#Mobile Sterile Units Market

[growthofcarsharingmarket]

The global mobile sterile units market is expected to reach US$ 1.67 billion by 2028. This market is growing at a CAGR of 5.6% during 2023-2028. The market is driven by factors such as the increasing number of surgical procedures being performed. It is also driven by the rise in healthcare expenditure, and the increasing demand for sterilization equipment in emerging economies. The market is also driven by the growing prevalence of hospital-acquired infections and the need to maintain sterile environments in healthcare facilities.

[bhushans]

Unlocking Potential: How Technology is Transforming the Global Mobile Sterile Units Market

The global mobile sterile units market is expected to reach a US$391.3 million end-of-year valuation, indicating that it is on track for significant expansion. This represents a 5.7% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) and is predicated on a US$214.6 million market value in 2022.

Sterile units are used in hospitals to sterilize lab and surgical equipment. As hospital acquired infections and cross-contamination events rise, it is expected that the market for mobile sterile units will grow more quickly throughout the forecast period. Furthermore, mobile sterile units are easy to use and can be used in a variety of ways in operating rooms when doing surgeries. In order to create sophisticated sterile units, manufacturing organizations continuously invest in research and development. This will lead to the construction of more copes during the anticipated term.

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The increasing use of sterile units to prevent cross contamination in hospitals and clinics is one of the key reasons expected to drive the growth of the mobile sterile units market globally. Furthermore, patients and professionals find mobile sterile units more convenient because they are portable, which is contributing to the global market for mobile sterile units expanding over the coming years.

The growing awareness of hospital acquired infections is expected to fuel the growth of the mobile sterile unit market. As more surgical procedures require sterile equipment, the demand for mobile sterile units is growing. The need for mobile sterile units is increased by the fact that portable sterile units are lighter and require less floor space. Furthermore, throughout the course of the estimated time, it is anticipated that the market’s general expansion would be supported by the various applications for mobile sterile units in academic and research settings.

Competitive Landscape:

Prominent suppliers of mobile sterile units are focusing on geographical growth through acquisitions of local market companies in order to increase sales footprint and boost revenue in emerging economies. The three primary tactics suppliers employ to increase product sales across borders are distributor agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic collaborations.

Recent Market Developments

In Feb 2020, Astell Scientific and Progressive Recovery, Inc. (PRI) collaborated to make PRI the exclusive USA sales and service dealer for Astell’s line of steam sterilizer autoclaves.

In June 2020, Tuttnauer introduced new novel products, including the T-Edge autoclave, TIVA-2 washer, and T-Clean line, to strengthen its infection control solutions.

Similarly, recent developments have been tracked by the team at Future Market Insights related to companies in the mobile sterile units market, which are available in the full report.

Key Companies Profiled:

Tuttnauer

Benchmark Scientific

Getinge Group

Belimed AG

Astell Scientific

Systec GmbH

Fedegari Autoclavi S.P.A.

Yamato Scientific Co. Ltd

Aller Innovations, Inc.

Hitech Ultraviolet Pvt. Ltd.

Renosem

Zhejiang FUXIA Medical Technology Co., Ltd.

Azbil group (Telstar)

Steris Plc

Steelco S.P.A

Mimic Medical Systems

Key Segments Covered in Mobile Sterile Units Industry Research:

By Product:

Steam Sterilizers

Gravity Displacement Autoclave

High-speed pre-vaccum sterilizer

Gaseous Sterilizer

Ethylene oxide sterilizer

Nitrogen dioxide sterilizer

Chlorine dioxide sterilizer

Ozone sterilizer

Ultraviolet Sterilizer

Low pressure mercury lamp

Pulsed Xenon Lamps

Light-emitting diodes(LEDs)

Cold Plasma Sterilizers

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia

Oceania

The Middle East and Africa

[insightfulblogz]

Foley Catheter Market Share, Outlook, Trends, Growth, Analysis, Forecast 2024-2032

Foley catheters are an essential component of modern medical care, used primarily for urinary drainage in patients who are unable to control their bladder function. These indwelling devices consist of a flexible tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine, with a small balloon at the end that holds the catheter in place. Foley catheters are commonly used in hospitals, particularly for patients undergoing surgery, those with neurological conditions, or individuals in long-term care settings. With ongoing innovations in medical technology, newer versions of Foley catheters are becoming more comfortable for patients and are reducing the risk of infection, which has historically been a significant concern in catheter use.

The Foley Catheter Market size was estimated at USD 1.69 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 2.85 billion by 2032 with a growing CAGR of 5.98% during the forecast period of 2024-2032.

Future Scope

The future of Foley catheter technology lies in the development of more biocompatible materials and infection-resistant designs. As healthcare systems increasingly prioritize patient comfort and safety, catheter manufacturers are exploring materials that are less prone to causing irritation or infection. Research into antimicrobial coatings and advanced materials such as silicone is paving the way for Foley catheters that can remain in place longer without increasing the risk of complications. Additionally, as the population ages and the demand for urological care rises, Foley catheter usage is expected to grow, driving further innovation in the market.

Trends

Several trends are emerging in the Foley catheter market, including the increasing use of silicone catheters, which are softer and more biocompatible than traditional latex-based options. Another significant trend is the focus on infection control, with manufacturers incorporating antimicrobial coatings and developing single-use, sterile catheters to minimize the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). The market is also seeing a shift toward more patient-friendly designs, such as self-inserting catheters and portable catheter systems that allow for greater independence and mobility for patients.

Applications

Foley catheters are widely used in various clinical settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and home care. They are essential for patients undergoing surgery, particularly for procedures involving the pelvic organs or spine, where bladder control may be temporarily lost. Additionally, they are used in patients with chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, or severe prostate problems. Foley catheters are also employed in critical care units to monitor urine output in patients with heart failure or kidney problems, helping doctors manage fluid levels and optimize care.

Key Points

Foley catheters are critical for urinary drainage in patients unable to control bladder function.

New materials such as silicone and antimicrobial coatings are improving patient comfort and reducing infection risks.

The aging population is driving the demand for Foley catheters, particularly in long-term care settings.

Innovations such as portable and self-inserting catheters are increasing patient independence.

Infection control remains a top priority, with CAUTIs being a major concern in catheter use.

Conclusion

Foley catheters remain a vital tool in medical care, ensuring effective urinary management for millions of patients worldwide. As technology advances, the focus on reducing infection rates, improving patient comfort, and enhancing catheter durability will continue to drive innovations in this field. With an aging population and increasing healthcare needs, Foley catheters will remain indispensable in urological care, offering both clinicians and patients more efficient and safer solutions in the years to come.

[asj-ventures]

Market Morning Brief - 12th August

Asian markets trade flat and GIFT Nifty after turmoil on Hindenburg-Adani/Buch allegations.

Gift Nifty trading 9 points down at 8:06 am.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke on Sunday with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and told him Iran's military preparations suggest Iran is getting ready for a large-scale attack on Israel.

Key for the Federal Reserve will be U.S. consumer prices on Wednesday where economists look for rises of 0.2% in both the headline and core, with the annual core slowing a tick to 3.2% hoping upto 0.5% rate cut.

Quarterly results today :

Vodafone Idea, Voltas, Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar, Balrampur Chini Mills, Campus Activewear, Dhanlaxmi Bank, DOMS Industries, Happiest Minds Technologies, Hindustan Copper, Housing & Urban Development Corporation, Indian Railway Finance Corporation, Natco Pharma, National Aluminium Company, NMDC, Olectra Greentech, Senco Gold, SJVN, Sunteck Realty, and Voltas.

Stocks in news today,

🎯Larsen & Toubro

Subsidiary L&T Semiconductor Technologies has completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in SiliConch Systems.

🎯Kotak Mahindra Bank

The bank has acquired 30 lakh equity shares of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) for Rs 30 crore. With this, the bank’s current shareholding in ONDC is 5.10%.

🎯Oil and Natural Gas Corporation

The company has received approval from the Government of India for the infusion of additional equity capital of up to Rs 10,501 crore in ONGC Petro Additions (OPaL), conversion of backstopped Compulsorily Convertible Debentures (CCDs) amounting to Rs 7,778 crore, and balance payment of Rs 86 crore with respect to share warrants, totaling Rs 18,365 crore. This will change the status of OPaL into a subsidiary of ONGC with a 95.69% equity stake.

🎯Bank of Baroda

The public sector lender has raised lending rates by 5 basis points (bps) on its three-month, six-month, and one-year tenures, effective August 12.

🎯Canara Bank

The bank has raised its lending rate by 5 bps across tenures, effective August 12.

🎯Atul

Subsidiary Atul Bioscience has received the Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its manufacturing facility at Ambernath, Maharashtra. The EIR was issued post the last inspection of the facility conducted from May 6 to May 10, which concluded with zero FDA 483 observations.

🎯Mastek

Hiral Chandrana has resigned as Group CEO of the company. The board has recommended Umang Nahata as the Interim Group CEO of Mastek Group, effective August 10. Umang Nahata is currently one of the non-Executive Directors of the company.

🎯Coffee Day Enterprises

The IDBI Trusteeship Services has admitted Coffee Day Enterprises into the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for the initiation of Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) for Rs 228.45 crore. The company is planning to take the required legal action in this regard.

🎯Amara Raja Energy & Mobility

Subsidiary Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Piaggio Vehicles, a 100% Indian subsidiary of the Italian auto giant Piaggio Group. Amara Raja will collaborate with Piaggio India to develop and supply LFP (lithium iron phosphate) Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) cells and chargers for its electric vehicles, along with developing cells and battery packs for their upcoming offerings.

🎯Caplin Point Laboratories

The United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) conducted an unannounced inspection of Caplin Steriles’ injectable and ophthalmic manufacturing facility at Gummidipoondi. The inspection was conducted between August 5 and August 9 and concluded with zero observations.

Positive 👍🏻

Bulk Deals

🎯Hatsun Agro Product

VVV and Sons Edible Oils sold a 0.6% stake in the company at an average price of Rs 1,227.27 per share.

🎯Paramount Communications

Foreign investor Nexpact sold a 0.76% stake in the company at an average price of Rs 80.5 per share.

🎯Updater Services

Foreign company India Business Excellence Fund IIA sold a 0.64% stake in the company at an average price of Rs 326.57 per share.

🎯ACE Software Exports

Ace investor Shankar Sharma has bought a 1.25% equity stake in the company at an average price of Rs 359.5 per share. However, Jamkuben Harilal Dhamsaniya sold a 2.03% stake in the company at the same price.

🎯Nexus Select Trust

Morgan Stanley Asia Singapore Pte ODI, HDFC Trustee Company - HDFC Flexi-Cap Fund, Morgan Stanley Asia Singapore Pte, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, Carmignac Gestion A/C Carmignac Emergents, and Wells Fargo Emerging Markets Equity Fund purchased a 7.76% stake in the trust at an average price of Rs 138 per unit. However, BREP Asia SG Red Fort Holding NQ Pte and BREP Asia II Indian Holding Co IX (NQ) Pte sold 20.82% units at the same price.

For More Detailed Analysis Connect with us at ASJ Ventures

ASJ Ventures

[oliviaphleb]

The Ultimate Guide to Medical Phlebotomist Salaries: How Much Do They Really Make?

The Ultimate Guide to⁣ Medical Phlebotomist Salaries: How Much⁤ Do They Really Make?

If you are considering a career as a medical phlebotomist, ⁣one of the first questions that may come to mind is: how much do they really make? In this comprehensive guide, we⁣ will explore the various factors that can influence a phlebotomist’s salary, as well as ‌provide insights into average salary⁢ ranges, benefits, and practical tips for maximizing your earning potential in this rewarding field.

What is a Medical ⁣Phlebotomist?

Before delving into salary details, let’s first ⁢define what a medical phlebotomist does. A phlebotomist is a healthcare professional responsible for drawing ⁢blood from patients for various purposes, such as diagnostic tests, blood donations, and research. Phlebotomists are trained to perform venipuncture procedures using sterile techniques to ensure ​patient safety and accurate⁢ test results.

Factors Influencing Phlebotomist Salaries

Several factors can influence a​ phlebotomist’s salary,⁣ including:

1. Location: Salaries can vary significantly ⁤based on geographic location, with phlebotomists in urban areas generally​ earning higher wages compared to those in rural areas. 2. Experience: Entry-level phlebotomists may start⁤ at a lower salary⁢ range but ​can increase their earning potential ⁢with experience and additional certifications. 3. Education and Certification: Phlebotomists with⁢ specialized certifications, such as the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) credential,⁤ may⁢ command higher salaries. 4. Industry: Phlebotomists working in hospitals, clinics, or laboratories may have different​ salary scales compared to those working in blood donation centers or research facilities. 5. Shift Differentials: Some ‍phlebotomists may ‍receive higher pay for working night shifts, weekends, or holidays.

Average Phlebotomist Salaries

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for phlebotomists was $36,480 as of May 2020. However, salaries can vary widely depending on the factors mentioned above. ⁤Here is a ⁤breakdown of average phlebotomist salaries by industry:

Industry | Average Salary (per hour) Hospitals | $18.80 Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories |⁣ $16.72 Outpatient Care Centers | $16.53 Blood ‌and Organ Banks | $16.05 Physician Offices | $15.77

Benefits of Becoming a Phlebotomist

In addition to⁢ competitive salaries, becoming a phlebotomist offers several benefits, including:

1. Job Stability: With the demand for healthcare services ⁢on the rise, phlebotomists can enjoy job security and career advancement ‌opportunities. 2. Flexibility: Phlebotomists can work​ in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, blood banks, and mobile health units, allowing for flexibility in work environment. 3. Fulfilling ⁣Work: Phlebotomists ⁣play a crucial role in the healthcare system by ensuring accurate blood samples for diagnostic testing, making a positive impact on patient care.

Practical Tips for Maximizing Your Phlebotomist Salary

To maximize ​your earning potential as ⁣a phlebotomist, consider the following tips:

1. Pursue Additional Certifications: Obtaining specialized certifications,⁢ such as ‌the CPT credential or the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT) certification,‍ can boost⁤ your qualifications and salary prospects. 2. Gain Experience: As you gain more experience‍ in the field,⁣ you may qualify for higher-paying positions or leadership roles within ‌healthcare organizations. 3.‌ Stay Updated on Industry Trends: Keep abreast ⁢of advancements in phlebotomy techniques, technologies, and regulations to enhance your skill set and‍ marketability in the field.

phlebotomists play‍ a vital role in the healthcare industry ⁤by ensuring ‍accurate blood ⁤samples for diagnostic testing. While salaries can vary based on ‌location, experience, and industry, pursuing additional certifications and gaining experience can help maximize your earning potential as a phlebotomist. Consider the ⁤benefits‌ of job stability,​ flexibility, and fulfilling work as you embark on a career in phlebotomy.

By incorporating these tips and staying informed about industry trends, you can enhance your skills, ‌qualifications, and ⁢salary prospects in this rewarding healthcare profession. Remember, phlebotomy is not just about drawing blood – it’s⁣ about making a ⁤positive impact on‌ patient care​ and contributing⁣ to the well-being of others.

https://phlebotomytechnicianschools.org/the-ultimate-guide-to-medical-phlebotomist-salaries-how-much-do-they-really-make/

[health-views-updates]

Particle Counter Market: Comprehensive Analysis, Opportunities, Classifications, Applications & Expert Opinions

The global particle counter market is on an upward trajectory, projected to reach USD 903.37 million by 2030. This signifies a significant increase from its 2022 valuation of USD 418.38 million, reflecting a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.1% over the forecast period (2023-2030), according to a recent market analysis.

Driving Forces Behind the Particle Counting Boom:

Several key factors are contributing to the expanding particle counter market:

Stricter Regulations and Quality Control: Stringent regulations in industries like pharmaceuticals, food & beverage, and aerospace necessitate stringent quality control measures. Particle counters play a vital role in ensuring product cleanliness and adherence to air quality standards.

Rising Focus on Cleanliness in Diverse Industries: The demand for clean environments extends beyond traditional sectors. Particle counters are increasingly employed in healthcare and semiconductor manufacturing to maintain sterile environments.

Technological Advancements and User-Friendly Solutions: Advancements in sensor technology and data analysis capabilities are leading to more accurate, efficient, and user-friendly particle counter solutions.

Growing Importance of Air Quality Monitoring: Heightened awareness of air pollution and its health implications is driving the demand for air quality monitoring solutions, including particle counters.

Get Free PDF Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/1824

A Diverse Market Landscape:

The press release can be enhanced by incorporating a section on market segmentation, providing a more detailed picture:

Modularity Type: The market caters to various instrument configurations for different applications:

Benchtop Particle Counters: Stationary units for controlled laboratory environments.

Handheld Particle Counters: Portable solutions for on-site measurements and real-time monitoring.

Portable Particle Counters: Offer greater mobility than handheld models for broader range of applications.

Product Type: Particle counters are designed to detect and measure different types of particles:

Airborne Particle Counters: Measure the concentration and size of airborne particles in cleanrooms and other controlled environments.

Dust Particle Counters: Specifically designed for detecting and quantifying larger dust particles in industrial settings.

Liquid Particle Counters: Used to analyze the size and number of particles suspended in liquids, critical in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Technology Type: Particle counters utilize different technologies to detect particles:

Offline Particle Counters: Samples are collected and analyzed in a separate unit.

Online Particle Counters: Provide continuous, real-time monitoring of particle levels.

End Use: Particle counters are utilized across various industries:

Healthcare & Pharmaceutical: Ensuring sterility in cleanrooms and production facilities.

Food & Beverages: Maintaining product quality and safety by monitoring for contaminants.

Automotive: Controlling contamination in sensitive manufacturing processes.

Oil & Gas: Monitoring air quality and preventing equipment damage from particle contamination.

Aerospace: Maintaining cleanliness in critical components for aircraft and spacecraft.

A Global Phenomenon:

A section on the geographic landscape can be included to highlight regional trends:

The report explores the particle counter market across different regions, providing insights for geographically focused strategies.

Looking Ahead:

The future of the particle counter market appears promising, with continued growth anticipated. Increasing urbanization, growing emphasis on environmental monitoring, and continuous technological advancements will further fuel market expansion.

[ojasvatsingh]

Bulk Bag Unloader Pune: Types, Features, and Selection Tips

Using Bulk bag Unloaders, powdered or granulated ingredients can be dust-free and hygienically discharged from FIBCs into processing machines. However, choosing the optimal configuration can be confusing with various unloader types available.

This guide covers key bulk bag unloader varieties, capabilities and best practices for selection:

Common Unloader Types

Selecting the optimal Bulk Bag Dischargers involves understanding the core varieties on the market and their suitability for different operational contexts. The three main types include:

1. Stationary Dischargers

Stationary unloaders have a fixed frame. They are installed next to the receiving vessel or process machine. They help with simple material flow requirements for bulk bags. The output location usually stays the same. The key features are an electric hoist for lifting bags up to 2 tons, a height-adjustable bag hanging stand, and an adjustable slide discharge gate to control flow rates.

Vibrating Feeders massage systems help with tricky products. They prevent arching and rat holing. Metaflow's MEF model is a stationary discharger. It has a compact footprint and is easy to operate. It has a moderate output capacity of up to 2000lb/hr. This model is suitable for facilities with centralized feeding areas that don't need mobility.

2. Trolley Dischargers

Mounted trolley dischargers are used in plants with intermittent feeding on different machines. They help with moving materials easily. The Bulk Bag Discharger assembly has industrial casters. It helps transport bags quickly across longer distances. It goes to different feed points on a production floor. Units can be customized to match machine height and location. Ideal for facilities with different equipment layouts spread out.

3. Continuous Dischargers

In high-demand applications needing very heavy duty 20000lb+/hr bulk handling, continuous dischargers maintain non-stop material discharge. This is achieved through multiple bag stands arranged in a rotating carousel assembly...

The remainder can describe the features of continuous and carousel dischargers. But the above expands well on the details of stationary and trolley models as the two main varieties.

Key Unloader Features

While stationary, trolley and continuous dischargers represent the core varieties, models within each type offer several configurable features and accessories to match operational needs:

1. Customizable Configurations

Consult Bulk Bag Unloader Pune, like Metaflow Engineering, for fully customized unloaders instead of using off-the-shelf systems that are one-size-fits-all. Please provide details such as discharge height, electric hoist capacity for common bag weights, hopper dimensions, and mobility requirements. This will help us find the best solution to optimize process efficiency.

2. Dust Control Accessories

To prevent leaks, use more dust control accessories. These can include inflatable neck seals, glove ports, integrated rotary valves, and bag shredders. Choose the accessories based on the level of containment needed. Augmented features are important for industries like pharmaceuticals. Sterility is crucial when handling ingredients.

3. Bag Massagers

Certain ingredients prone to sedimentation, rat holing or de-mixing pose flow challenges. Here, specialized Vibrating Tube Feeders Pune massagers fitted externally promote consistent material discharge. The agitation prevents arching, tunneling or lump formation for reliable emptying of trickier products. Ideal for fine chemicals, clays, titanium dioxide and food items.

4. Safety Enhancements

Mission-critical safety can be bolstered by selecting advanced electric hoist models with braking systems...

Further sections can detail the safety mechanisms documentation for compliance and advise on aligning customized unloader builds to application needs through material testing.

Tips for Unloader Selection

First, determine your output requirements – intermittent or high volume continuous?

Factor in space availability and process layout for sizing evaluation

Consult expertise of vendors like Metaflow Engineering on product testing to pick optimal models suiting material flow properties

Prioritize certified safety-enhanced dischargers for risk mitigation

To enjoy efficient, problem-free bulk bag discharging, contact the experts at Metaflow Engineering today for reliable Pune-made equipment!

[takeoffphilippines]

Healthy and Comfortable: The new TCL UV Connect+ Air Conditioner gives a superb cooling experience

Not all air conditioners are created equal. With a lot of choices in the market coming out nowadays, you might be given a lot of options to try on. But when it comes to enjoying a perfect balance of cool air while pampering your well-being and ensuring ultimate comfort, there’s something that can fit into your preference.  TCL, the leading consumer electronics company, launches the newest UV Connect+ Air Conditioner. It’s about time to discover a breath of fresh and healthy living.

The TCL UV Connect+ Air Conditioner is defined as the next level of coolness. It is more about comfort and convenience for everyone. Definitely an upgrade on your regular air conditioning unit because of its topline cooling and cleaning aspects such as Gentle Breeze, CleanXpress, and Extreme Cooling.

The Future of Staying Cool

You can fully enjoy comfortable cooling with soft laminar airflow as highlighted by the Gentle Breeze feature. The TCL UV Connect+ Air Conditioner is made of 18 S-shaped blades with 1422 micro-holes that break up the airflow and even out the wind. It creates a comfortable indoor environment and avoids the dryness of direct blowing wind.

For the CleanXpress highlight, this one provides a systematic clean solution from reminding to cleaning as it becomes automatic.  It also has a 3-step Auto Clean that works from frosting, and defrosting to drying, its deep clean feature also utilizes water molecules in the air to clean away dust, dirt, and other impurities. Likewise, the Filter cleaning reminder appears on the TCL home app and front panel.

To top it all off, the Extreme Cooling feature makes cooling possible in any room temperature conditions. Keep your cool even on a scorching day and even stay cooler no matter the temperature. Its air-cooled E-box ensures continuous cooling even at 60°C ambient and 100% cooling capacity output at 50°C ambient.

An Air Conditioner Like No Other

The TCL UV Connect+ Air Conditioner also has its secondary features that can best suit your busy lifestyle.

Looking for a healthy filter feature, this air conditioner unit is created with a 6-in-1 filter system including a silver ion filter, active carbon filter, catechin filter, photocatalyst filter, anti-dust filter, and vitamin C filter, which keeps away from bacteria. While the UVC Sterilization Pro emits ultraviolet light that offers superior performance in countering toxins. A certified purification procedure that destroys the DNA / RNA of viruses and bacteria – delivering sterilized air, with no negative side effects.

The best feature of TCL UV Connect+ Air Conditioner is the IOT Connection which gives you the convenience of connection with just a click on your mobile phone device through the TCL Home App. You can control the room temperature, set its 8 flow angles, monitor the self-diagnosis of the air conditioner unit, and even manage the electricity that you use.

The TCL UV Connect+ Air Conditioner prices vary from Php 20,000 - Php 30,000 per dealer store with HP capacity of the aircon of 1.0HP and 1.5HP. For more information about the TCL UV Connect+ Air Conditioner, log on to https://www.tcl.com/ph/en. 

[pearlsmith25]

Ethylene Market Size, Incredible Growth Possibilities, Industry Trends, Global Opportunities by 2030

Ethylene is a simple hydrocarbon gas with the chemical formula C2H4. It is a colorless and flammable gas with a faintly sweet odor. Ethylene is an important industrial chemical and is widely used in various applications.

Production: Ethylene is primarily produced through the cracking of hydrocarbons, such as ethane and naphtha, in a process called steam cracking. This process breaks down larger hydrocarbon molecules into smaller ones, resulting in the formation of ethylene.

Uses: Ethylene has numerous applications in various industries, including:

Petrochemical industry: Ethylene is a key building block for the production of a wide range of chemicals, including polyethylene (the most widely used plastic), ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride, and many others.

Agriculture: Ethylene is used to regulate the ripening of fruits and vegetables. It can be used to trigger the ripening process in fruits, such as bananas, avocados, and tomatoes.

Polymer industry: Ethylene is used to produce various polymers, including polyethylene, which is used in packaging materials, plastic bags, bottles, and containers.

Medical applications: Ethylene oxide, a derivative of ethylene, is used as a sterilizing agent for medical equipment and supplies due to its ability to kill microorganisms.

Welding: Ethylene is used as a fuel gas in oxyfuel welding and cutting processes.

Health and safety: Ethylene is a flammable gas and should be handled with caution. It can cause asphyxiation in high concentrations and is also an asphyxiant in the presence of inadequate oxygen levels. Ethylene is also an asphyxiant fire hazard, and appropriate safety measures should be followed when handling or storing it.

Environmental impact: Ethylene is a greenhouse gas and contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming. It is produced naturally by plants as part of their normal metabolic processes and is also released through various industrial activities. Efforts are being made to reduce ethylene emissions and develop more sustainable production methods.

Here is a complete overview of the ethylene market:

Production: Ethylene is predominantly produced through the steam cracking process, where hydrocarbon feedstocks such as ethane, propane, and naphtha are heated at high temperatures to break down the molecules and produce ethylene. The largest producers of ethylene are the United States, China, and the Middle East countries, such as Saudi Arabia.

Consumption: The demand for ethylene is driven by its versatile applications across various industries. The major consumer sectors include packaging, construction, automotive, textiles, chemicals, and agriculture. Ethylene is used to manufacture products such as polyethylene (PE), ethylene oxide (EO), ethylene glycol (EG), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and many others.

Market Size: The ethylene market has experienced steady growth over the years. According to industry reports, the global ethylene market size was valued at approximately USD 190 billion in 2020. Factors contributing to market growth include increasing population, urbanization, industrialization, and rising demand for plastics and other ethylene-based products.

Trade: Ethylene is a highly traded commodity, with significant international trade flows. Major exporting countries include the United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar, and Belgium. Key importing countries are China, the United States, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. Ethylene is transported in various forms, including pipelines, ships, and trucks.

Major players in the global ethylene market includes Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), Exxon Mobil Corporation, The Dow Chemical Company, Royal Dutch Shell plc, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec Corporation), Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC, Total S.A., LyondellBasell Industries, National Petrochemical Company (NPC), and INEOS Group AG.

Price Trends: Ethylene prices are influenced by several factors, including feedstock prices (such as crude oil and natural gas), supply and demand dynamics, and market conditions. Price fluctuations can impact the profitability of ethylene producers and downstream industries.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact: The ethylene industry is increasingly focusing on sustainability and reducing its environmental footprint. Efforts are being made to improve energy efficiency, develop alternative feedstocks, and implement technologies for carbon capture and utilization.

Future Outlook: The ethylene market is projected to witness continued growth in the coming years, driven by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and the demand for lightweight materials and energy-efficient products. However, the industry also faces challenges related to environmental concerns, regulatory pressures, and the development of sustainable alternatives.

The ethylene market offers several benefits for various stakeholders, including producers, consumers, and the overall economy. Here are some key benefits of the ethylene market:

Versatile Applications: Ethylene is a fundamental building block for the production of a wide range of products. Its derivatives, such as polyethylene, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, and vinyl chloride, are used in various industries, including packaging, automotive, construction, textiles, healthcare, and more. The versatility of ethylene and its derivatives enables the creation of diverse products to meet consumer and industrial needs.

Economic Growth: The ethylene industry plays a significant role in driving economic growth. It provides employment opportunities, both directly in the production facilities and indirectly in associated industries. The ethylene value chain includes raw material suppliers, producers, distributors, and end-users, contributing to the overall economic development of regions where these activities are concentrated.

Industrial Advancements: Ethylene and its derivatives are essential for the advancement of several industries. For example, polyethylene, which is derived from ethylene, is a widely used plastic that has revolutionized packaging, enabling the creation of lightweight, durable, and cost-effective materials. Ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol are crucial for the production of various products, including solvents, antifreeze, polyester fibers, and plastics.

Agricultural Benefits: Ethylene has applications in the agricultural sector. It is used to regulate the ripening process of fruits and vegetables, allowing for efficient supply chain management and extending the shelf life of produce. This benefit helps reduce food waste and enhances the availability of fresh produce for consumers.

Technological Innovation: The ethylene market drives research and development efforts to enhance production efficiency, develop new derivatives, and improve process technologies. This continuous innovation fosters technological advancements and supports the growth of related industries, leading to improved product performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.

Environmental Considerations: While the production and use of ethylene have some environmental impact, advancements in technology and sustainable practices are helping to minimize the industry's footprint. Efforts are being made to reduce emissions, enhance energy efficiency, and explore alternative feedstocks and production methods. Additionally, the recycling and circular economy initiatives in the plastics industry contribute to the sustainable management of ethylene-derived products.

It's important to note that while this information provides a general overview of the ethylene market, specific market conditions, trends, and forecasts may vary over time. It's recommended to refer to up-to-date industry reports and consult market experts for the most accurate and current information.

[nishigandharajput-blog]

Dental Bone Graft Substitutes

Jun 15, 2020 (Market Insight Reports) -- A recent report on Dental Bone Graft Substitutes Market provides a close analysis on the trade size, revenue forecasts and geographical landscape referring to this business house. to boot, the report highlights primary obstacles and latest growth trends accepted by key players that kind a region of the competitive spectrum of this business.

 Surgeons square measure choosing MIS over open surgery thanks to connected advantages like reduced post-operative length, nominal pain, and fewer injury to the tissue.

  Factors like technological advancements within the field of dental bone grafts and increase within the range of bone graft procedures area unit expected to drive the expansion of the world dental bone grafts substitutes market. many insurance suppliers within the U.S. and varied countries within the European region have assisted  the medical sector to introduce and encourage the usage of latest artificial bone grafts and demineralized allografts.

 This report principally considers four varieties of dental bone graft substitutes – transplant, artificial bone grafts, allograft, and demineralized graft. exploitation patient’s own bone (autograft) has historically been the foremost most popular technique of bone grafting; but, increasing technological advancements have raised the amount of artificial graft choices. the advantages of artificial grafts embody accessibility, sterility, and reduced morbidity. Also, the artificial bone grafts have a extended time period and there's no risk of any unwellness. thanks to these edges, artificial bone graft is that the fastest-growing kind within the dental bone graft substitutes market.

  sample link :https://brandessenceresearch.com/healthcare/dental-bone-graft-substitutes-market-size

 Scope of The Report:

Dental bone grafts square measure ordinarily utilized as fillers or scaffolds, that facilitate formation of bone and assist in healing of wound. In bone affixation technique, a American state novo bone is created that assists to heal bones that were broken at the time of a dental extraction surgery.

The dental bone graft substitutes market is divided by application, material, end-user, and merchandise. By material, the market contains demineralized bone matrix, autograft, allograft, xenograft, and artificial bone graft substitute. In terms of application, the dental bone graft substitutes market contains periodontic defect regeneration, socket preservation, ridge augmentation, implant bone regeneration, sinus lift, and others. Socket preservation is foreseen to guide the world market, attributable to the increase within the quantity of dental extractions. By product, the market is split into osteograf, grafton, bio-oss, and others. In terms of end-user, the dental bone graft substitutes market is split into hospitals, mobile surgical centers, and dental clinics. The rising range of dental clinics institution in developing nations is foreseen to power the expansion of this section.

 Dental Bone Graft Substitutes Companies:

The major players included in the global dental bone graft substitutes market forecast are,

· Geistlich

· Institut Straumann

· BioHorizons IPH

· Zimmer Biomet

· ACE Surgical Supply

· DENTSPLY International

· LifeNet Health

· Medtronic

· RTI Surgical

·  Dentium.

 Dental Bone Graft Substitutes Market Key Segments:

By Material Analysis: Demineralized Bone Matrix (DBM), Autograft, Allograft, Xenograft, artificial Bone Graft Substitute,

 By Application Analysis: Ridge Augmentation, Socket Preservation, dentistry Defect Regeneration, Implant Bone Regeneration, Sinus Lift, Others

 By Product Analysis: Bio-Oss, Osteograf, Grafton, Others

 By End-User Analysis: Hospitals, mobile Surgical Centers, Dental Clinics

 Market by Regional Analysis:

North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), Europe (UK, France, Germany, Russia, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, South Korea, India, Japan, Rest of Asia-Pacific), LAMEA, Latin America, Middle East, Africa

[tevnakurdi]

Afrin in light of the spread of Corona

This paper was prepared to shed light on the situation of civilians in Afrin, in the context of the continuing human rights violations, and the extent of the impact of the Corona pandemic on the lives and health of civilians.

Against the background of the media blackout and the suppression of civil and political freedoms, we relied on a specific mechanism for collecting information through different informants, located in Europe, the Kurdistan Region, Rojava "northeastern Syria" and finally in Afrin. We then analyzed these data and cross-checked them in order to ensure their accuracy.

      i. The security situation.

Since the occupation of Afrin on March 18, 2018, violations against the people continue daily without interruption and include killing, kidnapping, torture, theft, and seizure of private and public property. These widespread violations did not differentiate between the young or the old, or between men and women. The most recent major violation occurred on 18 April 2020, when the Syrian National Army Brigade Al-Waqqas killed 80-year old Fatima Kan from the village of Haykhah in Jandares district. After the news of Fatima's death spread, the members of the brigade kidnapped her four children to put the matter to silence. This is not the first time that this type of violation was committed. In 2019, 75-year-old Houria Muhammad Bakr Deco was killed in the same way and for the same reason: theft. These and other violations are among the main reasons that prevent the return of the people of Afrin, 65% of whom are currently living elsewhere according to local council statistics: this constitutes one of the largest demographic changes taking place in Syria. Although there is evidence that these violations constitute clear war crimes, the position of the United Nations and the international community has not risen to the level of condemnation or even the formation of a commission to investigate these crimes and violations, due to political and security considerations, including not upsetting NATO member Turkey.

A citizen, A.S., tells: " One day in January my wife was alone at home, and I was at the market. I was away for 3 hours and when I came back my wife told me that the Sultan Murad faction came to the house and asked her to let a family live with us. She told them that she does not live alone in the house and I live there too. They did not believe her until our neighbour who is from Homs told them that her husband lives with her. Then they finally left”.

Although the level of violations continues to rise and fall, this is subject to changing circumstances and not due to measures that prevent them from occurring. There is no such thing as security stability. Today, as the COVID 19 pandemic is spreading, it appears that the security situation is getting worse, including the security concerns of female citizens.

M.H. who is a resident witness in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq says: "Through contacts with family, relatives, and friends in different regions in Afrin, and following the general situation there, I must conclude that the security situation is very bad. In fact, the security situation is a chaos, as armed groups under different designations practice all kinds intimidation and instigate fear against the Kurds in the region. There are kidnappings, extortion, ransom demands, and continuous assaults and killings”

     ii. Health status.

The health situation in Afrin, like in other cities, has fluctuated as a result of the circumstances including the type of control, its tools, and its ideology, and it can be divided into 3 main stages:

Firstly: The pre-2018 stage: the health situation was subject to the supervision of what is known as the Health Authority in Afrin district, in cooperation with the Kurdish Red Crescent organization that was created by the Self-Administration, and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Division of Afrin, in addition to the contribution of a number of civil organizations as Bihar Relief organization, which invested in Qanbar Hospital.

Afrin was supplied with medicine from Aleppo and Damascus, stored in 6 official warehouses inside Afrin which were supervised by the Health Authority in coordination with the Monitoring and Inspection Committee - the Division of Medicines that monitors the source of medicines, validity and prices.

There were also five hospitals operating in Afrin before 2018, namely: Afrin Hospital - Qanbar - Dersem - Jihan - Dagli, in addition to health centres affiliated with humanitarian organizations such as: The Union of Medical Relief Organizations, the Afrin branch of UOSSM, the Kurdish Red Crescent dispensary, the Afrin Crescent clinic Syrian Arab Red, Al-Ihssan Association clinic in Raju, and the dialysis department at Afrin Hospital. In addition there were health centres that existed before 2011, and there were 15 centres spread scross the districts where they carried out several tasks such as vaccination, distribution of medicines and monitoring of health status.

Secondly: the health situation in Afrin after 2018: the health situation deteriorated as a result of the violent bombing by the Turkish army and the national army factions that accompanied the occupation of Afrin. A number of hospitals were destroyed, such as Afrin Hospital, which was emptied from medical devices by the self-administration before they withdrew from Afrin. Some dispensaries were damaged as a result of bombing and battles, and the remaining medical equipment and devices were stolen by the factions. After the control of the national army factions with the support of Turkey, the vast majority of medical personnel migrated out of fear of violence.

The destruction of infrastructure however continued. After the spread of the Corona virus, Judge Muhammad Zaidan, who was assigned by the Governor of Hatay to the administration in Afrin, issued a decision to close a number of hospitals in the city of Afrin, on the pretext that their owners did not possess the necessary licenses. These hospitals are the Qanbar Hospital, a hospital Jihan, and Dersem Hospital. Also the Peace Hospital, which was managed by Bihar Organization, was closed because of discontinued support, and the work in the Mahmudiyah clinic, several mobile clinics and the clinic center of Bihar Organization was also suspended for the same reasons.

These decisions and forced closures as a result of discontinued support worsened the health situation in Afrin. In addition, it resulted in dissatisfaction of doctors and medical staff in the region, and also citizens expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of access to health services after the closure of a number of hospitals.

Despite these closures, Al-Shifa Hospital (formerly Afrin), Al-Manar Hospital (formerly the School of Friends), and Al-Hikma Hospital (Al-Mahabba) are still operating in the city of Afrin, as they are run by people affiliated with the armed factions. The Turkish Military Hospital is also operational.

Thirdly: The health situation in the shadow of the Corona pandemic: After the spread of the Coronavirus in the world, news and rumors spread about a number of infections in Afrin, which would have been transmitted by people traveling between back and forth from Turkey. However, through our communication with multiple sources from inside Afrin, we were unable to document any infection with the Coronavirus, and we were unable to obtain any official data or accurate and reliable information about the presence of Coronavirus infections in Afrin until the date of preparing this report. Poor security conditions, the control of armed factions, the lack of freedom of expression, the lack of neutral media, and the widespread security chaos, led to the complete isolation of Afrin and put it in a state of "quarantine", as described by M. H.:

"Frankly, the Kurdish in Afrin are predominantly in quarantine, not from fear of the Coronavirus, but rather from fear of ‘viruses’ spread in the region by armed groups and gangs."

 According to Sham News Network, the Turkish Ministry of Health has decided to start testing on Coronavirus in the Afrin region. Its Health Directorate started doing this in cooperation with the SRD and the Turkish Afad. The sick are now transferred to private quarantine tents in the areas of Al-Bab, Idlib and Darat Azza. There is no proper centre for quarantine or treatment.

The local councils, in coordination with the health committees that were formed, also adopted a set of measures and decisions to confront the Corona pandemic, which include:

Preventing movement between the sub-districts and the center of the city of Afrin. Citizens can not move between the districts and the center of the city of Afrin, unless they obtain special permission from the military factions in each district or village.

The abolition of the "bazaar" (weekly market), which takes place weekly on Wednesday.

The abolition of the livestock (sheep) market, which takes place weekly on Tuesday.

Prohibition of large gatherings in the streets and parks.

A ban of weddings in halls, as well as a ban on mourning tents.

Allocation of a ward in the military hospital which is equipped to receive COVID-19 patients. This includes 12 beds equipped with respirators.

Spraying sterilizers on streets, neighborhoods, and markets.

Increasing the number of bread distributors to prevent large gatherings.

Steps are being taken to prohibit street vendors.

    iii. Living situation:

The people of Afrin suffer from the bad economic situation due to the loss of safety, theft and organized robberies carried out by armed factions as well as the seizures of private and public property. The movement of commercial exchange is almost completely halted and is confined to the areas of the Euphrates Shield, Al Nusra Front in Idlib, and areas under the control of the Syrian regime. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with continuing violations by armed groups and the lack of employment opportunities, living conditions deteriorated even further.

A witness says: “Living conditions are very difficult, as prices are high and many items are simply unavailable. My children abroad send money, but there are no safe ways to receive it. Exchange officed are dealing with the free army and the gangs,  and if they know that we have money they might kidnap us for a ransom. We try to exchange only small sums between €100 and €200, and use a variety of exchange offices to circumvent this".

Moreover, the decision to close hospitals increased citizens’ suffering and led to dozens of families losing their only source of livelihood. One of the witnesses said:

“The decision increased the suffering of residents amid a wave of high prices and an uptick in unemployment rates, as more and more refugees arrive from Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo.”

 In the context of the economic hardship, the ever-increasing number of citizens in Afrin, and the absence of a way out, in addition to the exorbitant price of goods imported from Turkey or coming from government-held areas, the decision to close the hospitals has made the situation worse. It paved a way for private clinics to control the costs of medical examination and treatment: an examination now costs 5 thousand Syrian pounds and the olive oil price reaches 20 thousand Syrian pounds for a barrel of 16kg.

 The general mood in Afrin:

There is a clear lack of interest in the Corona virus and quarantine measures among citizens of Afrin. This is arguably due to  an indifference of death in the light of the constant threat, the spread of kidnappings, liquidations, ongoing conflicts between the factions, and the disastrous economic situation. Most residents say that dying from Corona virus is not worse than being shot, kidnapped, tortured, or dying from hunger.

   iv. Recommendations.

All factions and the Turkish army must withdraw from Afrin and its villages, end the occupation and hand Afrin over to a civilian administration which will allow hospitals to reopen and medical personnel to return to work, which the region badly needs in these times.

Corona virus screening and testing centers must be established and necessary medicines to treat patients provided, in addition to placing the health portfolio under the mandate of the World Health Organization.

Permanent or field hospitals must be established in the center of the region (Afrin) and in sub-districts. Protective equipment such as respirators, masks, and clothing for doctors, assistants, and medical personnel must be provided, as well as ambulances equipped to transport patients.

Coordination and cooperation with Syrian, regional, and international organizations is pivotal to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and to treat the affected people.

Urgent food aid must be secured and distributed fairly to the needy. The factions' use of aid must be prevented.

For more information or to provide feedback and opinions, please contact TEVN via email.

also You can follow us on Twitter and Facebook . And subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates about the TEVN's work.

[alexsmitposts]

Food Stamp Cuts – Western Capitalism & “Useless Eaters” Donald Trump recently announced changes to the US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly called “Food Stamps.” This program enables low income Americans to buy food. As a result, 750,000 people will immediately lose their food assistance, while it is expected that as many as 3 million will be deprived of their benefits in the near future. Meanwhile, Michael Bloomberg, former New York City Mayor, has announced that he is running for President of the United States as a Democrat. Many are revisiting his leadership of New York City and the many controversial things he did. Among them is was a subway advertisement campaign intended to discourage teen girls from becoming mothers by shaming them. The ads, showing a small child with the words “I’m twice as likely not to graduate high school because you had me as a teen” had the obvious, though unstated goal of increasing abortion among low-income New York City residents, many of which are not white. Unemployment in the USA is low currently, and despite numerous projections that things could get bad soon, the stock market numbers and other measurements currently look somewhat better than most of the last decade. So, why cut food stamps? Eliminating “Useless Eaters” To Save Capitalism Those who equate the Soviet Union with Nazi Germany overlook many very key differences between the two countries and their political systems. One of the most obvious is this: the Soviet Union worked very hard to expand its population, while the Nazis worked very hard to reduce their population. As Stalin’s Five Year Economic plans created huge steel mills and power plants, and new universities sprung up across the Soviet Union amid the abolition of illiteracy, a special prize called “Mother of the Soviet Union” was given to any woman who had more than 10 children. The Soviet government wanted more people to be born and to join in the project of building and developing a new, strong socialist country. However, Nazi Germany did the opposite and began forcibly sterilizing people. In 1934, just a year after the Nazis took power, 300,000 to 400,000 people were forcibly sterilized. A law was passed in 1935 making it illegal for anyone to get married if any kind of hereditary ailment could be passed on to the children. Following the sterilizations came the exterminations. The Nazi government began referring to disabled people as “useless eaters” and executing them in gas chambers. Eventually, the Nazi state began exterminating Jews, Gypsies, Homosexuals and Political Dissidents. The justification for this “final solution” was belief that all social defects were hereditary and needed to be eliminated from the gene pool. The Nazis were big believers in the concept of “overpopulation,” though this was a concept they did not invent. The term comes from the work of Robert Thomas Malthus, the British economist who blamed the French Revolution and the social unrest of the 1790s on the population growing at a faster rate than the food supply. John D. Rockefeller, the billionaire and founder of Standard Oil (now Exxon-Mobil)  was a big supporter of Malthus and his economic theories. Eventually Rockefeller bankrolled the Birth Control League of Margaret Sanger, now known as “Planned Parenthood.” The organization pushed for the legalization of contraception and abortion. One of the posters used to raise funds for the Birth Control League was a poster of a starving child holding out an empty bowl begging for food. Though Margaret Sanger had once been a socialist, as she became the voice of the “Birth Control” movement she published explicitly racist books and pamphlets and spoke at Ku Klux Klan events. She also began using phrases like “the cruelty of charity” arguing that the social welfare state was immoral because it encouraged inferior people to breed. When Margaret Sanger traded socialism for sex, and abandoned class struggle in pursuit of sexual liberation, she stopped advocating for the working class. During the 1930s depression, the Communist Party USA organized “Hunger Marches” saying “Don’t Starve, Fight!”  The Communist Party USA said the great depression pointed toward the need for the US economy to reorganized in a rational way, to serve the people, not the irrationality of profits. However, Margaret Sanger took the opposite approach, working to reduce “overpopulation” by eliminating “useless eaters.” Automation & The Crisis of Capitalism The causes of the Great Depression were rooted in the technological advancements of the 1920s. Henry Ford’s assembly line innovations and other breakthroughs made it easier for radios, cars, and other commodities to be churned out more efficiently than ever before. Soon the market was glutted with more products than ever before, produced more efficiently than ever before. However, across the western world millions of workers were left “outcast and starving” because they had no place at the assembly line. They could not afford to buy these products, and soon banks failed, corporations collapsed, and the US experienced an episode of mass malnutrition. The 2008 financial crisis was the opening explosion of a long-term crisis rooted in the same problem, decades later. The innovations of Henry Ford and the 1920s factory owners were child’s play compared to the continuing computer revolution, marching forward at a rapid pace since the 1980s. Andrew Yang, the maverick Democratic Presidential candidate continues to highlight the looming threat of mass unemployment due to technology. He told the New York Times: “All you need is self-driving cars to destabilize society…we’re going to have a million truck drivers out of work who are 94 percent male, with an average level of education of high school or one year of college. That one innovation will be enough to create riots in the street. And we’re about to do the same thing to retail workers, call center workers, fast-food workers, insurance companies, accounting firms.” Among Silicon Valley forecasters, the alarm bells about automation are going off, and proposals such as “universal basic income” are being raised. The underlying basis of the discussion is the same as Malthus, Sanger and Rockefeller’s discussion in times past. The voices raising alarm about the crisis of automation are all essentially asking “Soon millions and millions of Americans will have no place in the economy. What do we do about all the useless eaters?” Western capitalism has entered a stage where it views the population not as an asset, but as a burden. Instead of seeing each citizen as capable of creating a contribution to society, and making the country better, the population is viewed as a problematic horde that must be carefully managed and prevented from causing further problems. “Populism” is presented as a great evil, because it involves the rabble asserting political aspirations deemed by the elite to be unacceptable. Even much of what passes for “socialism” in 21st Century America, addresses the question in the same manner. The “Democratic Socialist” current argues that as technology eliminates jobs, more money should be spent to provide healthcare and education to the population. At the same time, however, the “Democratic Socialist” voices like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders advocate reducing US living standards and consumption in the name of environmentalism. They argue that Americans consume too many resources, and in the name of climate sustainability, the population should transition to a lifestyle of less extravagance. However, the basic solution to this long standing problem seems to be ignored. Karl Marx’s magnum opus, the economic textbook called “Capital” discusses the General Law of Capitalist Accumulation and workers competition with machines, pointing toward the only real way to resolve this contradiction. The banks, factories and industries must be operated in a rational way. The economy must not operate on the basis of profits. In a centrally planned economy, in which profits are no longer in command, automation would increase the wealth of society, and abundance would not result in poverty. The pessimism of the 21st century western world is rooted in the economic reality that under the rule of profits, technology and historical progress continue to point toward great catastrophe. It is only by re-opening the question of whether or not socialism is a viable alternative that this pessimism can be overcome.

[crimethinc]

How the Yellow Vest Movement Survived into 2019: A Chronicle from December 8, 2018 to January 5, 2019

Since November 2018, the yellow vest movement has created a political crisis in France and posed thorny questions to radicals worldwide. In the following report, we detail the yellow vest actions from December 8, 2018 to January 5, 2019, recounting how the yellow vest movement defied the calendar—that age-old device for limiting revolutionary movements. Tomorrow, in our next article, we will step back to analyze the different currents within the movement and implications they hold for anarchists, environmentalists, and everyone else who seeks a world without oppression.

The yellow vest movement has posed the most serious threat to President Macron since he came to power in 2016. The unrest began as a grassroots response to the government’s proposal to increase taxes for “ecological” purposes and quickly spread to ecompass many different groups and agendas. Thanks to its protean aspect, but also its supposedly “apolitical” character, the movement has brought people together around shared tactics and frustrations, as the Occupy movement once did.

Since November, the yellow vest movement has become a battleground for many different political parties and groups, especially populists and nationalists. As the movement gained momentum and clashes with the police intensified, anarchists and other rebels joined in, fighting on multiple fronts—against the state, but also against reactionary groups active on the streets. Anarchists attempted to reorient the movement towards more systemic solutions, to diminish the influence and presence of the far-right, and to create connections between different groups and potential allies. The outcome of these efforts remains uncertain.

After weeks of desperately trying to establish dialogue in order to pacify the situation, the government appeared to have finally regained control of the situation by presenting concessions on December 10, 2018. At that time, the lack of clear political objectives, the repression of the previous weeks, and above all the approach of the Christmas holidays seemed to have brought the yellow vest movement to an impasse.

Several weeks later, following a day of action involving 50,000 people on Saturday, January 5, the yellow vest movement remains alive. Another nationwide day of action is called for January 12. Yet the movement is bitterly divided over tactics, goals, values, and structure. The most determined participants have been abandoned by legalists and pacifists eager to negotiate with the government; as often occurs, a major part of the grassroots movement is slowly evolving into something more institutionalized. Meanwhile, far from being defeated on the streets, nationalists and fascists have maintained their footing.

This text picks up where our previous analysis left off, immediately after the massive confrontations of December 8, 2018.

A vestige of the confrontations in Nantes on December 15.

The Aftermath of December 8, 2018

After two weeks of political instability, rioting, looting, rage, and confrontation, President Macron broke with his habit of withholding reaction by delivering an official speech on national television on Monday, December 10, 2018. Lots of yellow vesters were waiting to see if he would finally address their demands.

After reaffirming that his government was working with the parliament to find solutions, Macron presented his new measures. The government promised to increase minimum wage by €100 a month; cancel taxes on pensions for retired persons living on less than €2000 a month; ask employers to offer Christmas bonuses; offer tax exemption on overtime; and fight tax avoidance. However, Macron emphasized that he would not back down regarding the suppression of the wealth tax, one of the most outrageous elements of Macron’s neoliberal agenda.

On December 11, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe presented the government’s measures to the National Assembly. Finally, the government seemed to have a strategy with which to resolve the crisis.

That same night, someone opened fire on the crowd at the Christmas market in Strasbourg, killing 5 people and injuring 11 more. The “plan vigipirate”—an anti-terrorism security plan established in 1995 after several bombings in France—was raised to the level of “attack emergency.”

With another day of action called for Saturday, December 15, 2018, these two events reshuffled the cards.

Police surrounding demonstrators in Paris by the Opera on the morning of December 15, 2018.

The government calls for reason, “non-violence,” and dialogue

Following the attack in Strasbourg, the government decided not to forbid the yellow vest demonstrations of Saturday, December 15, 2018, as such decision would have only exacerbated widespread anger. Nevertheless, politicians called for “non-violence” and tried to dissuade protestors from taking part in the fifth nationwide day of action. Government spokesperson Benjamin Griveaux said that taking the streets on Saturday would be unreasonable in view of the situation in France following the attack. Some went further, saying that the time had come for the movement to end, while others demanded that “non-violent” protesters distance themselves from the more radical parts of the movement.

On Friday, December 14, 2018, in Brussels for a European summit, President Macron declared that France needed to return to normal, since he had addressed the yellow vest demands at the beginning of the week. “Dialogue is not established by occupying public space and through violence […] I think that the sense of general interest will lead everyone to join a national debate, and to exchange with their mayor, in order to formulate political and sincere proposals.” He concluded by calling French citizens to express themselves in the May 2019 European elections: “In no case should what happened the past weeks should lead to calling into question the democratic election held eighteen months ago.”

Demonstrators improvising a dance party to kill time while kettled on the Champs-Élysées.

Paris on Lockdown

Nevertheless, some protestors were determined to take the streets, and some leftist organizations made calls to join the yellow vesters on Saturday, December 15. For the second week in a row, the government took exceptional law enforcement measures, deploying almost 100% of the police troops all over France—about 89,000 police officers, with 8000 in Paris alone.

The Paris prefect officially announced that for December 15, authorities would renew the law enforcement plan used the previous week with some improvements and modifications. As the previous week, a restricted area would be established near the Champs Elysées and around every major government buildings, while in the meantime, other police forces would control and search all potential demonstrators and carry out preventive arrests.

The decision to re-use this strategy is significant for those who study police strategy, in that it seems to indicate that the authorities had concluded that all things considered, their strategy on December 8 had been effective, in contrast to the strategy they employed in Paris on November 24 and December 1.

Regarding the law enforcement units deployed in the streets of Paris, the prefect said that the authorities’ plan would combine “heavy forces”—comprised of CRS and gendarmes (riot police)—as well as “mobile units” from various police forces including the Anti-Criminality Brigades (BAC), the Securing and Intervention Companies (CSI), the Territorial Brigades, and the Research and Intervention Brigades (BRI). These units would be mostly “kept for the end of the afternoon where violence attempts usually intensify.”

The prefect continued to explain his plan: “last week, we managed well the yellow vest aspect, but we witnessed scenes of property destruction and pillage by some delinquents. Our objective will be to better control this phenomenon.” Mounted police, canine units and 14 gendarmerie tanks would also be deployed in the French capital.

As the previous week, and following the recommendation of the Paris prefecture, numerous stores in “sensitive areas” boarded up their front windows and closed for Saturday, as did most museums and national monuments. For “safety reasons”—i.e., to facilitate police checkpoints—about 40 metro and RER closed starting at 5:30 am.

Once again, it seemed that the authorities had the upper hand on the situation well in advance. They were well prepared and well organized. As before, yellow vesters were supposed to gather near the Champs Elysées, the Opéra, and the Saint Lazare train station.

On the eve of the fifth act of the movement, everything remained uncertain: would the fear of state repression discourage protestors? Would some of us succeed in outmaneuvering the police the way we had the previous week? How would the events of the past week impact the mobilization? Some sources close to the Prime Minister’s cabinet suggested that “moderate” demonstrators were already leaving the movement, and therefore, that the mobilization involve fewer people. The events of December 15 confirmed this forecast.

Police searching the bags of passengers in train stations on December 15, 2018.

The Parisian Impasse

In Paris, the contrast with the previous week was undeniable. At 9 am, only a hundred demonstrators were actually present on the Champs Elysées, compared to several hundreds or thousands the previous weeks. In the end, it was easy for police to contain the crowd. That whole morning, the situation remained sterile on the Parisian avenue; protestors escaped from the kettle and ran for several meters, but rapidly surrounded by police forces again. This war of attrition continued all day long.

Further away, near Saint Lazare and Opéra, the situation was similar. Those who attended the morning gatherings fell into the trap set by authorities; police surrounded them from the beginning. The only way to exit these kettles was to accept being searched and remove their yellow vests. Police took this opportunity to focus surveillance on individuals they considered potential threats. We have heard that some yellow vesters were also searching the bags of other protesters in order to evict potential “rioters” from the gathering.

At midday, the first actions and light confrontations took place. At the Champs Elysées, some demonstrators, tired of being surrounded by police forces, escaped the avenue via neighboring streets, forcing their way through a police cordon and initiating a wildcat demonstration. In Opéra, the “pressure cooker” strategy of the authorities bore fruit as the tension among protestors was increasing. As a result, the first tear gas canisters were shot at the crowd.

The rest of the day saw a succession of wildcat demonstrations and processions from a few hundred to several thousands strong walking through the streets of Paris. Some of these actions were more exciting than others, as police did not manage to follow all the crowds, but Paris did not witness the intensity of the previous weeks. Around 5 pm, after employing tear gas and stun grenades against a crowd of about 3000 individuals, police forces started clearing the Champs Elysées using their water canons. This offensive marked the end of the fifth act of the yellow vest movement in Paris. In total, 168 people were arrested and 115 put in custody.

On December 15, the far right was seen in the streets on several occasions. We haven’t learned whether anarchists or other rebels confronted them. Meanwhile, video footage spread widely showing police officers on motorcycles armed with LBD-40 launchers. These images remind us of 1986, when the infamous “voltigeurs”—police on motorcycles armed with batons—murdered a student named Malik Oussekine, resulting in the dissolution of their department. Contacted about these images, the Paris prefecture explained that, for the fifth act of the movement, authorities dispatched about 50 new “voltigeurs” in Paris in order to rapidly intervene in case of trouble.

Reading reports from Paris, it was difficult not to feel frustrated or defeated. Compared to the previous weeks, the crowd was less numerous, less inspired, less creative, less offensive. The yellow vest movement had reached a plateau in Paris, if not an impasse.

Members of the “Anti-Criminality Brigade”—an example of Orwellian newspeak if ever there was one—chasing demonstrators in the streets of Toulouse on December 15.

Act V: Elsewhere around France

From the beginning of the movement, the authorities and corporate media outlets have focused chiefly on events in the streets of Paris, as if the situation in the French capital represented the yellow vest movement as a whole. But the movement differs dramatically from one city to the next. Rather than discussing “the” yellow vest movement in the singular, it would be more precise to speak of several yellow vest movements, each with its own tactics and goals, in different regions and points on the ideological spectrum.

In Dijon, many people gathered despite the attacks in Strasbourg. Among the crowd, one could hear conspiracy theories; some yellow vesters were willing to confront any “infiltrator” or potential “rioter.” Still, the crowd pursued its ritual march towards the local prefecture. When it arrived at the building, the police shot tear gas at the protestors. Part of the crowd decided to continue their demonstration, marching towards the biggest shopping center in the region, while others remained in the square to confront the police. Unfortunately, no concrete action emerged once the crowd reached the shopping center. In the end, six individuals were arrested and at least ten injured.

In Nantes, about 1200 yellow vesters took the streets. They marched towards the local prefecture but were pushed back by police. For several hours, police and protestors exchanged tear gas canisters and projectiles. In the end, 15 protestors were arrested and four people were injured.

In Marseille, yellow vesters, high school students, trade unionists, and members of a collective against insufficient housing marched together, totaling 2000 individuals. Police arrested 12 people; no damage took place.

4500 people took the streets of Toulouse on December 15.

In Toulouse, 4500 demonstrators took the streets. As the city had experienced riots during the previous weekend, the authorities requested the use of two tanks and two water canons to maintain order in the city. This equipment didn’t prevent confrontations leading to 30 arrests and 10 injuries.

In Bordeaux, about 4500 people including yellow vesters, students, and trade unionists converged around the City Hall. The overall atmosphere was joyous despite the rain. When the crowd reached the Pey Berland square, they found City Hall protected from both sides by riot fences, police trucks, a water canon, and riot police cordons. After several minutes, the first projectiles were thrown at police forces, who answered with a rain of tear gas and grenades and even used the water canon to disperse the crowd. A drone was also spotted in the sky. Confrontations continued for several hours before the crowd left the square and took the rue Sainte Catherine, the city’s chief shopping street, before being blocked by other police forces near the Grand Theatre. Later that night, some confrontations continued between demonstrators and police forces: at least one car was set on fire, as well as some makeshift barricades. However, the damage and rioting were less intense than the previous week. Altogether, 27 people were arrested and 22 injured.

Bordeaux, December 15.

In Lille, between 1500 and 2000 yellow vesters gathered—as much as the previous week—while in Montpellier, about 1500 yellow vesters met in the city center and informed passers-by about some of their demands, such as the Citizens’ Initiative Referendum (RIC).

Even if actions took place in major cities and groups of yellow vesters blocked several important freeways like those connecting France to Spain as well as traffic circles and toll collection points, the total number of people who took part in the fifth nationwide day of action was approximately 66,000. In other words, half the number of active yellow vesters who participated in the previous nationwide day of action on December 8, 2018.

Obviously, we should take these figures with a grain of salt. They come from the government itself—and since December 15, 2018, corporate media and authorities have made a point of emphasizing the diminishing number of participants in hopes of accelerating the movement’s downfall. As in almost every social movement, both sides—the state and the demonstrators—are stuck in a “war of figures,” as if only numbers determine the outcome of a struggle.

Nevertheless, by any measure, the movement had lost momentum everywhere except in a few cities. The effects of repression, the approach of Christmas holidays, and the concessions had all taken their toll; part of the movement was ready to quit the streets and move towards a more institutional path.

In Nantes, police tried to keep protestors away from the Prefecture by any means necessary on December 15.

The Aftermath of December 15, 2018

Macron’s government knew that they had won the battle of the fifth act. With Christmas approaching, they had finally succeeded containing the yellow rage of the preceding month. However, they were still walking on eggshells.

After the previous week’s concessions, the government was trying to set up its “yellow vests” plan. On such a short notice, this plan presented a technical conundrum for the government, disrupting the original parliamentary calendar.

President Macron, understanding that the social and political situation was not yet entirely under control, canceled his official trip to Biarritz to prepare the forthcoming G7 in order to be present during the official meeting organizing the national consultation he had promised.

This national debate—due March 1—focuses on several subjects: the ecological transition, taxes, the organization of the state, democracy, and citizenship. It is important to mention that, having been removed from the national debate, the issue of immigration was reintroduced at the last minute on the insistence of some yellow vesters and politicians.

On Tuesday, December 17, after the official meeting, we learned that “the large national consultation” would take place in two phases. During the first one—lasting until mid-January—citizens are asked to speak with their mayors at a local level about the overall situation of the country. The mayors are to report these conversations to the government, so the latter can gain a broader understanding of the issues. Then, for full months, French citizens are invited to a national debate—the second phase of the plan—on the aforementioned issues.

Characteristically, the technocrats of the center suggested a technical solution to the problem of organic rage. As the saying goes, if people are angry, ask them to speak more about their anger. Speaking will take away the urgency to act.

The issue of the Citizens’ Initiative Referendum (RIC) could also be added to this national discussion, as more and more yellow vesters and opposition politicians have demanded. Macron said he was open to dialogue about it. In the meantime, the authorities continued to evict road and traffic circle blockades.

The holidays didn’t stop protesters from taking the streets in Nantes on December 22.

Act VI: The Fight before Christmas

On the sixth nationwide day of action, the authorities counted 38,600 demonstrators around France. For the purposes of this report, we will focus on Paris, Toulouse, and Lyons to understand the events of December 22, 2018. These three specific examples illustrate the heterogeneous forms of the yellow vest movement as well as the different political frameworks that move its protagonists.

A badminton enthusiast on December 22, 2018.

Paris

In Paris, yellow vesters decided to change their habits by gathering in Montmartre, near the Sacré Coeur, the outrageous religious building erected to thank God for the bloody suppression of the Paris Commune in 1871 and to expiate the city from the Communards’ supposed sins. All week, some yellow vesters spread a fake call to gather in Versailles in order to mislead the authorities. This worked: a large number of police were deployed to chase ghosts in the wealthy neighboring city. As a result, several hundred yellow vesters were able to gather without difficulties in Montmartre instead.

Every police officer is just one temper tantrum away from becoming a murderer.

During the day, thousands of yellow vesters marched in the streets of Paris in various wildcat demonstrations. Around 5:30 pm, a group of demonstrators reached the Champs Elysées and proceeded down the avenue. The protestors met a convoy of riot police and started attacking and chasing the police trucks. Several minutes later, motorcycle policemen—apparently trying to help their colleagues—began throwing tear gas canisters in order to disperse the crowd. The confrontation rapidly escalated. As protestors closed in, attacking the police officers, one of them pulled out his gun and pointed it at the angry crowd. Far from fleeing, the demonstrators set upon the policemen with renewed anger and courage, forcing them to free. The policeman who drew his gun is a fool; we are lucky he does not have several murders on his conscience today.

Unfortunately, some troubling behavior also took place on this day. That morning, assembling in front of Louise Michel square beside the Sacré Coeur, a group of yellow vesters shouted a supposedly “anti-system” chant. In addition to including extremely vulgar and homophobic lyrics that make light of rape, this chant is the work of a notorious anti-Semitic stand-up comedian. While singing, some protestors reproduced the infamous arm gesture of the same comedian—some type of upside-down fascist salute that supposedly indicates how far the system is actually deceiving us. In a video of this event, one yellow vester is clearly performing a fascist salute.

Later that night, a journalist reported that in the metro, around 11 pm, an elderly woman asked three drunk yellow vesters to stop doing the infamous “anti-system” arm gesture mentioned above. She said: “This is an anti-Semitic gesture. I am Jewish, my dad was deported to Auschwitz where he died.” In response, one yellow vester told her to “Get lost!” while another referenced the “Révolution nationale” (National Revolution), the official ideology of the Vichy regime—the Nazi collaborationist French government during World War II.

These events show a side of the yellow vest movement that some radicals and traditional leftist parties still prefer to ignore. The silence of those who do not address them is extremely dangerous. While advocates of the political center may seize upon events like these to discredit the movement, those who believe that the solution is to refuse to address them at all are ceding ground to the far right—which centrists will then use to present themselves as the only possible alternative. This is why we must always fight on both fronts.

Yellow vest protesters invading the city center of Toulouse and its traditional Christmas market on December 22, 2018.

Toulouse

The situation in Toulouse was very different. According to reports, the yellow vest movement remained strong and organized in this city and the surrounding region. The entire week before December 22, yellow vesters developed their actions, aiming to interrupt the economy as much as possible: they organized an illegal fireworks show entitled “yellow fever”” in downtown Toulouse; they blocked several toll collection points and let drivers passfor free; they blocked the trucks arriving and leaving several large retail logistics centers; at the Airbus site of Colomiers, they blocked the supply of provisions to a restaurant belonging to the Elior group to support employees who have been sentenced to pay back the equivalent of two years of their salaries to the group.

Yellow Fever in Toulouse.

Before the traditional Saturday gathering and demonstration, some yellow spoke in the general assemblies about their increasing frustration with the restriction of movement they experienced during the previous actions. Consequently, demonstrators organized several different marches for the sixth act. The authorities appear to have underestimated the possible impact of this new day of action, as the police were only blocking one street when the first march began.

The atmosphere was festive as the crowd headed towards the city center and its traditional Christmas market. After marching through the streets of downtown Toulouse for an hour without interference from law enforcement, the crowd of about 3000 reached the big boulevards. Facing this large and determined crowd, some riot police fled near Jean Jaurès. When the crowd arrived at François Verdier, police began to shoot tear gas; this was a mistake, as demonstrators answered by shooting fireworks at them.

The plan to create several different marches succeeded, enabling the crowd to stay in control of the situation and dictate their own movements throughout the afternoon. Police were constantly running after groups of protestors in the downtown area to carry out arrests. Due to the general confusion and the fact that the demonstration took place the weekend before Christmas, police ended up using tear gas not only against demonstrators but also against shoppers and other passersby.

Later, the crowd converged at Esquirol. Because the demonstrators had succeeded in outmaneuvering the authorities, the collective atmosphere was not just festive but euphoric. No one wanted to leave the streets. The crowd decided to march towards the Carmes district—a wealthy district of Toulouse that never witnesses demonstrations. As the crowd proceeded through this bourgeois district, coffee shops and banks began closing their doors. The police were still far away; numerous targets were attacked, barricades were erected, and urban furniture caught fire.

In Toulouse, the yellow vest movement was far from losing momentum. On the contrary, the actions of December 22 brought new life to it in this part of France.

Further reading about the situation in Toulouse: Toulouse, Noël 2018.

The cat and mouse game in Lyons on December 22.

Lyons

The situation in Lyons has been difficult since the beginning of the yellow vest movement, as local fascists have successfully used the movement as a platform to spread their ideas and develop initiatives. On December 22, for the first time, people attempted to confront this growing fascist tendency.

For this sixth act, between 1000 and 2000 individuals took the streets. Everything started when several demonstrations organized that day converged to form a large march. Rapidly, the atmosphere among the crowd of protestors became tense as anti-fascists and railroad workers recognized dozens of well-known local fascists.

In the end, a large part of the demonstration began shouting “Lyons, Lyons, Antifa!” and “No demos for fascists, No fascists in our demos!” As a result, the group of fascists left the demonstration. Unfortunately, the same fascists managed to re-infiltrate the march from the rear.

At that moment, police forces were maintaining their distance except a helicopter monitoring the crowd from above. Around 4 pm, the official demonstration ended. Demonstrators were not ready to leave the streets and a more energetic wildcat demonstration followed.

By the time the participants reached the Part Dieu, a famous shopping district, the crowd had gained in numbers. However, police were determined to protect this temple of consumerism. In front of the official Tax building, police blocked the march and shot tear gas canisters at the crowd to push them back towards the city center. Yellow vesters changed their plan, heading towards the university district. Again, as soon as they approached their destination, police blocked their path and dispersed them.

At 6 pm, the cat and mouse game between protesters and police forces started in the Guillotière district. Law enforcement units became overwhelmed by the situation: they couldn’t tell the difference between potential threats and ordinary passersby. They began to shoot tear gas canisters everywhere at random, filling the entire district with a thick poisonous fog. However, the crowd succeeded in regrouping and intense confrontations broke out.

Ssme protestors blocked the entrance of a major retail store selling cultural and electronic products on the last weekend before Christmas. As a result, the store closed its doors for the day. Large numbers of police arrived and dispersed the crowd with tear gas, creating several stampedes in this high-traffic district.

Another cat and mouse game started around the Bellecour square. The crowd of protestors succeeded in outmaneuvering the authorities’ plan. Indeed, police experienced considerable trouble arresting protestors. Consequently, they decided to carry out random searches in hopes of finding potentially incriminating evidence. Finally, despairing at the ineffectiveness of their strategy, police left the area.

The day of action in Lyons ended with police stopping a group of protestors near the Christmas market. At least two protestors were arrested.

Nantes, December 22.

Act VII: Keeping the Movement Alive into the New Year

Despite the Christmas holidays and the decreasing participation, some yellow vesters organized a seventh nationwide day of action on December 29. The hard core of the movement was determined to overcome the limits imposed by the calendar and find a fresh impetus for 2019.

Paris

In Paris, organizers kept the convergence point secret until the last moment in order to catch the authorities by surprise. That morning, about 60 yellow vesters went to the Champs Elysées. Unfortunately for them, police were already deployed all along the avenue, so nothing occurred.

Then some movement leaders announced the convergence point via social media. Yellow vesters were supposed to gather in front of major media outlets buildings—BFM, RMC, Libération, L’Express—located in the 15th district of the French capital near the Ministry of Defence. The point of this action was to denounce “unfair” media coverage of the movement. In the end, about 400 protestors answered the call.

The crowd began shouting slogans including “Journalists, collaborationists!” “BFM fake news” and “Macron out!” Some demonstrators asked for “free, independent, and objective media” while others tried to explain to police officers that corporate media outlets were the ones manipulating society. Some signs demanded the Citizens’ Initiative Referendum (RIC). Throughout the rest of the day, the group of yellow vesters continued its tour of official media outlets, followed closely by police forces. In the end, most of the crowd dispersed near the Eiffel Tower or were surrounded by law enforcement units. Several confrontations also took place at the Champs Elysées.

Altogether, according to the official figures of the Prefecture, about 800 yellow vesters gathered in Paris, 57 were arrested, and 33 were put in custody.

Merry crisis and a happy new fear from France!

Bordeaux

On December 29, Bordeaux drew the largest number of protestors in France, with a yellow wave several thousand strong—2400 according to authorities, more according to some journalists present.

In Bordeaux, 700 policemen were deployed as well as a helicopter. The authorities revised their strategies by closing the access to the entire Pey Berland square where the City Hall is located and by trying to execute the “pressure cooker” strategy at several occasions—seeking to contain demonstrators in a closed area while increasing the pressure on them.

An impressive barricade in Bordeaux, December 29, 2018.

The demonstration started quietly, but as soon as the march passed law enforcement units near the Gambetta square, tension increased. Along a boulevard, the cours Clémenceau, the first trash bins were set on fire and projectiles were thrown at police who answered with tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. Some stores started closing their doors, while the first barricade appeared near the Christmas market. Shoppers were confined inside the market during the confrontations.

This is when the march split. About 50 demonstrators continued to confront police forces, while others marched towards the Victoire square. Some demonstrators started removing their yellow vests and leaving the demonstration. In the meantime, a large number of law enforcement units attempted to disperse groups of determined protestors who were defending themselves with numerous burning barricades. In the end, 25 individuals were arrested. Both yellow vesters and police officers attacked journalists and photographers in the streets of Bordeaux.

New Year’s Resolutions: December 29 in France.

Rouen

In Rouen, about 1000 demonstrators took the streets. As usual, they gathered at 10 am in front of the City Hall. The situation remained quiet until midday, when the first barricades appeared. Almost instantly, police answered by firing tear gas canisters at the crowd. Protestors dispersed into the nearby streets and a cat and mouse game with police forces began.

A bit later, the front door of the Banque de France—the national Central Bank—was set on fire with trash bins, while some of its security cameras were smashed. Meanwhile, other barricades caught fire nearby and near the local law court. By the time police units and firemen arrived, the crowd was already near the City Hall.

Confrontations continued in the city center. Once again, police filled the streets with tear gas. Throughout the day, police experienced a war of nerves with demonstrators. They repeatedly had to clear numerous makeshift burning barricades from the streets in order to follow the crowd.

The protestors carried on until the end of the day; that evening, police continued to use tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them. At least 10 people were arrested and there were 10 injuries. One woman experienced a wound in her forehead and a fractured leg.

December 29 in Rouen: demonstrators set the door of a Banque de France aflame.

Elsewhere in France

In Lille, about 600 yellow vesters gathered for the last nationwide day of action of 2018. Six were arrested and three were injured after police repeatedly used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

In Metz, 300 demonstrators tried to break through a police cordon protecting the local prefecture, while in Marseille, a thousand yellow vestors gathered in front of the arch of triumph to show that the movement was not losing momentum.

In Toulouse, approximately 2500 people gathered under the slogan “Macron out!” and seven individuals were arrested, while in Amiens, 17 people were arrested on account of the local prefecture banning every street gathering and demonstration until January 2, 2019.

Burning barricades in the streets of Metz, December 29, 2018.

On New Year’s eve, several yellow vest groups also gathered in Paris and elsewhere in France—traffic circles included—for “festive and non-violent” demonstrations.

Gasping for Air

As the end of 2018 showed a loss of momentum, the die-hard elements of the movement struggled to keep it alive after the holidays.

Alongside about fifty other yellow vesters, Eric Drouet—an influential leader of the movement connected to the far right, who we have discussed in a previous article— organized a small gathering in Paris on Wednesday, January 2, 2019, to pay tribute to the ten people who died and the numerous protesters injured since the beginning of the movement. Their objective was “to shock public opinion.”

While the group was dressed in plain clothes—they decided not to wear their symbol for this action in order to avoid being clearly identified—several streets away from the Presidential palace, police stopped them and arrested Eric Drouet. This was covered by numerous media outlets.

Drouet and his followers expected this arrest. It was a perfect opportunity to capture public attention by portraying themselves as the victims of government repression. For yellow vesters, this illegitimate arrest was further proof that the government aimed to muzzle the movement and to discourage everyone from demonstrating without requesting authorization from the Prefecture.

This provoked a variety of reactions. The populist leader of the leftist France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who had already mentioned his fascination with Eric Drouet, requested his immediate release, stating that this arrest was an “abuse of power” and that “from now on, a political police force is targeting and harassing the important figures of the yellow vest movement.”

The far right also voiced support for Eric Drouet. Florian Philippot, leader of the political party Les Patriotes and former ally of Marine Le Pen (Rassemblement National), who expressed his concern that “the Macron political regime was becoming more and more authoritarian.” The President of the Rassemblement National in the Paris region, Wallerand de Saint-Just also expressed support. Eric Drouet reposted Wallerand de Saint-Just’s messages of support on his personal twitter, confirming his own sympathy for nationalist ideas.

Act VIII: January 5, 2019

On the eve of the eighth nationwide day of action, the authorities explained that they expected a higher participation in the rest of France than in Paris. For the first time since November 17, 2018—when the movement got underway—the Parisian Prefecture received requests from yellow vest groups to demonstrate in the capital. As a result, two different marches were organized for January 5: one between the Panthéon and the district of Saint-Germain-des-Près, and one between the City Hall and the National Assembly.

Government spokesperson Benjamin Griveaux castigated yellow vesters who decided to continue the mobilization despite the President’s concessions. According to him, the movement had “been coopted by agitators who want an insurrection and to overthrow the government.” Earlier this week, the Minister of the Interior Christophe Castaner asked the prefects of each region to proceed with the “complete and definitive eviction” of the hundred blockades and meeting points held by members of the yellow vest movement. To do so, the Minister allowed the prefects to use any legal means—financial fees, use of police forces, and so on.

Finally, in addition to the traditional Saturday demonstrations and actions, a women’s yellow vest group decided to create their own event in Paris, for Sunday, December 6, 2019. Organizers specified that this action was “not a feminist struggle but a feminine one,” a statement that speaks for itself.

Paris

In Paris, the day opened with the traditional gathering at the Champs Elysées. There, the group of yellow vesters improvised a general assembly near the Arc de Triomphe. Then, as the group gained in numbers, they walked down the avenue towards the Concorde square before police stopped them. The crowd of 1500 headed towards the Saint Lazare district. On their way to the train station, the yellow vesters stopped by Place de la Bourse to boo the international news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP).

In the Saint Lazare area, the march continued towards the city center, despite the heavy police presence in the area. However, near the Hotel de Ville—the departure point of the permitted afternoon demonstration—police forces blocked the protesters. In front of the main City Hall, there were already 4000 yellow vesters. As usual, several banners and signs asking for the implementation of the RIC were spotted. Rapidly, the crowd moved towards Châtelet shouting “Macron out!” before immediately being pushed back by tear gas. After some confusion, the procession changed direction towards its authorized destination: the National Assembly.

Police attack yellow vest protesters on a bridge in Paris on January 5, 2019. At the beginning of the footage, you can see the boxer, Christophe Dettinger, arguing with police.

The first real confrontations took place near the riverbank when protesters attacked police with glass bottles and stones. Then, on the Léopold Sedar Senghor footbridge, tense confrontations took place. As people attempted to cross the Seine River in order to reach the National Assembly located on the other side, police blocked the access to the bridge and employed tear gas. Note that, during the clashes on the bridge, Christophe Dettinger, a demonstrator and ex-boxer, took on the line of fully armored police with his bare hands and succeeded in pushing them back. Little by little, the law enforcement pressure around the demonstration increased. A boat was set on fire during the confrontations on the footbridge. According to radical sources present on site, the yellow crowd comprised approximately 10,000 individuals.

Near the Assemblée Nationale, police forces had blocked all access routes to the official building. As a result, the march couldn’t go any further and confrontations broke out. Being tear gassed at a dead end, many protestors decided to start wildcat demonstrations through the neighboring streets of the Latin district. There the first barricades were erected and set on fire—especially on the Saint-Germain boulevard. The crowd expressed its rage: every piece of urban furniture, self-service scooter, or motorcycle was smashed, lit on fire, or used as a barricade.

The boat set aflame during confrontations in Paris on January 5, 2019.

Wildcat demonstrations and confrontations continued in different parts of the city until later that day: in the Latin district, near Saint Lazare, at the Champs Elysées. In the end, government spokesperson Benjamin Griveaux had to be evacuated in emergency as a group of yellow vesters succeeded in entering his government ministry building. They used a small construction vehicle to knock down the front door, then entered the property and smashed up two cars.

At least 24 people were arrested that day. Friends present in the streets report a significant presence of fascists and nationalists of all kinds.

Elsewhere in France

For a movement supposedly in decline, a remarkable number of actions and demonstrations took place in France on the eighth day of action. Altogether, something like 50,000 people participated. The number of people involved in street actions almost doubled compared to the previous week.

In Bordeaux, about 4600 people demonstrated. The city remains one of the bastions of the movement. After a quiet beginning, the crowd changed course, entering Sainte-Catherine street and heading towards the Pey Berland square and the City Hall. As soon as the crowd arrived at the square, the first confrontations began. Police answered with tear gas and water canons, while in the nearby streets, demonstrators broke up concrete and cobblestones to use as projectiles. As night fell, the first barricades were erected and several cars were set on fire. Police forces charged the rioters repeatedly, but they were determined to continue. In the end, 11 people were arrested.

Starting the new year in Bordeaux.

In Beauvais, yellow vesters converged at the local airport in the morning; however, no action took place, as police blocked their way. That afternoon, police dispersed a group of 600 people who were trying to enter the city center.

In Lyons, after a traditional march through the city, several thousand yellow vesters blocked the A7 freeway both ways, creating traffic jams.

In Nantes, about 2000 individuals took the streets. As soon as the afternoon demonstration started, confrontations with police broke out. During the clashes, some yellow vesters set fire to a pile of Christmas trees in front of the Cathedral. All afternoon, police forces shot tear gas canisters and concussion grenades at the crowd. At least one person was injured.

In Rouen, between 1700 and 4000 yellow vesters demonstrated. Around noon, protestors threw cobblestones and other projectiles at police, who answered with tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. According to authorities, police were confronted with 400 determined rioters. In the end, several people were injured, 19 were arrested, and 18 put in custody.

In Caen, confrontations began in the afternoon when demonstrators who wanted to occupy the Résistance square started building barricades with the fences of a nearby construction site. They also lit fires on the square and threw projectiles at law enforcement units who answered with tear gas.

Other gatherings and demonstrations took place in Toulouse; Saint-Nazaire, where yellow vesters blocked the main bridge during several hours before being dispersed by police forces; Sedan, where protestors blocked the railway for several hours; Dijon, where a group of yellow vesters attacked a gendarmerie barracks; Saint-Malo, where yellow vesters blocked the ferry terminal; Avignon; Marseille; Quimper; near Nancy; near Nîmes, where yellow vesters dumped hundreds of liters of waste oil on the roads; and near Sevrey, where demonstrators were arrested for attempting to block an Amazon logistics platform.

In view of all these actions, it is possible that this first day of action of 2019 shows that the movement has survived the holidays and will continue to be a force this year. But what kind of force? This is the important question.

We will address it in the next installment of this series.