Weird French survey o' the week
If folk keep commissioning odd surveys, I'm going to keep writing them up, so for readers' delectation I present 'The French and the Sea':
They like it. They like it so much that they want to live next to it, with 37% wishing to live on the coast, up from 32% three years ago and 26% in 1999 (1). Conversely, 'the countryside' is waning in its appeal, dropping from 43% to 39% to 36%. Towns and 'the mountains' make up the remainder. Which all begs the question, what about rural places on the littoral with mountains behind?
Further, some 62% of our Gallic chums claim to be interested in marine flora and fauna. I will be very wary of any French person striking up a lift conversation next time I am outre mer. 53% are interested in the sea 'in a general sense', and 51% in the 'safety of maritime transport'. As God is my witness, I am NOT making this up. Elsewhere, some 14% are interested in the French Navy, and 24% in marine 'social and economic activity'. I'm not making that up either.
And on it goes:
'Do you agree that the sea is the future of the earth?' 48% gave an emphatic yes, 41% a more guarded yes, and 11% did not agree. I suspect that 'Thalassa', a French Sunday evening (I think) TV prog on all things marine may have a lot to answer for.
Some 39% of Gauls think that they overdo it on the fishing front, with 25% thinking that they do not fish enough. 80% want more tidal barrages, wind farms and so on. Maybe once they have had a few views runied they will think otherwise.
The rest of the survey is toodull worthy for further exegesis.
(1) Because I am bad person, I consider that no sighting of the sea is complete without declaiming a bit of Joyce: "The snot green sea. The scrotum tightening sea"
They like it. They like it so much that they want to live next to it, with 37% wishing to live on the coast, up from 32% three years ago and 26% in 1999 (1). Conversely, 'the countryside' is waning in its appeal, dropping from 43% to 39% to 36%. Towns and 'the mountains' make up the remainder. Which all begs the question, what about rural places on the littoral with mountains behind?
Further, some 62% of our Gallic chums claim to be interested in marine flora and fauna. I will be very wary of any French person striking up a lift conversation next time I am outre mer. 53% are interested in the sea 'in a general sense', and 51% in the 'safety of maritime transport'. As God is my witness, I am NOT making this up. Elsewhere, some 14% are interested in the French Navy, and 24% in marine 'social and economic activity'. I'm not making that up either.
And on it goes:
'Do you agree that the sea is the future of the earth?' 48% gave an emphatic yes, 41% a more guarded yes, and 11% did not agree. I suspect that 'Thalassa', a French Sunday evening (I think) TV prog on all things marine may have a lot to answer for.
Some 39% of Gauls think that they overdo it on the fishing front, with 25% thinking that they do not fish enough. 80% want more tidal barrages, wind farms and so on. Maybe once they have had a few views runied they will think otherwise.
The rest of the survey is too
(1) Because I am bad person, I consider that no sighting of the sea is complete without declaiming a bit of Joyce: "The snot green sea. The scrotum tightening sea"
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"'Do you agree that the sea is the future of the earth?' 48% gave an emphatic yes, 41% a more guarded yes, and 11% did not agree. I suspect that 'Thalassa', a French Sunday evening (I think) TV prog on all things marine may have a lot to answer for."
Or, possibly, they are nostalgic 'Seaquest:DSV' fans?
Can't say I had ever heard of it. The other possibility is 'Stingray'.....
or 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'
And not forgetting ol' Jacques Cousteau himself.
French warships are of course built with glass bottoms so that the new French navy can look at the old French navy.
Geoff - And no discussion of such is complete without a nod to Mers El Kebir.
Serendipitously, I misrembered the name as Tel el Kebir, and miracle of miracles, there is a McGonagall poem about that:
YE sons of Great Britain, come join with me,
And sing in praise of Sir Garnet Wolseley;
Sound drums and trumpets cheerfully,
For he has acted most heroically.
More here for the strong of nerve.
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