France and the UK hold their first summit for 4 years In their first official summit, Prime Minister Cameron and President Hollande enjoyed a pub lunch and discussed Syria and joint defence projects. >> Page 10
Limousin March 2014 Issue #53
France admits guilt over forced repatriations Between 1963 and 1982, over 1,600 children were removed from the French island of Réunion and "relocated" to mainland France - primarily the Limousin. Now, for the first time, France has publicly acknowledged its responsibility in the scandal of "Les Enfants de la Creuse". ing place from rural France towards the country's cities. This was noted by Michel Debré, a former Gaullist minister who was then an MP for Réunion. It was his job to manage “the demographic problem in the overseas departments, by encouraging and developing the promotion of mass immigration toward mainland France”, according to documents obtained by AFP news agency. Debré hit upon the idea of sending children deemed “wards of the State” in Réunion to be adopted by families in France. However, many of these children were not orphans or “wards of the State”, but more often they came from poor, illiterate families who couldn’t resist the promise of a brighter future for their children in mainland France. Although promised a better life, many children suffered from the sudden
NEWS - Speed limit to be reduced to 80 km/h
The government looks set to reduce the speed limit on national roads to 80 km/h in some or all departments >> Page 3
NEWS - Ryanair allows PDEs on all flights
No need to turn off your mobile phone next time you fly as Ryanair change their rules >> Page 7
FRENCH LIFE - In the Garden - March
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O
n the 18th February, France finally admitted responsibility for its role in the scandal that saw 1,615 children taken from their homes on the island of Réunion and sent to live in rural France. Many of these children were brought to the Limousin, in particular the Creuse department and a large number still live here today. France's National Assembly voted by 125 votes to 14 to adopt a resolution that finally recognized the country's “moral responsibility” for these “stolen children”, denouncing their “forced migration” from the island in the Indian Ocean and describing their fate as “irreparable”. In the 1960s, birth rates and unemployment were booming in the French overseas territory of Réunion, and at the same time a mass exodus was tak-
INSIDE > > >
>> continued on page 4
Our resident expert, Michelle Pierce, helps us get our veggie gardens ready for summer >> Pages 14-15
Figures show that burgers now account for half of all sandwiches >> Page 12 bought in France!!
Develop a habit that saves you money!
Your indispensable guide to the region's Businesses >> Centre Pages
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