Fuel to Paris reduced as French protests escalate

[bemildred]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Striking French oil refinery workers shut down a fuel pipeline supplying Paris and its airports on Friday and airport workers grounded some flights as protests mounted to derail an unpopular pension reform.

France's airport operator played down worries of fuel shortages, but strikes at all of France's 12 refineries and fuel depot blockades have prompted motorists to stock up on petrol.

Truck drivers also were set to join the fray as momentum built for a day of street rallies on Saturday.

The widening protests have become the biggest challenge facing President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is struggling with low popularity ratings as he tries to appease financial markets by stemming a ballooning pension shortfall.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69E43320101015

[Poll_Blind]

1. One great thing about the French: They know how to get their government's attention.

They really do.

PB

[SocialistLez]

3. Over there the gov is scared of them...vs the other way around in the U.S.

=/

[villager]

2. Interesting watching how citizens behave... in a democracy!

n/t

[pampango]

4. BBC: Paris airport fuel running short amid pension strikes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11557240



France's main airport, Charles de Gaulle, has enough fuel to last only a few days, the transport ministry has warned amid strikes against government plans to raise the retirement age.

Oil refineries and fuel depots have been hit by the latest strikes. All 12 oil refineries in France have been hit by the strikes. Ten have shut down or are in the process of closing. A number of fuel depots have been blockaded. Trapil, the company that operates the fuel pipeline to the Paris airports, told French media on Friday that supplies had stopped and that Roissy-Charles de Gaulle could run out of fuel as early as next week.

Meanwhile more than 200 marches nationwide are planned on Saturdays. The protesters are opposed to President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to raise the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62, and from 65 to 67 for a full state pension.

More than a million people took to the streets in the latest national protest on Tuesday, according to police. Trade unions organisers said 3.5m had taken part.

[Joanne98]

5. French protests jeopardise airport fuel supplies

Source: Guardian

France's main airport has only a few days' worth of fuel left, it was announced today, as the strikes against government pension plans continued to hit infrastructure.

The transport ministry warned of the fuel shortage at the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris as unions worked to rally millions of people for another national protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's bill to raise the retirement age.

The country has already endured four days of strikes, resulting in grounded flights and cut rail services. Ten of France's 12 oil refineries have been shut down or are in the process of being closed and several fuel depots have been blockaded.

A ministry spokesman said officials were working to restore aviation fuel supplies, and the economy minister, Christine Lagarde, urged people "not to panic", the BBC reported.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/16/french-protests-airport-fuel-supplies

[OHdem10]

6. Are not strikes supposed to create "problems"???

[Lasher]

7. Damned right they are.

You can be sure the Catfood Commission members and their supporters are watching this development. The French people are helping fight our fight. I hope they shut down the airport and keep it that way.

[mbperrin]

8. Woo-hoo! Protests that matter!

Strike! Strike! Strike!