Daily Lessons from Life 14 August 2012 - French city rocked by worst rioting in years

"French city rocked by worst rioting in years - AFP 14 August 2012

AMIENS, France: A deprived area of the city of Amiens has been left devastated by rioting, raising fears of a wave of unrest as the economic outlook for France's poorest communities worsens.

Clashes involving around 100 local youths and up to 150 police erupted late Monday in the rundown northern quarter of an otherwise prosperous city that is known for its university and 13th-century Gothic cathedral.

Police used tear gas and rubber bullets and deployed a helicopter to quell the unrest after suffering injuries caused by buckshot, fireworks and other projectiles thrown by rioters.

The violence followed lower-scale clashes 24 hours earlier which were triggered by the arrest of a man for dangerous driving.

The arrest was seen as insensitive as it came as many residents of the neighbourhood were attending a wake for a local 20-year-old who had died in a motorbike accident.

Gilles Demailly, the mayor of Amiens, said he had encountered a "scene of desolation" when he visited the affected area on Tuesday.

"There have been regular incidents here but it has been years since we've known a night as violent as this with so much damage done," he told AFP.

"Hollande's government has identified the northern quarter of Amiens as one of 15 "priority security zones" across the country which will be established from September.

The emphasis will be on tougher policing rather than on schemes to alleviate the impact of record unemployment and falling real incomes for the poorest sections of society.

Trade unions battling job cuts across French industry have already warned of a "hot autumn" of protest unless the government eases up on the austerity drive.

Hollande on Tuesday promised a tough response to the unrest in Amiens.

"The state will mobilise all its means to combat these violent acts," Hollande said. "Security is not only a priority for us, it is an obligation.""

Will this EVER happen in Singapore? This is the 'bet the nation' trillion dollar question! Hopefully it will NEVER happen in Singapore. But then again someone will say: Never say NEVER!

Lessons for me are:

1. what type of life do the people want? rich and poor on their own merit or balance with the rich subsidising the poor or just average income for all?;

2. what type of values do the people embrace? If you are poor it is because you did not apply yourself properly with 'self-help', education, not grabbing the 'equal opportunity' provided by the states, etc and NOT blamed the rich who applied themselves better? If you are rich will you appreciate the obligation to help the poor apply themselves well by providing 'help yourself so you can help others' programs!;

3. is this a zero sum gain - someone must win and someone must lose? Hopefully not. In Singapore we have to ensure that the rich and the poor gap MUST never, I can say it safely, NEVER, be allowed to spiral out of control. The rich MUST help the poor while the poor MUST help themselves. When the rich and poor gap is small, there is no issue of envy or jealousy. Living an average happy life is good enough. Of course, there will always be competition from other countries. BUT then, it is how the people of the nation live their lives that define what is a 'healthy and sustainable' lifestyle.

May the French find out the ROOT Causes of the riot and may the PEOPLE has the good sense to work it out. Over time and with true sincerity and determination. The rich cannot enjoy the wealth if there is no peace and harmony. Though some will say they can move to another place that can offer such benefits. REALLY? For how long?