Striking workers are continuing to block many of France's oil depots and refineries

 

French fuel firms seek emergency supplies amid strikes

 

France's petrol distributors have urged the government to release emergency fuel stocks following strikes that have blocked most French oil refineries.

 

The firms warn that only 10 days' fuel is left. They also want protesters blocking fuel depots to be removed. Earlier, French officials said there would be no shortages for at least a month, and warned against panic buying. Unions are organising protests and strikes against government plans to raise the retirement age.

 

Eight of France's 12 mainland refineries are reported to be shutting down operations because of the blockades. The distributors warned that unless action was taken there would be petrol shortages across the country. Jean-Louis Schilansky, President of the French Oil Industry Association (UFIP), said that on average they had about 10 days of supplies left in depots.

 

"We ask permission to dip into the reserve stocks available to distributors, to support customers beyond these 10 days," he said. He also called on the government to "unblock the depots which protesters are preventing from working".

 

France's strategic reserve consists of 17 million tonnes of refined fuel products and crude oil - the equivalent of 98.5 days of normal consumption. The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says the government will probably turn first to smaller reserve stocks - 11 days of fuel - but that is provided they can get it out. There are now blockades at five distribution depots in the south.

 

Government officials have tried to play down fears of petrol shortages, insisting that France has enough to see out the industrial action.

 

However, panic buying has broken out in some areas, putting supplies under greater strain. Speaking earlier, Transport Secretary Dominique Bussereau said there should be no shortages at petrol stations for at least a month.

 

But he warned against further panic buying. "There has been a 50% rise in petrol consumption this week simply as a result of panic buying. So if there's no more panic buying, we'll have everything we need to hold out," he told La Chaine Info television (LCI).

 

Protests erupted after President Nicolas Sarkozy announced plans to raise the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62, and from 65 to 67 for a full state pension.

 

More than a million people took to the streets in the latest national protest on Tuesday. France's main unions have since stepped up their action, calling for the fifth in a series of strikes and street protests on 19 October.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11545897

XD it's fun how outside the country everyone seems paniquing!! Well, here we're not in panic mode, or even in 'worry mode' about that...! The strikes are just beginning and it's quite 'gentle' for now...there are been worst strike times!! So no panic...(yet XD)

I remember the strikes in the UK, there were queues at the supermarket up and down all the isles. The motorways were deserted and I had a full tank. It was great!

why do there keep being so many threads made related to things i worry about gdsbhjashaja

because you're a post whore and a worrier and we're all the devil?

I remember the strikes in the UK, there were queues at the supermarket up and down all the isles. The motorways were deserted and I had a full tank. It was great!

It happened here too (we're the strike champions after all :D ) but now, it's not even beginning to get close to that!

Today was the highschool kids on the street...tsss...all bus get detoured..yeaaah :dozey: Secong time in the week, I'm used to it, but it's still annoying!

 

(not related boss, but I LOVE your new avi!! Baby sammy is too cute :blush: )

because you're a post whore and a worrier and we're all the devil?

 

Perhaps so. :surprised:

:baby: :D

(not related boss, but I LOVE your new avi!! Baby sammy is too cute :blush: )

XD it's fun how outside the country everyone seems paniquing!! Well, here we're not in panic mode, or even in 'worry mode' about that...! The strikes are just beginning and it's quite 'gentle' for now...there are been worst strike times!! So no panic...(yet XD)

Are you kidding? Some people queue at gas stations, it's soo pathetic xD

I almost have no petrol left:cry:, I always put off filling up until the last minute as I hate doing it, it takes ages.

I've never seen so many people at the gas station near my work! It's incredible how people are dependent of their cars. Instead of rushing into the station when there is still no reason, people should perhaps reflect on their reliance on cars.

 

And I support the strikers and I went down the street this morning to protest!

Are you kidding? Some people queue at gas stations, it's soo pathetic xD

I don't live in Paris babe..so in the 'country side', we still have gaz... :P (maybe for not too long)

BLOW UP THE GAS WERE ALL GONNA DIE

 

By the way the thread title is irritating but I don't know why. It seems grammatically incorrect but it isn't.

I don't live in Paris babe..so in the 'country side', we still have gaz... :P (maybe for not too long)

Haha I don't either :tongue:

By the way the thread title is irritating but I don't know why. It seems grammatically incorrect but it isn't.

 

France nearly has no petrol left?

I remember the strikes in the UK, there were queues at the supermarket up and down all the isles. The motorways were deserted and I had a full tank. It was great!

 

And my family had access to a private filling station in order to fill up, although we had to fill up during the night-time to stop other cars getting in, plus I had a couple days off school due to teachers not being able to make it in.

 

So the french are striking over raises in the age they can draw a pension, I think I won´t be able to draw a state pension till I´m 69 at the current rate.

So the french are striking over raises in the age they can draw a pension, I think I won´t be able to draw a state pension till I´m 69 at the current rate.

You will probably get more than me then! Does everybody get a state pension there, or is it just people who work for the government? Here, only people who work for the government (State or federal) can get a State/federal pension. We do have Social Security, which is essentially a pension, but it has diverged from its original intent when it was created decades ago. It was supposed to be "security" income during the last 3-5 years of life back when the life expectancies were shorter, but project that forward to now and the timeframe is completely out of whack. Now people get it for more like 20 years, and it's essentially a legalized Ponzi scheme. So I won't even count on it being there when I am "of age". We get annual updates in the mail from the government, and now after realizing the err of their ways, there is an "oh, by the way" statement in there. Basically, if significant changes aren't made, you'll only get 70-some percent of what is shown on the annual update. Personally I think that's optimistic. So I'll just plan on it not even being there, and if it is, hey I'll just think of it as a bonus.

So the french are striking over raises in the age they can draw a pension, I think I won´t be able to draw a state pension till I´m 69 at the current rate.

So because you have to wait until 69 to draw a pension we just have to shup up and accept a reform that is unfair ?

All experts agree that this reform is not fair and there are alternatives. We all know that we have to make some sacrifices but do not confuse make efforts for the good of all and equality and being fucked by a government that can not handle his country.

You will probably get more than me then! Does everybody get a state pension there, or is it just people who work for the government? Here, only people who work for the government (State or federal) can get a State/federal pension. We do have Social Security, which is essentially a pension, but it has diverged from its original intent when it was created decades ago. It was supposed to be "security" income during the last 3-5 years of life back when the life expectancies were shorter, but project that forward to now and the timeframe is completely out of whack. Now people get it for more like 20 years, and it's essentially a legalized Ponzi scheme. So I won't even count on it being there when I am "of age". We get annual updates in the mail from the government, and now after realizing the err of their ways, there is an "oh, by the way" statement in there. Basically, if significant changes aren't made, you'll only get 70-some percent of what is shown on the annual update. Personally I think that's optimistic. So I'll just plan on it not even being there, and if it is, hey I'll just think of it as a bonus.

 

The state pension comes from the "national insurance" tax, once you have paid in X number of years you are entitled to draw a pension, but they are tricky and if you have an extra pension they won´t give you the full state pension.

The state pension comes from the "national insurance" tax, once you have paid in X number of years you are entitled to draw a pension, but they are tricky and if you have an extra pension they won´t give you the full state pension.

Oh okay then. That's the equivalent of Social Security here.

OMG. Lyon is the new Bagdad. :stunned: :blank:

In my town, this afternoon, there was only 100 strikers calmly chewing their sandwichs on the main place and across the street, the all police department in full armour (casques, shield and stuff...), ready for a WWIII...! That was hilarious XDD

In my town, this afternoon, there was only 100 strikers calmly chewing their sandwichs on the main place and across the street, the all police department in full armour (casques, shield and stuff...), ready for a WWIII...! That was hilarious XDD

 

Haha ! Well, that was the complete opposite here! It was really crazy! There were violent confrontation between rioters and police. A lot of cars were broke, some were burned ! It felt like war, seriously ! :confused:

In my town, this afternoon, there was only 100 strikers calmly chewing their sandwichs on the main place and across the street, the all police department in full armour (casques, shield and stuff...), ready for a WWIII...! That was hilarious XDD

Haha, I'm so picturing the scene xD

 

So yeah, no petrol left, we're all gonna die :anxious:

What's the death toll so far?