverture et de fermeture, ainsi que les épreuves d’athlétisme et de football (Voir photo ci-dessous). Selon La Tribune, le prix de ce dernier est de 1,8 milliard d’Euros, soit 650 millions d’Euros de plus qu’il n’était prévu. Après avoir causé une polémique au Japon, le Comité Olympique a assuré que l’enveloppe des 10,5 milliards d’Euros serait respectée pour ces Jeux, même si historiquement le coût estimé est toujours inférieur au coût final.
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LE STADE OLYMPIQUE DE TOKYO LES JEUX COMPORTERONT 321 ÉPREUVES DANS 33 SPORTS, DONT SIX NOUVEAUX: L’ESCALADE SPORTIVE, LE BMX FREESTYLE, LE KARATÉ, LE SKATEBOARD, LE SURF ET LE BASKETBALL EN 3 V. 3.
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Les installations sportives sont réparties, pour la plupart, à l’intérieur de Tokyo, qui sera divisée en deux zones. Premièrement, la “Heritage Area”, située dans un quartier d’affaires, tenant son nom du fait qu’il y a certaines installations sportive datant des anciens Jeux Olympiques de Tokyo en 1964. Ici se trouve le nouveau stade Olympique, et six autres installations. Puis, il y a la “Bay Area”, qui se situe autour de la baie de Tokyo, dans laquelle se trouvent 14 stades et gymnases. A cause des contraintes d’espace, certaines épreuves ne pourront pas avoir lieu dans la ville, et seront réparties sur l’archipel nippon. Pour rendre les Jeux plus attractifs, l’Etat a décidé d’incorporer plusieurs innovations. Par exemple, il a assuré l’installation d’un réseau 5G à Tokyo à temps pour les Jeux: une première au Japon. De plus, l’installation d’écrans tactiles dans la rue est prévue, afin d’aider les visiteurs à se diriger et de se renseigner à propos des événements qui se passent sur leur chemin. Ces Jeux Olympiques sont essentiels pour le Japon: ils offrent au pays une opportunité de montrer son pouvoir d’innovation, et par conséquent de se placer comme figure de proue des avancées technologiques du futur. Ils sont aussi utiles car ils contribuent à l’ouverture du pays vis-à-vis du monde, oriental et occidental, alors qu’historiquement le Japon a été renfermé sur lui-même.
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LE VILLAGE OLYMPIQUE DE TOKYO
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CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD:
NATIVITY SCENES IN ITALY By Alessia V.
Christmas may have taken on a more secular and commercial note over the centuries to now be more evocative of festive food, gift-giving and family reunions, but it originated for Christians as the celebration of the birth of Jesus. For this reason, most traditionally Christian countries have a tradition of commemorating the nativity, albeit in different ways. These representations are often known as nativity scenes (or creches in French and presepi in Italian) and while they are more commonly made up of figurines, they can also include human participants.
During the Christmas season, churches and families in Italy, like in many other places around the world, put out sets of figurines representing the nativity. These can range from minimalistic ones with only the essential components to complex villages made up of a wide variety of characters and structures. The most impressive can span several square meters and resemble a lively town on a miniaturized scale, complete with schoolyards, markets, homes, bakeries, ports, workshops, fields and more (as seen on the photos on this page). Adhering to no particular time period, they are often put together with pieces collected over time, from many different places.
photos by Alessia V.
Above and below: daily life scenes from a typical Italian presepe
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St Francis of Assisi is said to have been the first to reenact the nativity on Christmas Eve of 1223 in a cave in Greccio, about 100 km north of Rome, with people and animals representing the main characters. This has evolved into a tradition, taking place on a larger scale, with entire villages or neighborhoods recreating the historical environment with less emphasis on the nativity scene itself. The setting may not always be historically accurate, often more medieval than Roman, but it is nonetheless an impressive sight to behold. Known as presepi viventi, they take place yearly in over 200 Italian villages, especially in the southern and central regions. Among these is the town of Monteleone d’Orvieto in Umbria, where the whole village travels back in time over 2 millenia on a few evenings in late December and early January. photos by Alessia V.
Above: the nativity scene and a jewelery workshop at the presepe vivente of Monteleone d’Orvieto
When wandering through the town, it truly feels like a trip back in time: the streets are animated with the hustle and bustle of villagers dressed in historical attire all performing a wide variety of tasks. While storefronts transform into workshops for jewelers and woodworkers, Roman soldiers patrol the streets on horseback. The main square hosts a market with stalls full of seasonal treats and local specialties, and even one with a fortune teller. A few streets away, the local potter opens her doors and works by candlelight while the wonderful smell of freshly baked bread emanates from the nearby baker’s old wood oven fired up for the occasion. At the end of the labyrinthine streets, visitors come across the stable with the nativity scene, improvised in a garage. This long-standing tradition is not only an interesting way to celebrate the holiday season, but it is also a showcase for craftsmanship and old-fashioned jobs that are now disappearing due the lack of interest from the younger generations.
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SOCIETY, EARRINGS AND ME By Alice B.
I’ve wanted to pierce my ears since I was six. My dear mother has refused since I was six. She would say: “When you’re sixteen…” So I grew up, occasionally begging my parents and constantly gazing hungrily upon my cousin’s earrings, until last October - my 15th birthday. My mother spontaneously decided to push forwards the age limit, and I was suddenly allowed to pierce my ears. I was over the rainbow with joy. That was until I sat down on Histoire D’Or’s stool, staring with wide eyes at the gun they shoot you with (your ears, I mean). The cool metal pressed against my ears lobes, and CLACK ! My ears had a hole in them. Don’t get me wrong. It hurt. It really hurt. Waaaay more than expected. Over the years, I had amassed quite the collection of “don’t worry, you don’t feel a thing”[s], and so that’s what I expected. To not feel a single thing. So when it felt like my earlobe was being pierced from side to side, which did hurt quite a bit, I was genuinely stunned. To clarify things: I was so fixated on being able to wear earrings like my cousin that I completely forgot what piercing your ear really meant: sticking a metal rod in your lobe. I stayed awake that night, and the night after, and also the night after, debating whether or not to pull the darn thing out. The morale of this little anecdote ? I blame my obsession on society. Women are not obliged to get their ears pierced, yet if you stare hard at that blank space between society’s more defined lines, you will find that there is an unspoken expectation. My parents talking about earrings, my cousin (she seems to be coming back a lot in this article, isn’t she) and I picking out jewelry for her to wear, my friends comparing their earrings or showing them to me… I felt left out, and the solution to that was simple: wait till 16, and the day of my birthday, get those darned lobes pierced. I wish now that, before piercing my ears, I had sat down and thought: “Do I really want this ? Or does someone else want this for me ?” So, in conclusion, think twice before rushing to Histoire D’or !
IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU FELT PRESSURE FROM SOCIETY? SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US AT @LEBILINGUE ! 13
PUMPKIN BREAD RECIPE By Alessia V.
Wonderfully moist and full of warm spices, this pumpkin bread makes a perfect fall or winter dessert.
PREPARATION 20 minutes
PREPARATION
BAKING 60 minutes
Preheat the oven to 165°C. Butter two 20 x 10 cm loaf pans and dust them with sugar (or flour)
MAKES 2 loaves or 30 slices
INGREDIENTS 2 cups (250g) flour ½ tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground nutmeg ¾ (170g) cup butter 1 ¾ cups (400g) sugar 2 large eggs 15 oz (425g) can pumpkin puree (can be replaced with homemade puree, strained to remove excess water)
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and spices. In a large bowl, beat the butter with the sugar on medium speed until just combined. Add the eggs one by one, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Add the pumpkin and beat until fully incorporated. Don’t worry if the mixture looks grainy and curdled. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and beat on low speed until fully combined. Pour into the prepared pans and bake for 60 to 80 minutes, or until the top is browned and a cake tester comes out clean. Let cool for at least 10 minutes and enjoy!
Photo by Alessia V.
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OUR TEAM Alessia V. Siddharta L. Georges T. Calista C. Alice B. Justine D. Valentine S. Charles W. Henry Z.
Co-Editor in Chief Co-Editor in Chief Reporter Reporter Reporter Editor Editor Editor Editor
A SPECIAL THANKS TO: Ms. Stathopulos (staff advisor)
CONNECT WITH US! @lebilingue studentjournalism@ejm.org