Occupations

As we (myself and 35 colleagues from eight European cities) gathered in Rennes to occupy ourselves with the final meeting of the 'Partispace' research into 'spaces and styles of youth participation', the street and square below the window of our room was itself occupied by a manifestation, which turned out to be part of a protest against the eviction of another occupation, of a site which for some years had been earmarked for an airport (see here for details). Few demonstrations in France are complete without tractors; this one also had music and fireworks (see extra).

It is of course fifty years now since the 'évènements' of May 1968 which convulsed Paris and inspired students in many other countries (including me) to assert themselves in similar ways - and which also helped to inspire Trevor Griffiths' first stage play for the RSC, 'Occupations', about Gramsci and the Fiat factory occupations in 1920s Italy.

We had arrived in Rennes the night before on a six-hour bus ride from Paris, the TGV being unavailable because of a series of strikes by SNCF workers. La lutte continue...

A wonderful interview with Trevor Griffiths here