Parisians planning ‘I poop in the Seine on June 23’ protest ahead of Summer Olympics
The French have often had unique methods of protest. For instance, they once piled their rubbish on the streets for several days to protest changes to the pension age. This time, they have been preparing for another protest ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Several Parisians have expressed disdain over the government’s recent spending decisions regarding the Summer Olympics and plan to turn the Seine into a ‘chocolate river’ by causing a mass ‘excrement protest’ in the city of love.
France already paid up to €1.4 billion for Seine cleanup
Since 1923, swimming in the Seine River has been illegal. The massive waterway has long not been considered safe for the activity. But at the time of bidding for the Olympics, the government pledged to clean the river to the right health standards for different competitions.
Besides the upcoming Olympics, there are several reasons cleaning the Seine seemed favourable at that time to Paris officials. Some believed that swimming at the foot of the Eiffel Tower could be romantic, some others sought to help locals find peace during hot summers.
The French government has been trying to clean up the river for some time. It has already paid up to €1.4 billion for the operation. But the problem is that their cleaning – and consequently the money spent on it – does not appear to have borne results. The Seine is still polluted.
Emmanuel Macron to swim in Seine to prove it’s safe
The European branch of the Surfrider Foundation has been responsible for testing the Seine River for the last 6 months. It has confirmed that the water is not 100% clean yet. Of 14 samples taken over this time, just one has shown satisfactory results.
Despite this, Emmanuel Macron, President of France, has told reporters his intention to swim in the river soon to prove it is safe. Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, plans to do the same on June 23, a month ahead of the Paris Summer Olympics beginning on July 26.
Concerns over ‘social cleansing’ of homeless people
The French people are planning a massive protest on June 23. The movement started as a hashtag on social media, “Je Chie Dans La Seine Le 23 Juin” – roughly translating to “I poop in the Seine on June 23”. The hashtag encouraged other Parisians to do their business in the river.
There are early reports that some protesters have already done their business in the city’s main waterway. But it is important to note that the planned protest is completely counterproductive to the nation’s efforts and the money already poured into cleanup efforts, and it is also illegal.
Yet, protesters seem determined to make a statement. They are concerned about the ‘social cleansing’ of homeless people ahead of Olympics and the raising of the price of metro travel. The choice to host the opening ceremony along the Seine has also triggered security concerns.
The good part
The financial implications of hosting the Paris Olympics cannot be understated. But experts have estimated that the Games is capable of bringing in as much as €10.7 billion to the French economy and create 250,000 jobs.
Read More: Rings of Fire: Paris Olympics could become the ‘hottest Games on record’
