Monday 28 January 2013
Sunday 27 January 2013
Why has Marseilles always been a major hub? By Augustin Ponroy
Located on the south east coast of France, Marseille is
the second biggest city in France. Marseille has been designated one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2013. It is the most important crossroads between North Africa and Europe.
It is a beautiful
city with a long history (paleolithic cave paintings have been discovered
recently). Nowadays, it imports mostly petrol. It is the largest commercial port of the Mediterranean,
of France too, and the fifth most important in Europe.
The Greeks founded
Massalia in the 6th century BC (Marseilles is in fact the oldest
French city). It was a phocaean colony, used essentially for trade. Then the Romans
conquered the town and it became one of their main ports supplying Rome.
During the Crusades,
armies from all over Europe sailed to the Holy Land from Marseilles. There were
important families who made their fortunes from trade, shipping and banking. Marseilles’
influence kept growing, and in 1437 the Count of Provence fortified the city.
During colonial times,
it was through Marseilles that weapons, gold, workers, etc., went.
Thousands of colonial
soldiers came through Marseilles before going up to fight against Germany in the
First World War.
Marseilles has always attracted people from around the
Mediterranean basin, making it a multicultural place with an extraordinary mix of cultures (about 40% of Marseilles’ under-18s is of North African origin).
Drugs, violence, organized crime, unemployment
and poverty are major problems in Marseilles today.
History shows
that Marseilles has always been a major hub, i.e. a place where transport
routes and people are concentrated. This is due to its advantageous geographical
position on the coast of France. Merchandise can be sent to France (a major
European market) from the Mediterranean basin countries and from Africa and the
Middle East. The port facilities
have always been sophisticated and able to handle lots of goods. Also, there
are plenty of transport routes (road, rail, air and canal) to Marseilles from France
and Europe. The climate is also favorable to trade and industrial activity
(including fishing of course). There has never been a shortage of workers
either. Marseilles has always been part of an international network of
transport routes, making it a world city. Because of its rich history and
culture, Marseilles also attracts visitors. It is also a place of learning (specializing
in research on water management). It is also a key player in the Euromed partnership
(cooperation between countries of the Mediterranean basin).
Sunday 20 January 2013
OIB Projects 2013
The
boys will be in charge of promoting the European Year of Citizens at Massillon:
- Create a poster to promote awareness of the EYC;
- Create a blog that explains and promotes EYC, and lists the activities in Massillon to do with EYC;
- Using the OIB international network, ask what “citizenship” means in different parts of the world (add result on blog);
- Organize a Good citizen prize for the pupils of Massillon;
- Organize a conference given by the local MEP and an interschool debate on voting rights at 16.
- Create a radio programme (in English and French) on the EYC for Radio Campus.
- With the girls, organize a charity event (e.g. bouchoncdamour63).
The
girls will be in charge of Europe Day:
- Organize the sale of cupcakes to finance a Maypole dance, tea time and balloon drop for the Primary school;
- Run a EU facts, figures & news notice board (changes weekly) in the CDI;
- Promote the Europe Day 2013 poster competition;
- Organize a Europe Day prize-winning quiz;
- Organize a Europe Day letter to your MEP competition on the theme: What tomorrow’s European citizens want;
- Plan a 9th May party!
- With the boys, organize a charity event.
- Take part in a short film on being a young European citizen today.
Tuesday 8 January 2013
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