Not everyone who lives in embattled French neighborhoods like Clichy-sous-Bois is participating in the riots that have been raging for more than a fortnight. In fact, there are some people known as elders who live in the same conditions as the rioters, but are actively trying to end the riots peacefully. In this interview, two elders explain their thoughts on why the riots started, what factors contributed, and how to end them.
French audio: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3
English translation: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3
Related: The Language Behind the Riots - While the deaths of two youths were the catalyst to the violence, other factors are involved, including the language used by Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy to describe his plans to fight crime.
Edited: nd
Article comments
1 - Marcia L. Neil
Imagine yourself French and invited to the peninsula city of San Francisco, California; then sucked into XXX porn probably so that hosts can learn some new dialogue. Then imagine that your European apartment is rented out to USA strangers as demanded perhaps to continue a bookmaking scheme -- and that they smoke cigarettes. It's not a laugh riot.