vast nocturnal gatherings have spread across France in a citizen-led movement that has rattled the government

As night fell over Paris, thousands of people sat cross-legged in the vast square at Place de la République, taking turns to pass round a microphone and denounce everything from the dominance of Google to tax evasion or inequality on housing estates.

The debating continued into the early hours of the morning, with soup and sandwiches on hand in the canteen tent and a protest choir singing revolutionary songs. A handful of protesters in tents then bedded down to “occupy” the square for the night before being asked to move on by police just before dawn. But the next morning they returned to set up their protest camp again.

For more than a week, these vast nocturnal protest gatherings – from parents with babies to students, workers, artists and pensioners – have spread across France, rising in number, and are beginning to panic the government.

Called Nuit debout, which loosely means “rise up at night”, the protest movement is increasingly being likened to the Occupy initiative that mobilised hundreds of thousands of people in 2011 or Spain’s Indignados.

“There’s something here that I’ve never seen before in France – all these people converge here each night of their own accord to talk and debate ideas – from housing to the universal wages, refugees, any topic they like. No one has told them to, no unions are pushing them on – they’re coming of their own accord.”

Read the rest at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/08/nuit-debout-protesters-occupy-french-cities-in-a-revolutionary-call-for-change


Something is in the air, where this is going to go is anyone's guess, but it's not a repeat of things from the past, that's for sure

Its very similar to the ''Spanish Indignation'' , although with patriotic songs, the french are very big on them., compared to other countries.

Its a good thing . People getting together to talk , debate . without a direct agenda except for , ''there has to be a better way'', got any ideas. .

Even though it does not mean that every Frenchman is there at the plazas at night , but it will most certainly stimulate debate at home and amounst family and friends at the cafe's.

thats what we want , people waking up ,at least talking about what is fair and what is inhumain within there own society.

       
well well well, I'm betting the next French Revolution will prove to be far harder to steer, manipulate, subjugate and contain than the last one.

jus' wot appns when you got a thousand moles and only one 'ammer to whack 'em with!!!