Gettin' Up.

Some shots of Strasbourg graffiti. I must admit the graffiti scene seems a bit tame here (even compared to Edmonton). There are a few stunners like that ASK piece but in terms of volume there isn't much going on. Which of course makes me a little sad. I think though it might have to do with the buildings. It just doesn't seem worth it to paint on these crooked centuries old buildings. You can't make them better. I have heard that if you head out to the Banlieu you'll find more stuff. A mixture of the buildings being ugly grey socialist realist type things and the fact that people don't bother buffing out there. I have also heard that the Banlieus aren't super fun to visit. I'm sure I'll make it out there eventually.

Revolutionary Politics and Revolting Policy.

So I was fortunate enough on Tuesday night to be able to attend this speech and debate with two members of the APPO (Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca). The speech was phenomenal and more than a little eye-opening. Mexico is a country in North America where corruption runs rampant and free elections aren't even guaranteed. In Oaxaca they had actual insurrections against government corruption and they were silenced by paramilitary groups and a media blackout. I knew a little bit about Oaxaca before going, that being what prompted me to stop and read the poster and subsequently make the trek out of downtown Strasbourg but to hear from people who've been there the details of the continuing marginalisation of the aboriginal population and misappropriation of funds well it's a bit different then reading about it on the internet. The regional government of Oaxaca has/had been systematically taking away the constitutional rights of Oaxacans for years culminating most recently in a complete disregard for the rights of Free speech and Freedom of Association. On top of which they would grossly overcite the cost of projects like the building of a new parliament and ostensibly pocket the extra funds. The woman Jacquelina (if memory serves) said some particularly interesting things about the role of women and the media in the people's rebellion. The woman when the free radio was shut down in fact marched into and re-appropriated television stations and all the radio stations in Oaxaca turning them into forums for people to talk about the revolution and their own personal experience. More information can be found here (and I'm sure elsewhere you can all type Oaxaca in google if you're interested):
Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca

City Mouse and Country Mouse

So after a week here in Alsace I guess I have started to get a feel for the place. Twice I ventured into the countryside to visit vineyards, war memorials and towns from the middle ages. The first time with Dr. Lee and the Allisonians and the second time with a contingent of exchange students from Stockholm (all of which are blonde girls) as well as an Icelandic architecture student (also blonde and female). It's amazing you take the train here for twenty minutes and you're in the most gorgeous town you've ever visited that just happens to be surrounded by field upon field of wine-grapes. I think the weather probably helps. The days being warm but not hot with plenty of sun. On Saturday on the tour we happened to be visiting a town at the same time as some university hazing ritual where the students in all manner of funny attire would shout and shout and shout until people through water on them from their windows. Apparently none of the French people I've met have ever heard of such a thing. This is not unusual, however, as I've been told a lot of little towns have their own traditions and people don't expect that you've heard of their little town and it's own special ways even if you're from France. Today is the first day of classes so it is perhaps the end of my mid-week jaunts to the countryside...alas no more wine-tasting.

Madame, est-ce que je peux pisser dans ta lavabo?

So in honour of Jean-Luc Godard's classic 'A bout de Souffle' they have opted to furnish every room in my residence with a sink. Residence here is a whole different kettle of fish. I live in the same building as guys from Burkina Faso doing specialised masters in engineering with a focus on waste, Irish law students and French high school students. Although this may not be a particularly flattering picture, the building itself is awe-inspiring much like all the buildings. Perhaps next time I'll post a picture of something worth looking at...