Thursday, May 10, 2007

European flag

Wheel of a very old truck parked behind St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney.
I read yesterday in PHO, Peter Olson's blog in Paris, that yesterday 9th of May was Europe Day, a day to commemorate the European Union's first steps in 1950. To my surprise, France 2's French TV news (which I regularly watch on the internet) did not mention it at all. Nor was Europe a major theme in the French presidential elections campaign which ended last Sunday. Looks like Europe is stalling - and that's not good news. This rusty wheel reminds me of the ring of stars of our poor European flag.
Still at PHO's I was very moved to read Seda's fervent plea for Turkey's entry into the EU. Thanks Seda (of Istambul DP), your words helped me understand your country's unique cultural position. Perhaps this is what draws me to the community of city DP : our photos are just a first step towards a better understanding of each other.

Roue d'un très vieux camion garé derrière l'hôpital St Vincent à Sydney.
J'ai lu hier chez
PHO, le blog de Peter Olson à Paris, que le 9 mai était la Journée de l'Europe. A ma grande surprise, le journal télévisé de France 2 (que je regarde régulièrement en vidéo sur internet) n'en a pas soufflé mot; et le thème de Europe a été largement absent de la campagne pour les élections présidentielles. On le savait, mais l'Europe va mal... reconnaîtrez-vous ici la couronne d'étoiles rouillées de notre malheureux drapeau européen ?
Toujours chez PHO, j'ai été émue de lire le fervent plaidoyer de Seda (d'Istambul DP) pour l'entrée de la Turquie dans l'Europe. Merci Seda de m'avoir permis de mieux comprendre la position culturelle très spécifique de la Turquie. C'est sans doute ce qui m'attire dans la communauté des city DP - en commençant par des photos, apprendre à mieux nous connaître.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mais il y a 12 étoiles sur le drapeau européen... ;-)

Seda said...

Thank you for your nice comments about me. I am thinking the same. It is not just about photography it is about communication. who knows? After long years, our little community may help world peace by setting an example of democratic and respectful communication.
Seda
Istanbul Photo

Anonymous said...

Nice photo. I was surprised that everything seems covered in rust but the nuts. I don't know if that is the correct name where you live but here where I live that is what everyone calls them.

I have posted pictures of a tufted duck or what I thought was a tufted duck...

Peter said...

(As spica, I noticed the 12 "stars".)

It's amazing how a rusty old wheel can become a beautiful photo. The colours!! This is art!!

Sincere thanks Nathalie for referring to my blog and for your frequent comments. Can a Swede in Paris be some kind of link to a French lady far away?

Although photos can talk a lot by themselves, I especially appreciate the comments and the exchange of opinions between us all.

Olivier said...

j'ai appris aussi par Peter Olson, que c'etait hier la journee de l'europe. Ni liberation, ni le parisien (bon ben ni l'equipe) n'ont pipés mots de cette journee, ce qui donne une idee de ce que pese l'europe dans l'esprit des français. Belle photo, qui correspond bien à ce que l'europe represente en France, mais inversement, le peuple français (par un referendum) a dit non à une forme d'europe, il faut bien en tenir compte, c'est aussi cela la democratie....

Anonymous said...

Well the important thing (or is it?) is that the truck is still working - even if it is parked. I'm not sure about EU expansion (how can so many different economies and cultures sing from the same hymnbook?) but I am very much for working together, rubbing shoulders and understanding each other, or at least understanding why we are all different

Maxime said...

Cette roue est une oeuvre d'art. Il faut immédiatement la faire classer au mobilier national !
( c'est un peu dommage pour le camionneur, mais tant pis...)

Nathalie H.D. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nathalie H.D. said...

Yes Richard, I believe we have tried to bite more than we can chew with Europe. We were asked to do too much at the same time:
1. give more power to European institutions
2. expand our borders to include we as a people feel little or no connection with, such as the former Russian states.

Europe is stalling and I find that quite natural. I just hope that we can, with time, emerge from this crisis not only unscathed but stronger...

Peter said...

One hope, seen from the French side, is that all the major presidential candidates were pro-European, including "Sarko". That may have been an excuse why Europe was not too much of an issue during the campaign.

Also, the French, officially, refused the suggestion to the European convention, not necessarily "Europe".

Anonymous said...

Yeah, you're right the European concept is getting pretty rusty these days...

T'as raison, le concept Européen est un peu rouillé ces jours-ci...

Sally said...

Well said.

8 May was VE day too....so a very European time.

Nathalie - you'll never guess what I did this morning! I wandered around, neck craning upwards looking for that Napoleon-on-horse-like statue you mentioned...I walked down Market St - nothing (Starbucks is next door to Hermes), and along Elizabeth - along the Hyde Park side looking across- there is a demolished building btw Hermes and Versace.

Nada, niente, zilch, rien.

Then I came back and read your comment - and you mentioned KIng St. Can it be true??? Can there be TWO Hermes shops in Sydney?

If that is the case - HOW ON EARTH can one city of 4 m people possibly support TWO Hermes stores?

Cergie said...

Il roule encore ce camion ?
Ces couleurs rouilles et bleues sont splendides et chantent ensemble. Et ta photo jolie. La beauté se trouve dans de petites choses vers lesquelles il faut baissser les yeux. Plutôt qu'au drapeau européen je pense au bouclier de Brennus et au rugby
(La coupe du monde c'est bientôt, tu vas nous en parler n'est ce pas ?)
L'Europe est en marche, faut pas croire. Mes enfants sont européens, ils ont étudiés et travaillé en Europe (ma fille par exemple a fait un double diplome à Berlin et travaillé à Düsseldorf). La monnaie, l'euro n'est pas le moindre élément fédérateur et ça MARCHE !

photowannabe said...

Great use of a picture to express your thoughts. I love learning about people and their countries, that's why I love blogging .

hpy said...

Les Etats-Unis on mis longtemps avant d'être réellement unis, L'Union Européenne est toute récente, pourtant il y a déjà beaucoup de choses qui fonctionnent, par exemple Erasmus, l'échange d'étudiants entre les différents pays. Et il faudra bien étudier et apprendre l'Europe pour l'accepter un jour.

Nabeel said...

this is such a clever picture .. loved the resemblance and thanks for pointing it out.

Anonymous said...

I'm learning french and always watch the news on france2, but do you know any other tv or radio i can watch/listen to on the the internet?

Ming the Merciless said...

Love the colors and texture on the wheel. Good eye, Nathalie.