On January 6, former French foreign minister Hubert Védrine kickedoff the "Kalorama Lectures" series at the Residence of France with apresentation of his latest book, "History Strikes Back: How States,Nations, and Conflicts are Shaping the 21st Century." Addressing mem-bers of the press, US government officials, members of the think-tankcommunity, and other distinguished guests, Mr. Védrine exploredEuropean-United States relations.

The former foreign minister examined Westerners' assumptions andpolicies that have shaped their international politics for more than 20years, referencing both academics such as Francis Fukuyama andSamuel Huntington, and statesmen such as Donald Rumsfeld and HenryKissinger. He advocated a return to diplomacy, as well as an enduringpartnership between the United States and Europe. Mr. Védrine submit-ted that the two powers should employ a non-cynical "smartRealpolitik" strategy to guide their relations with emerging powers,manage globalization, and handle environmental challenges, in whichthe West accepts that it lives in a diverse world. "In dealing with the newmulti-polar world," Védrine writes in his latest book, "Americans havebeen too bellicose and Europeans too naïve."

Discussing transatlantic relations in the context of PresidentObama's presidency, Mr. Védrine stated that "Europeans [...] shouldabove all aim to be partners with the new American President," andadded that the Obama administration would most likely be more opento multilateralism. Joining former US Secretary of State MadeleineAlbright, minister Védrine held a discussion earlier that day at theBrookings Institution, the publisher of his latest book.

French Judge Jean-Louis Bruguière, head of the CounterterrorismUnit of the Paris District Court, explored the theme of “The U.S. andEurope Confronting Terrorism” during a Kalorama Lecture at theResidence of France on January 28, which was attended by USSecretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, members of thepress and think tank communities, and other distinguished guests.Characterized by French Ambassador Pierre Vimont as "an architectin cooperation between France and America," Mr. Bruguière assert-ed that terrorism is a common challenge for Europe and America.Both countries are "chained by the evolution of the threat," statedJudge Bruguière in underscoring the importance of cooperationbetween the two nations, adding that "The transatlantic partnershipis the backbone."

Drawing upon his field of expertise, the French judge stressedthat though countries have independently faced terrorism, the solu-tion must come from a global strategy. He referenced his investiga-tions of hundreds of suspected terrorists, and how coordinationbetween intelligence and law enforcement authorities foiled the plots

to attack the World Cup in 1998 and the Strasbourg Cathedral in 2000. Mr. Bruguière also emphasized that the necessity forcooperation among nations is compounded by the radicalization and decentralization of terrorist cells, the difficulty in gath-ering intelligence autonomously, and the consequent complexity for law enforcement. Comparing the terrorist threat to a jigsaw puzzle, Mr. Bruguière stated that "Each state has pieces but we must put all the pieces together."

V O L . 0 9 . 0 1 F E B R U A R Y 1 6A free monthly review of French news & trends

Hubert Védrine kicked off the Kalorama Lectures on January 6.

Hubert Védrine Launches Kalorama Series

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French Counterterrorism Expert Addresses Washington Crowd

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Judge Bruguière presents “The U.S. and Europe

Confronting Terrorism.”

INSIDE

2 Current EventsDiversity in France

3 France & AmericaFrench Writing Festival in New York City

4 In Depth10th Anniversary of theEuro

5 Business & TechEnvironmental Watch

6 SocietyMiss France 2009

7 CultureThe Evolution of Cognac

8 France in AmericaRodin Exhibition inNew Orleans

THE WORLD OF

CINEMA

REMEMBERS

CLAUDE BERRI

Last month, theworld of cinemahonored the lifeand accomplish-ments of ClaudeBerri, the leg-endary Frenchfilmmaker, who

passed away on January 12 at age 74.Mr. Berri, known as "the Godfather" ofFrench film, was hailed by FrenchPresident Nicolas Sarkozy as "the greatambassador of French cinema" to theworld. Actor Vincent Cassel and direc-tor Roman Polanski were among themany notables of film in attendance forthe services for Mr. Berri, reflecting thebroad and distinguished nature of hismore than 50-year career as an actor,writer, producer, and director.

Mr. Berri is remembered for meldingthe sensibilities of the French NewWave, the film movement defined bysuch greats as François Truffaut, withthose of Hollywood. He favored eitherquirky, charming stories or those of epicsweep and, as fellow director ClaudeLelouch said, "he always made popularmovies but he knew how to aim high."Indeed, two of his most-beloved filmsremain "Jean de Florette," and"Manon des sources" ("Manon of theSprings"), lush adaptations of a classicFrench novel by Marcel Pagnol, "L'eau

des collines" ("Water of the Hills").Often, Mr. Berri found inspiration in hisown life. His friend and contemporaryTruffaut praised this approach, saying"Berri [...] does not consult existingfilms. [...] He looks to the source, he hasmany stories to tell." For instance, Mr.Berri's "The Two of Us" tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a Jewish boyduring the Nazi occupation.

Claude Berri, born Claude Langmann,began his career in cinema as an actorbefore winning an Oscar in 1966 for hisshort film "Le Poulet" ("The Chicken,")which he funded with donations fromfriends. By 1987 Mr. Berri's own filmcareer had taken off enough for him tofound his own production company,Renn Productions. Mr. Berri also found-ed the Association of Writers, Directors,and Producers (ARP), served as presi-dent of the prestigious Cinémathèquefrom 2003-2007, and avidly collectedart in his spare time. He passed awaywhile directing "Trésor" ("Treasure,") acomedy set to be completed despite hisdeparture. In total, Mr. Berri left morethan 125 films to his credit.

En bref

Claude Berri is

considered

the Godfather

of French film.

[ Current Events ]

2 NEWS FROM FRANCE

In mid-January, France carried out a “remaniement,” a process that describes government officials changing office. While much of the governmentpositions remained unchanged, some government officials assumed new roles. Below is a list of current ministers and government representativesthat changed titles or positions. For more information on the composition of the French goverment, please visit: www.premier-ministre.gouv.

President NicolasSarkozy called forthe implementa-tion of several pro-grams to promotediversity, equalopportunity, andmobility in Franceby introducing ini-tiatives that grantgreater access tothe country's polit-

ical and business elite. In a discourse held at ÉcolePolytechnique in Palaiseu on December 17, 2008, Mr.Sarkozy stressed the importance of the French values of lib-erty, fraternity, and equality, stating that "France would notbe France without the passion of the Republic, its values, its

principles." Equal opportunities will be addressed throughreforms to diversify education, the workforce, the publicsector, and the media.

Mr. Sarkozy emphasized the need for educational reforms inparticular. He called for a France "where work and perseveranceallow all who are able to reach the elite, to attain a higher duty."Focusing on opportunity based on merit, Sarkozy has asked eliteschools to reserve 30 percent of their class for students receivingscholarship or aide by September 2010.

In addition to educational reforms, Sarkozy called forthe need to diversify the workforce. Beginning in January,the top one hundred French companies are encouraged torecruit through anonymous résumés to deter discrimina-tion. Also beginning this year, Sarkozy will offer a fiscalincentive to government offices that show the greatestrepresentation of diversity, including the media, in whichhe encourages companies to set a public example.

© Philippe Pelletier

France Launches European Anti-Piracy Operation Atalanta

President Sarkozy Calls for Greater Diversity in France

On November 10, 2008, the Council of the European Unionapproved the launch of the military operation code named"Atalanta," in support of UN Resolutions 1814, 1816, 1838,1846 and 1851 to combat piracy in Somalia.

Atalanta entails the deployment of a naval force for a peri-od of 12 months in a zone covering some 2 million square kilo-metres, extending from the southern part of the Red Sea to theGulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, along the Somali coasts.

Altogether, 10 EU countries are participating, including 5nations that bring a continuous operational contribution —Germany, Spain, France, Greece and the U.K. This naval force,EUNAVFOR, includes 4 to 6 warships, 3 to 5 aircraft (helicop-ters and maritime patrol aircraft), as well as some 1,200 militarypersonnel.France contributes a destroyer on a permanent basis,as well as a Maritime Patrol Aircraft, "Atlantique 2." It also offerslogistical support to the operation from its pre-positioned base in Djibouti. The Operational headquarters situated in Northwood, U.K.,is headed by a British admiral. For the first four months, the force will be led by a Greek admiral deployed on a Greek warship.

Atalanta has three objectives: the close protection of the UN World Food Programme ships delivering much needed food items todisplaced populations in Somalia; the close protection of vulnerable vessels transiting off the Somali coasts; the surveillance of Somaliwaters and coasts to detect any threat to maritime traffic, and to deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy.

Since the start of Atalanta on Dec 8, many acts of piracy have been prevented. In early January, the French frigate Jean de Viennefoiled two piracy attempts in the Gulf of Aden, while French Navy commandos captured 19 pirates as they were trying to intercept aCroatian and Panamanian cargo ship.

French special forces captured 19 pirates and handed them

over to Somalia authorities on January 4. Above, French

commandos transport a group of the captured pirates.

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Nicolas Sarkozy called for greater

diversity in France during a

speech on December 17, 2008.

New Minister Position

Nathalie KOSCIUSKO-MORIZET Minister of State to the Prime Minsiter, with responsibility for Forward Planning, Assessment of Public Policies and Development of the Digital Economy.Replaced: Eric BESSON

Chantal JOUANNO Minister of State to the Ministre d’Etat, Minister for Ecology, Energy and Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning, with responsibility for Ecology.Replaced Nathalie KOSCIUSKO- MORIZET

Eric BESSON Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Mutually-Supportive Devlpmt.Replaced Brice HORTEFEUX

Brice HORTEFEUX Minister for Labor, Labor Relations, the Family, Solidarity and Urban Affairs.Replaced Xavier Bertrand

Bruno LE MAIRE Minister of State to the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs.Newly appointed

Patrick DEVEDJIAN Minister responsible for economic stimulus plan. Newly appointed

NEW ORLEANS HOSTS FIRST

ANNUAL JOAN OF ARC PARADE

On the day of the Epiphany,January 6, Joan of Arc admirersgathered in the French Quarter inNew Orleans to take part in thefirst annual parade honoring thelife and contributions of theFrench heroine, who died twoyears following her success at theBattle of Orléans during theHundred Years' War. FeaturingJoan of Arc-inspired performancemonologues as well as musiciansand participants dressed inmedieval garb, revelers of all agesparaded down Decatur Street tothe St. Joan statue in the NewPlace de France where they com-memorated the 597th anniver-sary of the French patriot's birthwith a toast.

Born in Domrémy, France, onJanuary 6, 1412, Joan of Arc ledthe French army to crucial victo-ries over the English during theHundred Years' War, claimingdivine guidance. Captured by theEnglish and burned at the stakeat the age of 19 for heresy, theyoung heroine is considered bysome as the unofficial PatronSaint of New Orleans. Twenty-four years after her death, theHoly See found her innocent anddeclared her a martyr. Canonizedin 1920, Joan of Arc represents tomany people a faithful servant ofGod, a female warrior, and therescuer of France.

For some, the parade has per-haps taken on a second meaning,a symbolic call to Joan to help"save New Orleans." One partici-pant commented, "Since shesaved the old, why not thenew?," making reference to thecity's namesake. In future years,the city looks forward to expand-ing the event into a Joan of Arcfestival, featuring films, theater,musical performances, andRenaissance Fair style eventsreflecting the times in which Joanlived.

NEWS FROM FRANCE 3

[ France & America ]

New York Hosts a Festival of French WritingThe Cultural Service of theEmbassy of France teamed up withNew York University (NYU) tohost a conference this February inNew York to honor French writingand to encourage cross-culturaldialogue between authors. TheFestival of New French Writing willhighlight French authors who illus-trate the emerging diversity ofgenre and style found in contem-porary French writing. The vastrange of genre spans from novelsand short stories to comic booksand manuscripts. Highlighted authors include: FrédéricBeigbeder, Emmanuel Carrère, and Marie Darrieussecq,

among others.The festival also aims to strength-

en relationships between French andAmerican authors by addressing sim-ilarities and differences between writ-ing in France and the United States.Select well known American authorswill present, discuss, and readexcerpts from their French counter-parts. Like the French participants,the Americans represent a wide rangeof literary interests, including "NewYorker" staff writers PhilipGourevitch and Adam Gopnik, and

professors Edmund White, Francine Prose, and E. L. Doctorow,among others.

© Hélène Bamberger

From left to right: authors Emmanuel

Carrère (French) and Adam Gopnik

(American) were among some of the

participants at the Festival.

Many Voices, Many Cultures…

Henri de Saussure, the insightful French theoretical linguistand founder of modern linguistic studies, defined languageas a manner of "being" and "acting." What could betterincarnate this concept than the September 8, 2008, confer-ence on the relationship between language and culture —"I Speak Therefore I Am. Languages of Europe: Unitythrough Diversity " — which was held in Washington, D.C.,under the auspices of the Alliance Française and theEmbassy of France. The conference, led by 16 embassy rep-resentatives, featured roundtable discussions exploring thevitality of European languages worldwide. Among the top-ics discussed were: the inevitability of globalization, thesovereignty of each of the members of the EuropeanUnion, government linguistic policies at many levels, andthe inescapable predominance of the English language.

Throughout it all, however, education was the subject thatshaped the discussion of the various themes.

Mr. Pascal Saura, Deputy Delegate General of the AllianceFrançaise USA, accompanied by Dr. Catherine Pétillon,Attaché for Educational Affairs to the Embassy of France, pre-sented the effectiveness of a strong commitment to the ideal of"unity through diversity" embodied by the Common EuropeanFramework of Reference (CEFR). This framework, created byeducational and linguistic specialists, aims to establish a solidfoundation for the maintenance of European languages and,subsequently, to preserve European linguistic and culturaldiversity. One of the principal ways in which the theoreticalbecomes practical is through the existence of various languageassistantship programs, which prompt a universal exchange ofnative speakers between countries. The Embassy of France, incooperation with the CIEP, annually sends approximately1,500 Americans to France to teach English. The program rep-resents an investment that is greater than the sum of its parts:not only does each participant bring something of intrinsicvalue from their home country, but their active presence in thehost country also has far-reaching cultural effects, resultinginevitably in a better mutual understanding between peoples.

For more information on teaching assistantships, pleasevisit: www.frenchculture.org and click on the educationrubric.

Every year, the Embassy of France sends approxi-

mately 1,500 Americans to France to teach English.

Joan of Arc trots down the

streets of New Orleans during

the first annual parade.© B

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The Lil' Easy, an innovative new service launched last month in New Orleans'Lower 9th Ward by Veolia Transportation,provides an efficient public transportthrough low-density neighborhoods — making the Big Easy "a little easier" tonavigate. Lil'Easy is a special on-demand circulator that brings accessible,affordable transit to every resident of the Lower 9th Ward. It operates across anetwork of 24 new neighborhood stops conveniently located throughout theWard, and three main bus stops. The flexible stops offer public access in theLower 9th Ward within two-to-three blocks of residents' homes.

The first service of its kind in North America, the new 14-seat minibus-es (Dodge Sprinters) are fuel-efficient and have a capacity that is wellmatched to the demands of the lightly populated route, according to Veolia. The dynamic-routing service provides a convenientreservation system for passengers who need a ride by calling an hour in advance of their scheduled pick-up time. In addition,recurrent or daily reservations offer regular commuters reliable public transportation.

“Lil’Easy” Offers Big Transit Solution for Low-Traffic Areas

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The Lil’Easy’s design reflects the

cultural richness of New Orleans.

4 NEWS FROM FRANCE

Ten years ago the European Central Bank (ECB) introduced a common currencycalled the euro throughout participating European Union (E.U.) member states,effec-tively binding together a multilingual continent of distinct cultures, economies andgovernments with a common tender.The euro has become the national currency of 16countries and is used daily by 500 million people — giving it the highest combinedvalue of cash on the world market.Along with facilitating trade in the E.U., the euro isalso a symbolic and tangible daily reminder of a political and economic cohesion forgedover 50 years ago with the Treaty of Rome (see NFF 07.04).

The Euro: In the Zone for Ten Years

[ In Depth ]

The Maastricht Treaty of 1992 established the Economic and MonetaryUnion of the European Union (see NFF 08.05). Seven years later, onJanuary 1, 1999, the euro was introduced in 11 member states — creatingthe area known as the euro zone — that met several criteria: little debt, lowinflation and stabilized interest rates. France was one of the original par-ticipants along with Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy,Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal,and Spain.

Initially an electronic banking cur-rency, the euro was used for accountingpurposes, computerized monetaryexchanges, and denoting value on travel-er's checks. In 2002, hard banknotes andcoins entered into circulation, with theECB printing a total of 221 billion euros.

Because many people in the euro zonehad never seen the money prior to its intro-duction, an education program about thenew currency was launched in preparationfor the changeover. Posters, t-shirts, andeven playing cards were printed with thedesign. Retailers, restaurants, and postoffices listed prices in both the national andeuro values to facilitate conversion betweenthe two currencies — a practice that contin-ued even after the euro's inception. Banksbegan issuing "euro starting kits"— plasticpouches with a selection of coins and bills tofamiliarize the public with the shapes, col-ors, and corresponding values of the tender.

The currency became legal tender on midnight January 1, 2002, to thebackdrop of a celebration outside the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt,Germany. Because the euro was valid on the French island of La Réunionin the Indian Ocean three hours ahead of continental Europe, the first offi-cial purchase was a kilogram of litchis — a tangy tropical fruit.

Since then the euro has expanded to five more countries: Greece in2001, Slovenia in 2007, Cyprus and Malta in 2008 and Slovakia whichjoined the euro zone last month.

Introducing the Euro to Europe

For designing the banknotes, ECB mandated an appealing currency readily accepted andusable by all in the euro zone including, visually-impaired persons.Additional guidelines stip-ulated that the currency avoid national biases as well as incorporate security features.

Out of 44 submissions, the ECB selected the design byAustrian artist Robert Kalina for the seven denominationsof the banknote. Based on the theme "ages and styles ofEurope," each note is dedicated to a different period inEuropean architectural style but does not represent actualphysical structures, to enforce the collective identity of theentire continent. The front of each banknote depicts win-dows and gateways, symbolizing the "European spirit ofopenness and cooperation." The reverse side of each notedepicts a bridge representing "cooperation and communi-cation between Europe and the rest of the world." The archi-tectural depictions progress in time with increases in ban-knote value.The lowest five banknotes depict classical struc-tures, whereas the highest denomination — 500 euros —showcases 20th-century works with glass and steel.

The banknotes boast a variety of features to aide theseven million visually-impaired persons in the euro zone:the sizes of the bills increase with their value; the denomi-nation ofeach note is printed with raised ink,allowing valuedetermination from touch alone;and the alternation of col-oring of each note between warm and cool hues on adja-cent denominations helps to avoid mix-ups and confusion.

In addition, the banknotes contain multiple securityfeatures to protect against counterfeiting. On the lower-

right corner, notes of 50 euros and higher feature color ink that changes from purple to greenat various angles. All banknotes are also printed on uniquely watermarked paper that depictsthe circular constellation of the EU flag for extra protection.For added security and anti-coun-terfeiting measures,black magnetic thread runs through the middle of each note,and is visibleonly when held up to the light.

While the banknotes are harmonized across the euro zone,coins contain elements of boththe European Union and individual national identities. There are eight coins of the euro thatrange in value from one cent to two euros.

Each coin has a common side depicting a map of Europe as well as a unique design on theopposite side representing an EU nation.For example,the one- and two- euro coins minted inFrance feature the outline of the country surrounded by "Liberté,Egalité,Fraternité" — Liberty,Equality,Brotherhood — the national motto.

Some coins have become collectors' items and fetch prices well above their denomination,such as those from European microstates like Monaco,San Marino,and the Vatican City State.

In addition,every year all euro zone member-states are allowed to issue one commemora-tive piece. Last July, France launched a two-euro coin to celebrate the start of its presidency ofthe Council of the European Union (see NFF 08.07). The ECB also frequently mints com-memorative two-euro coins.Past coins have celebrated the 2004 Athen’s Olympics,and the 50thanniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

Designing Europe's New Currency The ECB named the E.U.'s new currency the euro — a moniker that represents theentire continent and is easily pronounced in all languages spoken within the euro zone.The ECB also oversaw the design of the euro's symbol,banknotes and coins.

For the symbol, the ECB narrowed the choice to two options and then let a publicpolling select the winning design.According to the European Commission,"Inspirationfor the euro symbol itself came from the Greek epsilon — a reference to the cradle ofEuropean civilization — and the first letter of the word Europe,crossed by two parallellines to 'certify' the stability of the euro."

Celebrating the 10th AnniversaryLeading up to the tenth anniversary of the Euro, the ECB hosted the fifth Central BankingConference that brought together experts from universities, international institutions andcentral banks across Europe to discuss lessons and successes of having a single currencyacross diverse countries. The concluding talk, "International Interdependencies andMonetary Policy," was Webcasted live and is still available online at www.ecb.int.

In addition, the ECB minted 90 million commemorative two-euro coins for theanniversary.The general public voted among five finalists and eventually selected the designby a Greek sculptor. The coin features a primitive stick figure blending into the euro sym-bol to represent the long history of trade starting with its pre-historic origin.The ECB alsoredesigned its logo to include "The First 10 Years" — reminding Europeans of their collec-tive past and shared future.

The dark blue area represents the euro zone, whereas the light

blue area represents EU member states outside of the euro zone.

French environmentalists justfound a new meaning for keepingwatch on the environment.Catering to the population's desireto monitor and decrease their eco-logical footprint,Citypulse is intro-ducing "la montre verte," or greenwatch. Along with measuringtime, the internal mechanismsgauge both CO2 and noise levels,and determine location through a GPS system. While AirParif is anonprofit that surveys the air quality in Paris with ten sites through-out the French capital, Citypulse's model gives citizens the ability tokeep a "hand" on the environment themselves.Each digital watchdogtransmits data on atmospheric conditions to a centralized database,which collects similar statistics from other participants.The results arethen analyzed for differences in pollution levels across the city to

improve public health and environ-mental interests.

The watch screen displays threeclear measurements of air quality:good, fair, and poor. Such indicatorshelp identify the areas most conduciveto physical exercise and outdoor activi-ties. The initial launch will produce atleast 200 watches, thus increasing sur-veillance sites in Paris by twenty-fold.

Citypulse has taken root alongside the program "Villes 2.0,"which was created in 2006 to explore opportunities to improve citiesfrom a technological and environmental point of view. The goal ofCitypulse and Villes 2.0 is to promote a long-lasting and durable city.The project will assemble citizens,organizations,businesses,and pub-lic figures alike in hopes of encouraging awareness and active partici-pation. For more information,please visit www.villes2.fr.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

At the beginning of the year, theFrench Government enacted anew business provision encour-aging entrepreneurial growthand facilitating managementprocesses for small enterprisesin France by reducing bureau-cratic requirements. Titled"auto-entrepreneur," this policysimplifies and reduces annualexpenses by waiving initial reg-istry fees and making taxationsolely a function of revenue col-lected during a specific period. Ifno revenue is collected, then nopayments are necessary. Thisnovel status eases requirementsfor both creation and manage-ment of small businesses inFrance. According to theAgence Pour la Créationd'Entreprises, certain pre-taxrevenue limits define the param-eters of what is considered asmall enterprise. For example, abusiness cannot collect morethan 80,000 euros for the salesindustry and 32,000 euros forthe services industry.

AIRFRANCE-KLM TAKES ALITALIA

UNDER ITS WING

AirFrance-KLM entered into abusiness partnership with Alitaliaairlines on January 9. The partner-ship called for AirFrance-KLM tofund a 323-million euro acquisi-tion, amounting to a 25 percentstake in Alitalia, according toAirFrance-KLM. In addition, theAir France-KLM group will obtainthree seats on Alitalia's adminis-trative council. The centralizedmanagement of the partnershipaims to facilitate supervision andexecutive organization. AirFrance-KLM chairman Jean-Cyril Spinettaand CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeonexplained that cooperationbetween airline companies will becrucial to reaching the next level.The partnership strengthens theoutlook of both companies, andfosters their development on theworld stage. While the passengersmay see no difference duringflights, they will be offered moreof them. The partnership bringsAirFrance-KLM to the top of theairline industry in terms of size,soaring to new heights.

Green Piece Brings New Meaning to Environmental Watch

[Business and Technology ]

NEWS FROM FRANCE 5

The Embassy of France in Washington, D.C., hosted a closing ceremony onDecember 18, 2008, for the French Presidency of the Council of the EuropeanUnion as the baton of Europe was passed from France to the Czech Republic.The ambassadors of the 27 nations of the Union and their principal Americaninterlocutors in embassy services were invited to the reception, which focused onFrance's successful transatlantic cooperation in the realm of space exploration.

The embassy's space attaché, Emmanuel de Lipkowski, organized an out-of-this world display on satellite data gathered as a result of the successful collabora-tion between France and the United States. The presentation made use of the"Science on a Sphere" system, developed by the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA) — a spherical screen of two meters in

diameter which reproduces the findings of satellites, such as climate change, on a model world with great realism. Mr. Lipkowski paidspecial thanks to principal partners of France's National Space Agency in the United States, specifically NOAA and NASA, who havebeen developing close relations with the French space agency for several decades.

Similarly, French Ambassador Pierre Vimont reflected on the recent major accomplishments in the framework of transatlanticspace cooperation — notably, the successes of ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) missions, the Columbus lab onboard theInternational Space Station,and the launching of the ocean-researching satellite, Jason-2. Petr Kolá, Ambassador of the Czech Republicto the United States, also paid homage to the dynamism of French leadership before revealing the logo of the Czech presidency of theE.U. Dr. Sandy McDonald, who designed the Science On a Sphere system, gave a presentation focusing on climate change and the con-sequences of human activities before giving the floor to Alexendra Cousteau, the granddaughter of world famous French explorer andfilmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who shared some surprising information about the world's water ressources.

The Green Watch measures levels of air polution.

French Embassy Hosts Space-Awareness/EU Presidency Soirée

Science on a Sphere shows the world

in a new light.

This past month, the bicentennial of Louis Braille's birth gave visual-ly impaired people and their advocates the world over cause to cele-brate. The Frenchman who invented the revolutionary writing sys-tem which bears his name was born on January 4,1809,in a small vil-lage east of Paris. Braille created a tool which, combined with ever-improving technologies, is more useful now than ever before.

Braille's invention was a story of personal triumph; Braille him-self became blind at age three after injuring himself playing in hisfather's workshop. This tragedy set the resilient young Braille on thepath to his creation. At the Royal Institution for Blind Children inParis,he learned to read using an early system of raised letters. Soon,Braille became interested in a newer method of reading adapted fromthe night writing procedure used by the army. The system represent-ed only sounds,and Braille quickly realized that it could be improved

by finding a way to represent such elements as grammar, punctua-tion,and mathematical or musical notation. Braille devoted all of hisfree time to enhancing the system,and by 1837 it was finalized.

Today "Braille" is a universal benchmark. 200 years after Braille'sbirth, the visually impaired can now work, read time, and even co-pilot aircraft, thanks in particular to Braille maps. Braille also enablespeople to take full advantage of new technologies — for instance,computer text can be deciphered using a Braille panel fitted to the sideof a keyboard. Although Braille's initial invention has undergonesubsequent incarnations,his memory lives on as well. "People with avisual impairment have a particular connection to Braille," saysGérard Colliot,president of the Valentin Haüy association,one of themain activist organizations for those with vision loss. "He is their 'bigbrother,' the one who gave them the alphabet."

© M

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Bicentennial of Louis Braille, Revolutionary Inventor

© Thierry Marcou

MONTE-CARLO HISTORIC RALLY

The Historic Monte-Carlo Rally will cele-brate its 12th anniversary this monthwhen the high-speed car race finishes inMonte-Carlo—the famed city in theMediterranean principality of Monaco.Founded in 1997, the Historic Monte-Carlo rally is organized by theAutomobile Club de Monaco and is oneof the most strenuous car races in theworld. Similar to the time-honoredRallye Automobile Monaco establishedin 1911 by Prince Albert I of Monaco, theHistoric Monte-Carlo Rally follows analo-gous race routes but is reserved for vehi-cles built before 1980. Known for itsdangerous stages in mountains and chal-lenging terrains, participants in theHistoric Monte-Carlo Rally are restrictedto pre-determined maximum speedsduring certain sections to ensure safetyand account for differences in car makes.Drivers start in various cities across conti-nental Europe and race to a commonfinish line in Monaco. Driving teamsselect departure cities based on a first-come-first-served criterion judged by thesuccessful completion of their registra-tion. Past starting lines include Barcelona,Copenhagen, Reims, and Turin. It washeld from January 29 to February 4.

NAVIGO TO REPLACE

CARTE ORANGE

The Paris public transport system hasrecently switched from the Carte Orangeto the new and improved Navigo card.The Parisian public transport operator,RATP, asserts that Navigo's RFID magnet-ic microchip lends itself to more efficientrecharging, replacing, and updating thanits paper predecessor, and aims tostreamline travel throughout the city. Forinstance, patrons of the Navigo pass areable to change their subscriptionsaccording to varying schedules, so thatcards may be canceled and reopened atany time. Additionally, the Navigo's year-ly rates amount to about 10 euros lessthan the Carte Orange, and the pass ismore eco-friendly—reducing the con-sumption of paper passes. The CarteOrange, named for its recognizable colorscheme, revolutionized public transitwhen it was first introduced in 1975.Prior to its inception, five tickets mighthave been necessary to traverse Paris.The Carte Orange simplified commutesby giving passengers unlimited access toall of the region's public transportationfor a flat rate and during a specified timeperiod. Navigo seeks to build uponOrange's success. Even those new to theParis public transit system can obtain theNavigo pass online at no extra cost if theylive or work in Ile-de-France. WhileNavigo is intended for residents andcommuters, "le passe Navigo décou-verte" is also available for those who liveoutside of the area and can be pur-chased at any metro ticket window forimmediate use.

Last December 19-year-old French-American ChloéMortaud won the Miss France 2009 competition —becoming the first dual citizen to win the title. Mortaudrepresented her home department of Albigeois Midi-Pyrénées in southwest France.

Born in Lisieux, France, the French-American beauty isan international business student at the University ofToulouse who hopes to enter the field of internationaltrade. A woman of many talents, including dance, pianoand theater, Chloé enjoys jazz and classical music. With apassion for adventure, the young Miss France is also anavid hang-glider and world traveler, as well as fluent inEnglish, Spanish and Chinese.

The daughter of an African-American mother andCaucasian French father, Mortaud is also a testament tothe cultural diversity of France, she emphasizes. "I want togo to people and explain to them that fear of the other isunfounded," she told the Associated Press the day afterbeing crowned. "I want to incarnate […] today's French

diversity at internationalbeauty pageants." Mortaud'smother was born inMississippi and grew up inCalifornia, and her father'sFrench heritage goes "as farback as we could trace thefamily tree," the reigningMiss France stated. Mortaudwill represent France at theMiss Universe 2009 and MissWorld 2009 pageants.

Keeping in touch with herAmerican roots, Mortaudattended a reception held inhonor of President-electObama’s inauguration at theResidence of France onJanuary 18.

Dual French-American Citizen Crowned Miss France

6 NEWS FROM FRANCE

[ Society ]

WINTERY SEASON BRINGSHOT INTEREST IN

SEMI-ANNUAL SALES

Twice a year, French stores hold

official sales known as les soldes. The

annual winter sale season in France

runs from January 7 to February 11,

and offers up to 70 percent off select-

ed merchandise. This year, les soldes is

a particularly anticipated event as

shoppers make up for lackluster holi-

day spending. The Convention and

Visitors Bureau distributes a shopping

guide to direct shoppers in Paris's prin-

cipal fashion districts and an estimat-

ed 300 hotels and restaurants offer

special promotions for the hordes of

fashion aficionados attracted to the

low prices.

For a virtual sense of shopping, the

blog "Soldes" (soldes.doctissimo.fr) is

devoted entirely

to shopping dur-

ing the sales

period. The Web

site includes an

extensive calen-

dar that offers

advice on where

to look for sales

t h r o u g h o u t

France, as well as recommendations on

where to shop for chic discount cloth-

ing, and a guide to sale-shopping tac-

tics. Daily posts on this blog highlight

the current fashion trends and numer-

ous pictures illustrate styles ranging

from daily wear to haute-couture.

For those who prefer to shop from

the comfort of their own home, por-

tions of the blog are devoted to

online sales. These sections provide

retailer Web sites and corresponding

sale recommendations. Along with

advice on clothing, the blog also

offers links to an array of information

on beauty, health, and fitness.

News From France does not endorse

the content, views and opinions of

authors expressed in the aforemen-

tioned Web sites.

“Winter Respect” Raises Ever-Green Awareness for Outdoor Activities

The French Office of Tourism launched an educational initiative,Operation "Winter Respect," that teaches basic safety and eco-friendly guidelines for outdoor activity through a series of work-

shops and interactive programs. The operation aims to cultivatea better sense of understanding and maximize the enjoyment ofwinter sports in France's mountainous regions while promotingsafety and environmental responsibility.

"Winter Respect" offers a creative learning approach thatincludes shows, experiments and obstacle courses for all agesduring the ski season in France. Theatrical performances teachchildren the responsibilities that come with trekking across themountain environment, such as instruction on avalanche rescueprotocol. At various resorts, participants can play games focus-ing on environment and mountain safety during the day. In theevening, the winners are awarded prizes —hot chocolate for chil-dren and mulled wine for adults.

This public awareness campaign also conducts a variety ofconservation programs. "Eco-DIY" demonstrates innovative andcreative ways of reusing refuse, thereby eliminating trash buildupon peaks and valleys. Children's "eco-experiments" workshopsteach children basic phenomena about the environment throughsimple water and earth field tests.

Operation “Winter Respect” educates the public

about the basic safety and eco-responsibility

in the mountains.

© F

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la M

ure

© F. de la Mure

Miss France 2009, Chloé

Mortaud, celebrating Mr.

Obama’s inauguration at

the Residence of France.

© M

osc

he

Zusm

an

FRANCE MOURNS THE LOSS OF A

PATISSERIE VISIONARY

Gaston Lenôtre is credited with ele-vating pâtisserie to an art by creatinglighter, more savory versions of tradi-tional recipes in unconventional fla-vors and forms. Before his death at 88last month, Lenôtre established a gas-tronomic empire with over 60 storesin 13 countries, a pastry school thattrains 3,000 chefs annually, numerouscookbooks, and a three-star restau-rant. Offering his condolences, FrenchPresident Nicolas Sarkozy stated thatFrance has lost "one of the greatestmasters of taste." After opening hisfirst pastry shop in Paris in 1957,Lenôtre attracted a wide clientelecraving his savory charlottes, mouss-es, and macaroons as well as his orig-inal creation "succès," which is a baseof macaroons covered with analmond brittle. In 1985, Lenôtre part-nered with the hotel conglomerateAccor and founded an internationalchain of boutiques and catering serv-ices which established Lenôtre as anambassador of French cuisine aroundthe world. This international exposureset Lenôtre's technique as the univer-sal standard by which all pastry chefsare judged.

SPA-TROTTING IN PARIS

Le Carousel du Louvre in Paris hostedthe annual water and wellbeing tradeshow Salon Thermalies last month.The five-day exposition granted thegeneral public access to the latest inholistic health from total body spatherapy to thalassotherapy facials—areinvigorating treatment that uses theskin-renewing properties extractedfrom seawater. Six exhibitions show-cased how water sources indigenousto France can be used to treat anassortment of diseases. Hydrotherapy,one of the featured treatments, usesmineral water from springs native tosouthern France to soothe muscularand skeletal pains and disorders. Inthe "Wellbeing Pavillion" visitorscould speak with health advisors aswell as attend workshops on harness-ing the properties of water to pro-mote good health. Information wasalso available on spas throughoutl'Hexagone where curative waters areavailable. For more information,please visit: www.thermalies.com.

NEWS FROM FRANCE 7

Cognac is not solely a stiff digestif to settle stomachs. Traditionallyserved with water at room temperature or chilled,the king of brandyis experiencing a resurgence in popularity among premier mixolo-gists who incorporate the time-honored spirit into fresh cocktails.New recipes have been concocted, such as a drink created by theBureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac combining Cognacwith ginger,lime and lemonade,plus cucumber peel.The recent win-ter edition of France Magazine traces the history of this 400-year-oldbrandy.

Exclusively produced in the Charentes region of France,Cognacis created by distilling Ugni Blanc grapes and allowing the resultingmixture to age in oak barrels for various amounts of time — a

period that ranges from a minimum oftwo years to nearly 200 years — prior toblending. This process allows for thedevelopment of the distinct flavor that ispraised for its fruity and earthy tones.

While previously the stereotypicalnightcap of elderly grandparents,the drinkis becoming progressively more popularamong younger generations thanks to theincreasing availability of premier vintages.In the 1970s, Cognac production under-

went major renovation.Vineyards were restricted to the best terrainand improvements in distillation as well as the aging processesallowed for optimal taste. Also some 400 distinct brands suiting everytaste are increasingly available on world markets.

In addition, long-established manufactures such as RémyMartin are attracting new patrons by revamping bottle designs.New presentations include a work by American artist DavidLaChapelle that honors jazz-era performer Josephine Baker.

For more information on Cognac, as well as a list of hot spotsthroughout the U.S.to enjoy it,please refer to France Magazine's win-ter edition.To purchase a copy,please visit:www.francemagazine.org,or contact Rachel Beamer at 202-944-6069.

American director Woody Allen kicked off the year by announcingplans to film a "charming comedy" taking place throughout Franceand particularly in Paris.While plot and actors are not finalized,Allenhopes to incorporate French talent and engage the expansive fan basein the country where he is described as "the most French Americandirector" by French daily Le Figaro.

Allen's decision to film in the City of Light complements arecently launched incentive to lure more foreign filmmakers.France'stime on the silver screen could double in coming years thanks to anew tax incentive designed to attract foreign film production com-panies. Some filmmakers can cut as much as $5 million out of theirbudget by claiming tax credit for 20 percent of production expensesincurred in France in exchange for including scenes that are univer-sally recognizable as French.

Indeed,France is no stranger to the big screen—it has a long cin-ematic tradition and developed many of the early advances in movie

pictures. Late 19th century French filmpioneers such as brothers Auguste andLouis Lumière developed early filmingand projection techniques. Their 46-second short film "Workers Leaving theLumière Factory" (1895) was the firstfilm ever publicly screened.

Today France sponsors numer-ous filmmaker development programs and has become a pop-ular place to make movies. Last year alone Paris hosted 840 filmshoots, which averages to nine films shot per day and nearly3,500 total days of filming. In recent years, France has hostednumerous feature-length American films, such as 2006 summerblockbusters "The Da Vinci Code" showcasing the LouvreMuseum in Paris and "Marie Antoinette" which uses theVersailles Palace as a backdrop.

Incentives to Attract Foreign Filmmakers

Age-Old Drink in a Fresh New Light

[Cultural Highlights ] l es coups d ’oe i l

Gaston Lenôtre

revolutionized la pâtisserie.

French President Nicolas Sarkozyunveiled a plan last month to grantFrench youths under the age of 25 andprofessors free admission to 50 nation-al museums in France. Expected totake effect in April,the plan is part of aninitiative to entice the public, especiallyyoung people, to visit the museumsand national heritage sites.

A smaller-scale program headedby the Ministry of Culture in 2008successfully increased the number of museum visitors by waiv-ing the $9-to-$12 admission fee to view the permanent collec-tions at 14 national museums in France. The experimentalmeasure boosted the attendance of regular patrons as well as

attracted foreign tourists who account forthree-quarters of the museum visitorsbetween the ages of 18 and 25.

In addition, President Sarkozyannounced a 100-million euro budgetincrease for the expansion of culture pro-grams, including the foundation of "Maisonde l'Histoire de France," Museum of FrenchHistory. The president also proposed thecreation of a Council for Artistic Creation,which will decide priorities for public arts

funding. Co-chaired by the current minster of culture, ChristineAlbanel, as well as French filmmaker Marin Karmitz, the Councilwill work "in close cooperation with artists, professionals and thepublic" to promote culture endeavors in France.

Woody Allen

announced plans to

film in France.

Waived Admission Fees Draws Young Crowd

Barrels of Courvoisier age quietly in the house’s expansive cellar in Jarnac.

Cognac’s transformation is whetting the palettes of a new generation.

The Louve will be participating in the

free-admission initiative.

© L

enotr

e Fo

undat

ion

© F. de la Mure

© Metzger Studios

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LSU to Open "Rodin: A Magnificent Obsession" Exhibit

[France in America]

The ninth annual Atlanta JewishFilm Festival (AJFF) screened sever-al French films surrounding Jewishidentity at various cinemas through-out Georgia's state capital lastmonth. Last year alone, the festivalentertained over 15,000 people,showcasing 40 international works.Over the course of twelve days dur-ing this year's edition, the festivalfeatured 50 international filmsexploring various aspects of Jewishlife, culture, and history. The follow-ing seven French films screened atthe festival develop topics including the resonance of WWII aswell as Jewish identity in France, titled: "Hello Goodbye," "LesCitronniers," "Faut Que Ça Danse," "Plus Tard, Tu Comprendras,""Un Secret," and "Nous Étions l'Exodus."

The organizers of the festival, theAmerican Jewish Committee, main-tain that film is one of the best medi-ums to spread understanding byrelating a personal story that engagesand connects with the public. Thegoal of the festival is to share cross-cultural experiences to encouragegreater acceptance between differentreligious groups, ethnicities, andnationalities.

In addition to film screenings, thefestival also included appearancesfrom actors, filmmakers,authors,and

various other experts in the field. Audience members had theopportunity to vote for the winners of the AJFF Audience BestNarrative or Best Documentary Award.

For more information, please visit: www.ajff.org.

The French Consulate of Louisiana part-nered with Louisiana State University (LSU)to showcase the life and works of Frenchsculptor August Rodin in an exhibitiontitled, "Rodin: a Magnificent Obsession."The exposition displays the most compre-hensive collection of Rodin's work includ-ing, sculptures such as "The Gates of Hell,""The Kiss," and "The Thinker," as well asphotographs and a short film that explorethe creative and technological processbehind his masterpieces.

Rodin is widely known for his work withbronze casting — a sculpting method whereliquid bronze is poured into a plaster moldand solidifies. Using this technique, he wasone of the first sculptors to express humanemotion through physical manifestations of

the body; depicting extreme pain or exu-berance through hand gestures rather thanfacial expressions.

Rodin's work includes lifelike humanfigures. He was meticulous with detail andaccounted for the effects of light on bronzeby coating his bronze figures with severallayers of green patina. His technique pro-duced such realistic sculptures that Rodinwas occasionally accused of surmoulage, atechnique where the plaster cast is directlymolded on a live model.

"Rodin:a Magnificent Obsession" willbe held at the Shaw Center for the Arts inthe LSU Museum of Art. It is supportedby the Iris and B. Gerald CantorFoundation. For more information,please visit: www.lsu.edu.

The Rodin Exhibition will showcase

the artist's most famous works,

including his sculpture,

"The Thinker."

"Les Citronniers" humanizes the

Israel/Palestine conflict when two

neighbors become divided over

something as trivial as a lemon tree.

French Films in the Spotlight at Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

Courtesy: LSU MOA

Courtesy: AJFF