Paris satirical protest: Citizens challenge £1.3bn Seine cleanup
The French are often perceived as having a sophisticated and romantic lifestyle, but reality can sometimes defy these stereotypes. A hashtag is currently trending on the internet, calling for a collective defecation into the Seine River.
30 May 2024 17:54
The Seine is not one of the cleanest rivers in the world. While it doesn't reach the level of the Ganges, no one in their right mind would want to swim in a river flowing through Paris. Water and large urban centres (sewage) are never a good combination.
As Paris prepares to host this year's summer Olympic Games, French authorities have undertaken steps to clean the Seine effectively. Earlier river studies showed that its cleanliness was well below acceptable standards, which could jeopardize the organisation of competitions in water disciplines. The government is going all out to improve the water quality and promises that by 23 June, the Seine will be a safe bathing area. French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to be the first to swim in the clean river to demonstrate that any concerns are unnecessary. What do the French think about this?
They spent £1.3 billion cleaning the Seine, but the French aren't impressed
It turns out that the residents of France have a great sense of humour. Upon hearing that cleaning the Seine to prepare it perfectly for the Olympic Games cost £1.3 billion (about USD 1.6 billion) and that President Macron and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo promised to personally swim in the river to prove it was clean enough, they decided to organise... Defecate in the River Day.
The event will occur on 23 June and involve group defecation into the river. Anyone interested can show up at the bank of the freshly cleaned Seine and defecate there before the president and the mayor of Paris swim in it. The hashtag #jechiedanslaseinele23juin is trending on the internet, which can be translated as #june23ishitintheseine. This is how the French protested against turning the Seine into a bathing area.
