Money gone mad... By Benoit GLENAT

 

Patrick Artus, chief economist at Natixis bank and outstanding lecturer at Panthéon-Sorbonne in Paris, published a worrying book last February: “Madness of Central Banks: Why the next crisis will be worse”. He prophesises the next economic crisis, explaining the different factors that will inevitably lead to it…

First, Artus reminds us of the dreadful crisis which started in 2008. To reboot economic activity, the central banks (the banks of the banks) gave assets to the banks through quantitative easing. This is a monetary policy in which a central bank purchases government securities or other securities from the market in order to lower interest rates and so increase the money supply by flooding financial institutions with capital in an effort to promote increased lending and liquidity. The problem that Artus wants to highlight is not that; he completely agrees with this policy.

The problem is that, seven years on, this policy has not changed: monetary expansion is continuing and this is the danger. The central banks continue to "pay" by creating currency. Artus’s point is that this currency does not "disappear" and this creates bubbles of billions of dollars. There has never been so much money on the markets… The banks have sold their obligations to the central banks which has created an inevitable bubble (situation where the value of the obligations increases strongly and reaches levels judged excessive in comparison with the real value of assets). This generally ends with an explosion of the bubble and the fast reduction in values.

The bond bubble is going to explode. This bubble is even bigger than the real estate bubble of the subprime mortgage crisis. This is because nobody can "help" the central banks, and States are inevitably going to be affected because the central banks have acquired debts…

Links:

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/q/quantitative-easing.asp

http://www.lesechos.fr/finance-marches/vernimmen/definition_bulle-financiere.html?IVkBdF0mF6zcf2dt.99

http://www.lesechos.fr/finance-marches/marches-financiers/021663280823-p-artus-natixis-la-prochaine-crise-sera-extraordinairement-violente-1196739.php#

http://www.lepoint.fr/invites-du-point/patrick-artus/la-destabilisation-de-l-economie-mondiale-les-cinq-erreurs-cles-16-03-2016-2025646_1448.php 

http://www.franceinter.fr/emission-le-79-patrick-artus-la-bulle-obligataire-va-exploser-et-la-crise-sera-bien-pire

http://www.fayard.fr/la-folie-des-banques-centrales-9782213700434

Benoit GLENAT wants to work in Finance.

Physiotherapist: just a masseur? By Agathe LAFOY

 

"On behalf of my daughter, thank you! Sessions with physiotherapists were set up ever since we got back. They gave her the ability to walk again, also giving her autonomy to take a simple shower for example". This phrase was written by the father of a young disabled girl in the letter he sent to the hospital which took care of her.

People often think a physiotherapist’s task is just to massage, but after having done a work experience placement with a physiotherapist, I can assure you he can “save” people; in fact, he can help people retrieve their motor skills or a functional capacity which they had lost. That is why we can say that a physiotherapist can change lives.

An individual who suffers from the loss of motor control after a car crash for example, could think his or her future is to stay in bed all day long… But, if they are motivated, the physiotherapist can help the patient to make one step, then two, then three… From the point of view of a valid person, it may seem ridiculous; but for the patient it is a miracle! The physiotherapist can give joy to someone who always thought that he could not take advantage of life.

In the case of a man who was born with a cerebral motor disease, making him suffer from the constant contraction of his muscles, the goal of the physiotherapist will not be to get him walking again but to avoid permanent contraction of his muscles. In other words, the physiotherapist will try to make this patient more comfortable in his body. During my work experience, I saw a 27-year-old man who had this disease. He was so happy when the physiotherapist finally succeeded in straightening his leg, after massages to heat his muscles!

I want to be a physiotherapist. Yes, I would like to turn sad lives into ones full of happiness. I would like to see that smile on an old woman’s face; a smile which means "thanks!"

Links:

http://reanimation-sat.aphp.fr/temoignagesdancienspatientsouproches/

http://www.projects-abroad.fr/temoignages/?content=kinesitherapie/vietnam/aymerick-touze/

http://leya-mk.blogspot.fr/2012/06/ces-petits-riens.html

Scam! By Matthieu HOLLAENDER

A phone call with one ring that leaves no time to answer, we have all received one: this is what is called a "ping call". The "ping call" is a scam consisting of allowing no time to answer a call, prompting people to call back.

If you recall several times, you will receive an expensive bill at the end of the month! This is because it is a surcharged number. Perhaps a difference of a few euros on your monthly bill may not be a big deal. For the scammers, thousands of calls makes them earn huge amounts of money!

The technique is not new and has existed for several years. But, last November, the French National Police warned consumers on its website about these scammers who are now using new tricks to get people to call back. For example: they now use numbers that appear "normal", those starting with 01, 02, 04, etc., rather than 0 899.

If you call back, an operator will tell you you have won a gift and, in order to receive your prize, you must call a “customer service” number (which is of course overtaxed…).

The scammer’s goal is simple: to make you spend as much time as possible on the phone, to earn a maximum amount of money on every call. This is why they have now replaced computers by humans passing thousands of phone calls every day. A human conversation lasts longer…

How can we avoid these scams?

If no message is left on your answering machine, do not call back! If a caller really wants to reach you, he will leave a message on your answering machine.

A reporting platform was set up by the operators of the French Federation of Telecoms. You can send a free SMS to 33 700 with the text "Voice Spam 01 XX XX XX XX" (indicating the suspect phone number) to this platform. You will then receive an acknowledgment of receipt from the 33 700 number. Your report will be forwarded to operators.

Do not forget to make your relatives and friends aware of these “ping calls” and always be wary of ads that make you think you have won something!

Matthieu HOLLAENDER wants to work in consumer protection.

Innocent until proven guilty… By Enzo LAVILLAUREIX

  

As I wish to become a lawyer, there is a question which has been torturing me for a while: how can we morally defend a man who is guilty? The prejudice that often underlies this question is that lawyers are amoral people who seek to make money by defending criminals… But, people are not always criminals (!), and so it is necessary for someone (the lawyer) to be as impartial as possible in order to defend someone who, a priori, is not guilty. Anyway, it is not up to the lawyer to judge, it is up to… the judge!

Most of the time, lawyers answer this question by saying that a criminal often confesses to his crime and that the goal of the lawyer is not to discuss his innocence or guilt, but the sentence, so that it is the least severe possible.

But, from a moral point of view, is it right to defend anyone you know is guilty? The answer is that morality is a matter of personal ethical judgement. The lawyer’s job is to ensure that the Law is applied to everybody equally. His personal feelings do not come into it. A lawyer does not pass moral judgement on his client, he has to ensure a fair judgement by the court.

But, why defend a “lost cause”, someone who is obviously guilty? Well, it is not for the satisfaction of avoiding prison for the criminal. Rather, it is to obtain the most suitable sentence; because the lawyer knows the accused best, he is the person who can say what the appropriate sanction should be.

Practicing law is, I think, a noble occupation...

Links:

http://www.legavox.fr/blog/maitre-thomas-gachie/dites-maitre-comment-pouvez-vous-15995.htm#.VwUzQ_mLQ2w

http://www.nopanda.com/defendre-criminels-s798819.htm

http://www.grands-avocats.com/chronique-juridique/defendre-des-coupables/

http://www.peoplevstate.com/?p=363

http://www.lsuc.on.ca/media/sith_colloquium_asimow_michael.pdf

https://www.quora.com/How-do-lawyers-feel-about-defending-clients-they-believe-to-be-guilty

http://www.maitre-eolas.fr/post/2004/04/18/15-comment-faites-vous-pour-defendre-des-coupables

e-branding. By Inès PETIT

Nowadays, in the Web 2.0 era, where internet users' influence is increasing and platforms are multiplying, social medias have become essential in brands’ communication strategies. But communication on those spaces isn't that easy, as reputations are easily made and undone.

In 2016, 2,206 billion internet users are using social medias, and that means potential customers. Therefore, social medias' implication in the selling process can't be negleced, as every post is an opportunity for potential customers to convert. Consequently, brands have to catch internet users' interest, by using various marketing strategies, and bring them to the ultimate step: the acquisition of the product.

Nevertheless, the lack of interest of brands for classic medias isn't new. In 2010, Pepsi waived its TV advertisement spots during the Super Bowl, for the first time in 23 years, to invest the 20 million dollars it would have cost in a campaign on social medias : The Pepsi Refresh Project, the aim of which was to finance citizen projects.

The "campaign" principle is chosen by a lot of brands. For example, in 2015, Nike launched its largest Women’s campaign "Better For It", a motivational campaign, for women to empower themselves by doing sport. In this way, social medias allow brands to reinvent their link with customers and gain credibility and popularity.

Moreover, "cocreative" projects have become popular too. On social media brands ask customers their point of view on potential new products. In this way, Vitaminwater's consumers chose the new flavor of their new "Connect" water on their Facebook page. Starbucks, with its exchange space "My Starbucks Ideas", but also Ben & Jerry's and many more, developed new products this way. With this practice brands increase customers’ fidelity and their desire to be part of the brand's development.

In conclusion, social medias are a great way for brands to communicate with their customers, as it humanizes the brand. But a bad e-reputation can quickly be made, it's what happened when Greenpeace openly attacked Nestlé on Youtube, accusing it of contributing to illegal deforestation in Indonesia…

Links:

http://www.blogdumoderateur.com/chiffres-reseaux-sociaux/

http://www.e-marketing.fr/Marketing-Magazine/Article/Reseaux-sociaux-Les-marques-sous-influence-37558-1.htm

http://www.franceinfo.fr/emission/le-plus-france-info/2013-2014/reseaux-sociaux-comment-les-marques-nous-parlent-04-24-2014-08-45

Inès PETIT wants to get ahead in advertising.

Are soccer players paid too much? By Raphaël BERNARD

96 % of those interviewed consider professional soccer players earn excessive amounts. What the majority of people find unfair is the fact that there are such disparities of salary between for example an average soccer player and an ordinary employee. Is the soccer player responsible for these disparities? Like a movie star or singer, I think a soccer player is paid as much as his qualities deserve…

Soccer is one of the most competitive jobs in the world. Millions of young people dream of becoming a soccer star, but only very few are chosen. The unemployment rate is very high in the world of soccer, twice as high as in the world of ordinary work. A soccer player has obligations, a strict diet, a lifestyle which must be blameless, training twice a day and almost no holidays. Plus, it is very complicated to have a normal family life. Injuries can have an impact on his professional life, and a career lasts only between 10 and 15 years. 50 % of the European soccer players finish low on cash just 5 years after having retired.

People hear only about the stars who get fantastic wages (over €1 million a month), but these are very few. Salaries start at €2,100… The various soccer authorities are looking for solutions to these wage disparities ("Fair Play Financier" or "salary cap" like in the United States).

From my point of view, soccer stars deserve their high earnings. Do they not make us dream every week-end?

Links:

http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/sport/pourquoi-les-footballeurs-sont-ils-si-bien-payes_1501346.html

http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-eco/2013/04/07/97002-20130407FILWWW00015-les-footballeurs-trop-payes-sondage.php

http://www.ipaf-paris.fr/footballeurs-sont-ils-trop-payes/

Raphaël BERNARD wants to be a professional football player.

The mountains, a consumer product? By Antoine DE LA FORGE

 

This summer, too much sun caused ice melt in the Alps; climbing became almost impossible. However, at the famous Mont Blanc, a record was set: more than 400 climbers per day! Have the mountains become a consumer product like every other? But, should everyone and anyone be allowed to go mountain climbing?

A scandalous video was posted on the Web this summer: it shows two children, 11 and 13, filmed by their father, during a climb of Mont Blanc. They fell. This story shook the climbing world. The Mayor of Saint-Gervais said that, though there is free access to the mountains, mountain-climbing needs training and a professional guide should accompany climbers.

The increasing number of climbers causes problems: inadequate security measures and pollution. People are unprepared and badly trained (they do not know how to cope with bad weather conditions, rock fall, snowslide, etc.). Also, too many people sleep in the only hut on Mont Blanc.

The Mayor of Saint-Gervais wants to reduce the risks by making amateur climbers pay for their rescue. The Mont Blanc, he says, has become just another consumer product for people from the big cities…

I think everybody should be allowed to go mountain-climbing, but the rules should be more strictly enforced.

Sources : Le Figaro, Le Matin

Antoine DE LA FORGE wants to be a professional mountain guide.

3D printing of human organs. By Alexandre KIELICH

Demand for transplants or grafts far exceeds supply. This leads to illegal organ harvesting. That is why researchers have begun to work on systems to create personalized organs.

Three-dimensional printers could “print” human structures: skin, bone, fatty tissue, or even complete organs, thanks to a bio-ink made up of the patient’s cells. These “bio-printers” will revolutionize medicine. Currently, eighty scientific teams all over the world are working on this project, and some firms have actually started to create living human cell tissues.

Organs, however, have very complex structures, in particular the vascular and nervous systems. Scientists are struggling to vascularize the synthetized organs.

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_bioprinting
http://organovo.com/science-technology/bioprinting-process/ 
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-12520951
http://www.science-et-vie.com/2016/02/la-construction-de-tissus-humains-par-imprimante-3d-devient-une-realite/ 
http://sites.arte.tv/futuremag/fr/les-promesses-de-la-bio-impression-futuremag

Alexandre KIELICH wants to work in the medical field.

France: a state under the rule of law? By Antoine FEVRE

The state of emergency came into force in November 2015, after the tragic attacks in Paris. The aim is to avoid terrorist attacks. However, a growing number consider the state of emergency a threat to democracy. There is a real concern that the state under the rule of law will turn into a police state.

The state of emergency, based on the law of the 3rd of April 1955 (passed in the context of the War in Algeria), extends the State’s powers. For example: a Minister can put people under house arrest without having to refer to a judge. Wide powers are also given to law enforcement officers to arrest, search and seize. The state can stop demonstrations taking place more easily. These police measures are a response to our predicament.

The fight against terrorism is made easier with these legal measures, but do they make this fight more effective? In fact, in February, just two months after the launch of the state of emergency, only four court proceedings linked to terrorism were under way, despite the 3336 raids and 290 house arrests…

“We are at war", according to Manuel Valls the French Prime Minister. But is it a war against the opponents of the government? For example, during COP21, environmental activists were put under house arrest. What do they have to do with terrorist groups?!

Fundamental freedoms have been and are being baffled by the state of emergency. That's why the magistrates’ union has criticized the state of emergency; procedures are too often engaged despite a lack of evidence. Non-governmental organizations like Amnesty International have denounced the threat to fundamental human rights caused by the state of emergency.

So it seems we are between the devil and the deep blue sea. The state of emergency should end the 27th of May. Which is the most important: freedom or safety? I share the opinion of Benjamin Franklin: “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety”.

Sources: Amnesty International, Courrier International, Le Monde Diplomatique

Antoine FEVRE wants to be a lawyer.

Gardasil or not Gardasil: that is the question... By Florine CHARACHON

Cancers are the first cause of death in France. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer for women aged between 15 and 44 years old, after breast cancer. Cervical cancer is responsible for more than a thousand deaths each year in France. It concerns millions of women in the world. This cancer is caused by the papillomavirus virus. 75% of men and sexually active women will be affected by human papillomavirus in their lives. Generally (in 90% of cases), the female’s body eliminates the virus, but sometimes (in 10% of cases), these HPV viruses cause precancerous lesions in the cervix, which might generate a cancer.

To try to prevent this lethal cancer, a preventive vaccine was introduced in 2006: Gardasil. Three doses are required to be immunized: at intervals of 2 and 6 months. A girl has to be vaccinated before her first sexual intercourse. Although it is the only vaccine to prevent a cancer nowadays, it is subject to many controversies. Like any vaccine and any treatment there are always side effects. Recently, Henri Joyeux, an oncologist and surgeon took the initiative of launching a petition; it is headed: “No to mass vaccination of children against HPV!” According to him, vaccinating children with a product that may not be effective can be potentially dangerous or even fatal. After a few months on the Internet, the petition has 367,801 signatures.

Medical trials have shown that the benefits of this vaccine outweigh the risks, which is the reason why the majority of French girls have been vaccinated. Every parent has the choice to vaccinate their daughter or not. At the International Congress on Immunity in Nice last March, Doctor Schönefeld, world leader in autoimmunity, declared: "Vaccination is what medicine has done best for humanity in the last three centuries".

The real problem is cancer and its terrible consequences. In my opinion, it’s an incredible opportunity to be able to have access to this vaccine in our country. We all have the freedom to decide and to answer the question: “Should I get vaccinated?” It is up to you, me, I have already made up my mind!

Links:

https://www.mesvaccins.net/web/vaccines/7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QNIqxnWGhg&feature=youtube_gdata

http://www.pasteur.fr/fr/institut-pasteur/presse/fiches-info/cancer-du-col-l-uterus-et-papillomavirus

http://www.sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/cancer_col_uterus__connaissances.pdf

http://www.papillomavirus.fr/hpv-et-lesions-ano-genitales/lesions-hpv-femme/maladies-hpv-col-uterus/

http://www.arcagy.org/infocancer/localisations/cancers-feminins/cancer-du-col-de-l-uterus/maladie/les-tumeurs-malignes.html

http://www.sante.gouv.fr/papillomavirus-humains-hpv-et-cancer-du-col-de-l-uterus-prevention-depistage-et-vaccination.html

Florine Charachon wants to become a paediatrician.

There's nothing in the world as demoralizing as money... By Paul DE LA GRAVIERE

We think we master every aspect of the global economy, including the finance industry. But, there are still shadowy zones… Who are the tax dodgers? Who are their accomplices? Where does the money go?

The Panama Papers have uncovered part of this opaque world and exposed the mechanisms of tax evasion and money laundering. According to the consultant Clayton M. Christensen, the revelations in the “Panama Papers” are just the tip of a much bigger iceberg…

11,5 million documents were released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. It involves Mossack Fonseca, a secretive law firm that specialises in setting up offshore companies. An offshore company is a company located in a tax haven. The offshore financial institutions are often used for illicit purposes (money laundering and tax evasion). In parallel, tax havens are defined by a high level of secrecy, a weak commitment to international cooperation and sharing information. More importantly, their tax rate is equal to virtually zero.

The “Panama papers” concerns 140 current and former politicians, with 12 heads of state. The rich and powerful use law firms, offshore shell companies to hide their assets. In addition, criminals can also exploit tax haven schemes. A shell company has the outward appearance of being a legitimate business. But it is just an empty shell. It does nothing but manage the money in it, while hiding who owns the money.

The economic damage is huge: billions of dollars have been hidden. No taxes were paid. Express Newspapers estimates that the UK could be losing up to £7.2 billion a year of tax revenue.

I think we have to make sure that the rich pay taxes like everyone else. A public register of the owners of offshore companies, country by country, could be a solution.

Links:

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21696532-more-should-be-done-make-offshore-tax-havens-less-murky-lesson-panama-papers

http://www.lesechos.fr/monde/enjeux-internationaux/021815669450-panama-papers-les-coulisses-de-lenquete-1211437.php

http://www.lemonde.fr/panama-papers/article/2016/04/03/panama-papers-a-quoi-sert-l-offshore_4894881_4890278.html

https://panamapapers.icij.org

www.businessdictionary.com/.../offshore-financial-center-OFC.html

http://www.capital.fr/enquetes/economie/peut-on-encore-controler-la-finance-mondiale-688960

http://www.atlantico.fr/dossier/revelations-panama-papers-2652057.html

Paul DE LA GRAVIERE wants to work as a financial consultant.

Trading, a misunderstood profession. By Arthur GENEIX

 

Nowadays, choosing to become a trader is becoming more and more difficult to understand. Furthermore, the increasing number of suspected frauds (such as the Kerviel case or the best-known of them: the Bernard Madoff Ponzi Scheme) is linked to the perverse standing of this profession. In other words, most people have a fiendish vision of traders.

Nevertheless, many of us would not be able to define what a trader is. It can be summarized as a financial or an economic analyst who anticipates market fluctuations and trade values in order to generate profits. Moreover, they are often incurred by a bank or a brokerage and investment firm.

So, what are the reasons why traders are most of the time associated with fraud? Can traders cause stock market crashes?

One way to trade is trading for one’s own account: a certain amount of cash is allocated to traders who will take positions so that they manage to minimize risks taken against the expected gains. This is for example the case of banks that allocate funds for this purpose. This is the activity whose legitimacy is the most criticized, but it represents only a small part of trading activities.

Links:

http://www.politique.net/2008020201-qu-est-ce-qu-un-trader.htm

https://champpenal.revues.org/8590

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Madoff

http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/chronique/2010/01/06/qu-est-ce-que-le-trading_1287819_3232.html

Arthur GENEIX wants to work for a financial company.

My heroes. By Pauline HUSSER

Chen Guangcheng

Today, in too many countries, human rights are publicly scorned by governments or dictatorships. Some lawyers put their lives on the line every day to defend democracy, fundamental human rights and freedoms in these countries but they are not recognized as heroes. Harassed, intimidated, prosecuted… Those men and women face difficulties in their defence work, and some of them decide to give up because of the threats. But some courageous lawyers want to keep fighting, in order to regain their freedom of expression.

Why should the defence lawyers be considered the criminals? One of the most courageous, Waleed Abu al Khair, was sentenced to 15 years of prison by the Specialized Criminal Court because of his commitment to human rights. He is a Saudi Arabian lawyer and activist, famous for defending Samar Badawi, who was in jail because she disobeyed her father. The campaign he launched to demand her release was a complete success but also a source of troubles for him.

But my favourite lawyer is Chen Guangcheng, a Chinese civil rights activist, blind and self-taught in law, frequently described as the “barefoot lawyer”. He defends the welfare of the poor and fights against the abuses in official family-planning practices and forced abortions: he was placed under house detention, beaten several time as “punishment”. His story is well-known all around the world: following his trial, Amnesty International called him a “prisoner of conscience” jailed unfairly for his peaceful activities in defence of human rights.

Most of these lawyers are unknown, but the current media interest means they’re now able to have the support of the international community. According to me, they have a really interesting role to play and are a model of courage for future lawyers, because fighting for one’s beliefs should be the aim of every attorney.

Sources:

http://www.parismatch.com/Actu/International/L-aveugle-qui-perce-a-jour-Pekin-Chen-Guangcheng-l-avocat-aux-pieds-nus-818617

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/23/the-barefoot-lawyer-chen-guangcheng-review-determination

http://thebarefootlawyer.net/

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/saudi-arabia-free-human-rights-lawyer-waleed-abulkhair-abu-al-khair

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-n-arshack/waleed-abu-al-khair-human-rights_b_8663004.html

Pauline HUSSER wants to be a lawyer.

The power of a picture. By Marjolaine DE SURY

The photo is framed in close-up on the two people; we don’t see the other police officers, the photographers or the other bodies. The sea and the beach that seem so calm contrast with the horror of the scene. The child seems so small next to the sea and the man; he is innocent and powerless. He’s not sleeping; his face turned to the ground tells us he’s dead…

The next day, this photograph was on the front page of every European newspaper. This picture has given rise to a debate among the press: should we show the picture to the world? Isn’t it too shocking? Most of the newspapers chose either the picture of the boy on the ground or the picture in which the coastguard is holding little Aylan. They thought the second picture more acceptable according to the criteria of the press because it shows human intervention, the authorities fulfilling their role. The Independent took the decision to publish both these images to show the desperate situation of the refugees.

On Thursday, François Hollande and Angela Merkel reached an agreement about the quotas of migrants in the European nation. In the next days, lots of European countries chose to help the migrants. David Cameron said that the UK is ready to welcome a thousand more Syrian refugees and to give £100 million to help cope with the humanitarian crisis in Syria. In Germany, the people have welcomed the migrants. But a few months later, faced with the increasing number of refugees, they closed the borders, and policies concerning migrants have gotten harder.

8 months later, what has changed? Nothing; migrants continue to arrive in small boats, in the dangerous waters, people continue to drown. As the historian Thomas Snegaroff said: “There are many images that have marked history. There are few who have changed it.”

Links:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/if-these-extraordinarily-powerful-images-of-a-dead-syrian-child-washed-up-on-a-beach-don-t-change-10482757.html#gallery

http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2015/09/04/apres-la-photo-de-l-enfant-noye-une-cascade-d-engagements-de-la-part-des-politiques_4745501_3214.html

http://www.arretsurimages.net/breves/2015-09-03/Aylan-Kurdi-3-ans-id19198

http://www.buzzfeed.com/adriensenecat/de-l-indifference-a-l-emotion

http://blogs.afp.com/makingof/?post/turquie-refugies-naufrage-que-ferais-je-si-ce-bebe-etait-a-moi

http://www.lesoir.be/1109126/article/actualite/monde/2016-02-01/naufrage-migrants-personne-ne-s-occupe-du-bebe-mort

http://bigbrowser.blog.lemonde.fr/2015/09/03/la-photo-dun-enfant-mort-sur-une-plage-turque-a-la-une-de-la-presse-europeenne/

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Kurdi

http://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2015/09/10/mort-d-aylan-mensonges-manipulation-et-verite_4751442_4355770.html

http://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2015/09/04/sur-le-web-images-manipulees-et-rumeurs-pour-casser-l-elan-de-solidarite-envers-les-refugies_4746189_4355770.html

Driverless cars. By Romain THELLIER

 Cartoon by Henri Payne

"Driverless cars have long been the realm of fantasy" according to CNN reporter Oliver Joy. When we talk about autonomous cars, driverless cars, self-driving cars, call it however you want, we refer to vehicles able to control all the situations of real life without any human intervention. Actually, autonomous cars isn’t something new: the idea is almost as old as the first cars…

But how does such a car work? In fact, it’s not as complicated as it seems. The system is based on the use of different captors that transmit and receive all the data from the environment. More precisely, a laser called "lidar" transmits the traffic conditions and then advanced software translates this data into mechanical actions. Many car manufacturers are getting involved in the race for self-driving cars like General Motors, Nissan or Mercedes-Benz. In this race, other sectors have their say, for example Google. With 1.5 million miles and counting, it plays a major role. What differentiates Google self-drive cars from the self-drive cars of car manufacturers is accuracy, according to The Guardian.

Statistics reveal that 90 % of road accidents are due to human error. Driverless cars could reduce drastically the number of accidents thanks to, inter alia, a better response time. Moreover, it would allow the increase of the speed limit or even reduce traffic jams. Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of Renault-Nissan, told CNN's reporter Max Foster that a "car with artificial intelligence would be a huge advantage, allowing people to use the time saved in commuting to be more productive". Nevertheless, challenges remain. For example, hacking car computers could seriously compromise traffic security…

Links:

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27327540

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/17/google-self-driving-car.html

http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/technology/driverless-cars.htm?page=6

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/11/google-self-driving-cars

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/21/business/renault-nissan-ceo-wants-driverless/index.html

Romain THELLIER wants to work in automotive engineering.

The new Roland Garros. By Maëlle RIVALIER

Roland-Garros is one of the four most prestigious tournaments in the Grand Chelem international tennis circuit. It economically drives the French tennis industry and is totally beneficial for the economy of Paris. Since 2011, the French tennis federation (FFT) has chosen to remain in Roland-Garros stadium. With the support of Paris City Hall, their project revolves around three main ideas : modernization, enlargement and a better integration in its environment.

But, the descendants of Jean-Camille Formigé and the architects have gone to court over the project. Formigé was the creator of the "Jardins des Serres-d'Auteuil”. The project for the new Roland-Garros is to destroy the historic greenhouses and make the gardens part of to the current stadium. The descendants say this project is an “infringement of the moral rights of their ancestor”. They wanted to put a stop to this project “in the name of copyright”. One of them told the JDD newspaper that he considered that this project threatened the stadium in its integrity. According to him, the stadium would become architecturally denatured.

The Secretary General of the FFT says: "We  are not destroying anything, we are replacing”. In response to the Formigé family and its environmental concerns, the Secretary General announced that trees are going to be planted and will be more numerous than before.

Despite these setbacks, the project is going ahead because the architecture will fit harmoniously within the gardens. The creation of new spaces is also going to attract different visitors. From a broader perspective, by choosing to improve the existing site, the French Tennis Federation is proving that it is up to the task of combining the sporting, financial, social and cultural interests at stake in the 21st century. Indeed, the tournament generates €289 million. Moreover, the preservation of the legacy of plant life is an encouraging priority.  So the project seems essential for the future of the image of Paris and France on the world sports and economic scene.

Links :

https://sportetsociete.org/category/agrandissement-de-roland-garros/

http://www.nouveaurolandgarros.com/d-cision-du-juge-des-r-f-r-s-du-tribunal-de-grande-instance-de-paris

http://www.nouveaurolandgarros.com/projet/le-detail

http://www.leparisien.fr/flash-actualite-sports/nouveau-roland-garros-recours-des-heritiers-formige-au-tgi-avocat-02-10-2015-5148993.php#xtref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.fr%2F

http://www.lejdd.fr/Sport/Tennis/Extension-de-Roland-Garros-la-FFT-tire-la-sonnette-d-alarme-766763

https://www.debatpublic.fr/projet-nouveau-stade-roland-garros

Maëlle Rivalier wants to work in the world of sports.

Will machines replace doctors? By Hugo MADEBENE

 

With the technological breakthroughs, and the more frequent uses of technology, more and more workers are replaced by machines. Robots’ presence at work is growing day by day because they are considered as a much more efficient solution to earn more money and are more accurate than humans.

This “evolution” is also present in the medical field. With time, the patient has become the centre of the medical system. He is extremely informed and doesn't accept medical or surgical hazard anymore. With the development of internet and, recently, connected objects which can make medical analyses, there is now real independence of the public concerning doctors. This evolution is characterized by the emergence of numerous starts-up dedicated to e-health.

The use of robots in medicine is already great, but this will tend to accelerate in the next few years. Surgeon robots are gradually integrating operating blocks and soon they could be followed by their equivalent in general medicine. The researchers Kris Hauser and Casey Benett say that they have developed a medical robot clearly better than doctors in diagnosing diseases and in proposing adequate treatments… This robot can take the medical information of the patient with the use of medical tools such as a stethoscope or a thermometer integrated into the machine. So it knows what the symptoms of the patient are. With his artificial intelligence and his database, he can make a precise diagnosis, which is more reliable than one made by a human doctor. This accuracy in the diagnosis is due to the non-exhaustion of the robot and his capacity to always be objective.

Some studies show that a robot or an algorithm is more efficient by 35% than a human doctor and costs twice less for the patient:  $197 for a robot against $497 for a doctor. Studies also show that the treatment chosen by a robot is much more relevant than the one chosen by a doctor.

So, with all these advantages, robots will logically replace doctors with time. But a robot is still a tool; it doesn’t have compassion. A doctor knows when it's an appropriate moment to say something. With a robot there is no social help and no human relationship; these are very important in medical treatment.

The most plausible solution would be cooperation between man and machine, allowing more effective treatment…

Links:

-www.futura-sciences.com/magazines/sante/infos/actu/d/medecine-robots-remplaceront-ils-bientot-medecins-44717/

-www.maddyness.com/innovation/2016/04/01/e-sante-medecine-du-futur-bertin-nahum/

-www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/education/festival-of-the-imagination/11921755/will-robots-take-over.html

Hugo wants to be a doctor.

Is France still a major military power? By Georges LAUZIN

 

The French army is divided in four groups: the Navy, the Air Force, the Land Force, and The Gendarmerie Nationale. The first three are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence. The Gendarmerie has been the responsibility of the Interior Ministry since 2009, but its staff has kept its military status. The French army is deployed overseas, and the Gendarmerie is used to defend the French territory.

The Commander-in-chief of the armed forces is General Pierre de Villiers. He is under the authority of the President of the Republic, M. François Hollande. The Defence Minister is Jean-Yves Le Drian.

France has been implicated in a lot of conflicts in the last century. Except for the First World War and the Second World War, none of these conflicts took place on French territory. With its seat at the Security Council of the United Nations, France has often deployed its armed forces in different countries like Bosnia Herzegovina in 1992 and Lebanon in 2006. It has also, of its own initiative, taken part in conflicts in Afghanistan (2003) or Mali (2013).

In terms of soldiers, France holds the 15th world rank with a total of 355, 499 people, but in terms of power France has the 4th place. The factors that are used to qualify the power of an army are its budget, the number of personnel, the weapons they own, and the response capacity they have.

Nowadays, the French army has very effective intervention units like the Special Forces GIGN, and they are increasingly active because of the rise of terrorist attacks.

The Foreign Legion, famous for its action in Dien-Bien-Phu (1953) and Cameroon (1963), is still a force to be reckoned with.

The French army is definitively one of the most powerful, and that is one of the reasons for terrorist attacks on France; terrorists try to demonstrate the vulnerability of the country despite its powerful army.

Links:

http://toutsurtoutpourtous.webnode.fr/news/classement-des-armees-les-plus-puissantes/

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_arm%C3%A9es_nationales_par_effectif

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forces_arm%C3%A9es_fran%C3%A7aises

http://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.asp?country_id=France

Georges LAUZIN wants to be officer in the Gendarmerie.