#polytechnique at 35

[donttellmeyourewoke]

Marc LÉPINE, born Gamil Rodrigue LIASS GHARBI, was an Arab and Muslim man.

Born in October 26, 1964, he is a Canadian mass murderer from Montreal, Quebec. On December 6, 1989 (35 years ago tomorrow) , he murdered fourteen (14) women, and wounded another ten (10) women and four (4) men in what is known as the École Polytechnique massacre. It took place at the École Polytechnique de Montréal, an engineering school affiliated with the Université de Montréal.

LÉPINE WAS THE SON of French Canadian nurse Monique Lépine and ALGERIAN (i.e. ARAB & MUSLIM) businessman Rachid Gharbi, WHO WAS ABUSIVE TOWARDS AND CONTEMPTUOUS OF WOMEN.

Let me reiterate that:

***LÉPINE WAS THE SON OF ALGERIAN (i.e. ARAB & MUSLIM) businessman RACHID GHARBI, WHO WAS ABUSIVE TOWARDS AND CONTEMPTUOUS OF WOMEN.***

So. Lépine had been raised from birth in a familial climate of hatred towards women. He was a loner, a loser and - incidentally - an InCel, which i think is important. Marc LÉPINE a.k.a Gamil GHARBI WAS NOT THE PRODUCT OF QUÉBEC SOCIETY AT THE TIME, he was the result of having been raised A MUSLIM WHO also DETESTED WOMEN FANATICALLY because of the noxious influence of his abusive, female-hating father.

ONE MAN (out of 3 million Québec males at the time). ONE GUN. ONE NIGHT. ONE CONTEXT.

I PERSONALLY OBJECT TO THE FETISHISIZING AND CONTINUED COMMEMORATION - STILL, THIRTY-FIVE (35!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) YEARS LATER. A MONUMENT IS WARRANTED, A PLACE NAMED AFTER THE POLTECHNQUE MASSACRE IS ALSO FINE, THE COMMEMORATION BY FAMILIES & FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS IS NORMAL. WHAT ISN'T NORMAL IS THE ELEVATION OF THIS ONE SINGULAR EVENT TO PAINT A PORTRAIT OF ALL MEN AS 1- WOMEN HATERS; 2- MASS MURDERER; 3- LOSERS; 4- LONERS; 5- INCELS; & 6- PROBABLY ALSO INSANE, TO HAVE DONE WHAT HE DID - killing women "BECAUSE THEY WERE FEMINISTS, NOT because THEY WERE WOMEN.

Marc LÉPINE DID WHAT HE DID ***ALSO BECAUSE HE WAS AN ARAB -AND- THE SON OF AN ABUSIVE MUSLIM MAN***.

WHAT THIS MASSACRE IS CALLED IS A "FEMINISTICIDE", NOT A "FEMINICIDE".

AND ***CONJUGAL MURDERS OF WOMEN BY INTIMATE PARTNERS ARE NOT FEMINICIDES EITHER*** - IF THE MURDEROUS MEN HAD BEEN HOMOSEXUALS, THEY WOULD HAVE KILLED THEIR MALE PARTNERS, THEREFORE IT IS CALLED A "HOMICIDE" & ***CONJUGAL MURDERS ARE HOMICIDES ALSO - THE VICTIM SIMPLY HAPPENS TO BE A WOMAN OR GIRL*** - ***THEY WERE CERTAINLY NOT KILLED BECAUSE THEY WERE WOMEN. ONLY Marc LÉPINE'S VICTIMS WERE VICTIMS OF FEMINICIDES, OR RATHER OF FEMINISTICIDEST***

IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE OF VIEW.

IT WAS AN ACT OF "DOMESTIC TERRORISM" -AND- OF "ISLAMIST TERRORISM" AS WELL AS A MASSACRE OF WOMEN, BECAUSE THEY WERE FEMINISTS.

& I BELIEVE SYSTEMATICALLY TOUTING (CONJUGAL) MURDERS OF GIRLS OR WOMEN AS "FEMINICIDES" IS WRONG, ABUSIVE & DENIGRATES THE VICTIM STATUS OF THE POLYTECHNIQUE 14 - btw, there were also male victims (4 injured, and a couple that committed suicide as a direct result of December 6th, 2024)...

[mizutoyama]

Je me souviens

Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. Why today? Because 35 years ago, a gunman decided to go on a killing spree at Polytechnique (engineering school in Montreal) and killed 14 young women simply because they were women. An antifeminist atrocity, all because a man blamed his own lacking on women and feminists.

35 years is a long time and yet… With the hyper masculine influencers gaining more and more followers, with a rapist becoming the “leader of the free world” along so many other things, feels like society has barely evolved…

https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/allison-hanes-dec-6-reflection

(Tumblr doesn’t seem to recognize this as a link, so please copy paste it)

[good-night-dodger]

On December 6, 1989, a man entered a mechanical engineering classroom at Montreal’s École Polytechnique with a semi automatic weapon. Separating women and men, he shot the women, screaming “You are all feminists”. 14 women were murdered. They died simply because they were women.

"And I also know that the possibility that something like Polytechnique, it can happen again,” Provost said, tearing up.

[lemurchick]

Since it’s been 35 years after the École Polytechnique massacre where shooter targeted female students in anti-feminist attack I’ve decided to watch ‘Polytechnique’ by Denis Villeneuve. And, well, I mean… it’s masterfully done but why…. Why is it focusing so much on male students who did nothing and left the rooms and the building (there were at least 50 male students in the first room).

Especially considering the history around the coverage of the attack and how some men thought and still do that Canadian feminists ‘weaponised’ it more that necessary…. Hmm….

[rabbitcruiser]

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is observed in Canada on December 6 each year. Informally called White Ribbon Day, the day marks the anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre in 1989. As we reflect on the act of senseless violence that claimed the lives of 14 women, we emphasize our dedication to fighting the hatred that inspired the tragedy.

History of National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada honors victims of gender-based violence and those who have died because of it. It is also an opportunity to act and do our part to create a better world. We can overcome gender-based violence by reflecting and learning from the past, relating to survivors, and speaking against violent behavior.

The Canadian Parliament established the day in 1991 to commemorate the 1989 massacre at Polytechnique Montréal, previously École Polytechnique de Montréal. As we mourn the deaths, we must also remember all those who continue to be victims of gender-based violence. Canadians have constructed memorial sites throughout the country in response to the tragedy, ensuring that people are aware of the events, making society aware of how frequently violence against women occurs, and honoring the lives of those who have been killed.

Every act of violence against women is motivated by a perception that women are less human than males. As a result, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women commemorates more than one massacre. It is a call for awareness and change in the face of male violence against women worldwide. According to the United Nations, 35% of women are victims of some form of sexual and physical violence inflicted by an intimate partner or non-partner. This day serves as a reminder of the danger of the power imbalance between men and women worldwide and that we have a responsibility to do something about it.

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women timeline

1983

Bill C-127 is Passed

Bill C-127 is issued in Canada, making rape and sexual assault a crime within the context of marriage.

1985

Charter of Rights and Freedoms Activated

In Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms establishes the right to equality, preventing the government from discriminating against people because of their gender or sexual orientation.

1989, 6 December

The École Polytechnique de Montréal Massacre Occurs

An antifeminist shooter murders 14 women at the École Polytechnique in Montréal, Canada.

1991

Parliament Establishes the Holiday

The Parliament of Canada commissions the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women to mark the Montréal Massacre’s anniversary.

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women FAQs

What are the effects of gender-based violence?

Victims of gender-based violence often suffer reproductive and sexual health issues such as unwanted pregnancies, STDs, traumatic fistula, and unsafe abortions.

What are the common forms of partner violence?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights sexual violence, physical violence, psychological aggression, and stalking as the four most common types of partner violence.

How can we end gender-based violence?

Taking action is the best way to end gender-based violence. Here is how you can do it:

Pay attention to survivors, learn from them, and believe their reports. 

Educate the next generation based on what you’ve learned. 

Learn more about consent.

Identify the signs of physical and sexual abuse. 

Don’t shy away from starting a conversation.

How to Observe National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Research and share information: The only way to win the battle is to know the enemy. Study the history of gender-based violence and share the information to help spread awareness and help those who need it.

Donate to charities: Donate to charities for victims of gender-based violence. Your donations go a long way in helping survivors adjust and cope with trauma.

Join local events: Look up participating organizations around you and join their events. Volunteer your time and lend your voice to the cause.

5 Shocking Facts About Gender-Based Violence

Child brides: Over 15 million girls under 18 get married every year; that is about 28 every minute.

Unwanted advances: Approximately 30% of females report that they were forced into their first sexual experience.

High risk: Females between 15-44 years old are more likely to be victims of domestic violence or rape than car accidents, cancer, or malaria.

High HIV numbers: In 2015, over 58% of HIV infections were attributed to young women and adolescent girls.

One too many: One in every three women worldwide is a victim of sexual or physical violence.

Why National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is Important

It creates awareness: We can’t change it if we don’t talk about it. This observance helps us create awareness about the violence that women suffer at the hands of men.

We leave an impact: We all get to act and stand against discrimination and gender-based violence. Our actions help change society’s attitude towards women and minorities.

To honor the victims: Countless lives are lost to the horrors of gender-based violence every year. This holiday is an opportunity to remember the victims we lost and what they endured.

Source

[jssica-c]

Reportage à la cérémonie de commémoration et d'action contre la violence faite aux femmes, diffusé dans le téléjournal du vendredi 6 décembre 2024.

[hinahasan]

polytechnique massacre

Il y a 35 ans, ces 14 jeunes femmes ont été assassinées à l’École Polytechnique de Montréal — parce qu’elles étaient des femmes. Nous n’oublierons pas leurs noms. pic.twitter.com/5qxmRA2m8n— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 6, 2024

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 12.6 (after 1940)

1941 – World War II: Camp X opens in Canada to begin training Allied secret agents for the war. 1956 – A violent water polo match between Hungary and the USSR takes place during the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, against the backdrop of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. 1957 – Project Vanguard: A launchpad explosion of Vanguard TV3 thwarts the first United States attempt to launch a satellite into Earth orbit. 1967 – Adrian Kantrowitz performs the first human heart transplant in the United States. 1969 – Altamont Free Concert: At a free concert performed by the Rolling Stones, eighteen-year old Meredith Hunter is stabbed to death by Hells Angels security guards. 1971 – Pakistan severs diplomatic relations with India, initiating the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. 1973 – The Twenty-fifth Amendment: The United States House of Representatives votes 387–35 to confirm Gerald Ford as Vice President of the United States. (On November 27, the Senate confirmed him 92–3.) 1975 – The Troubles: Fleeing from the police, a Provisional IRA unit takes a British couple hostage in their flat on Balcombe Street, London, beginning a six-day siege. 1977 – South Africa grants independence to Bophuthatswana, although it is not recognized by any other country. 1978 – Spain ratifies the Spanish Constitution of 1978 in a referendum. 1982 – The Troubles: The Irish National Liberation Army bombs a pub frequented by British soldiers in Ballykelly, Northern Ireland, killing eleven soldiers and six civilians. 1989 – The École Polytechnique massacre (or Montreal Massacre): Marc Lépine, an anti-feminist gunman, murders 14 young women at the École Polytechnique in Montreal. 1990 – A military jet of the Italian Air Force, abandoned by its pilot after an on-board fire, crashed into a high school near Bologna, Italy, killing 12 students and injuring 88 other people. 1991 – Yugoslav Wars: In Croatia, forces of the Serb-dominated Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) heaviest bombardment of Dubrovnik during a siege of seven months. 1992 – The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India, is demolished, leading to widespread riots causing the death of over 1,500 people. 1995 – The United States Food and Drug Administration approves Saquinavir, the first protease inhibitor to treat HIV/AIDS. Within 2 years of its approval, annual deaths from AIDS in the United States fall from over 50,000 to approximately 18,000. 1998 – in Venezuela, Hugo Chávez is victorious in presidential elections. 1999 – A&M Records, Inc. v. Napster, Inc.: The Recording Industry Association of America sues the peer-to-peer file-sharing service Napster, alleging copyright infringement. 2005 – An Iranian Air Force C-130 military transport aircraft crashes into a ten-floor apartment building in a residential area of Tehran, killing all 94 on board and 12 more on the ground. 2006 – NASA reveals photographs taken by Mars Global Surveyor suggesting the presence of liquid water on Mars. 2015 – Venezuelan parliamentary election: For the first time in 17 years, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela loses its majority in parliament. 2017 – Donald Trump's administration officially announces the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

[epaulesdegeantes]

Il y a 35 ans avait lieu le premier attentat masculiniste. C'était à l'Ecole Polytechnique de Monréal et les victimes ont été ciblé parce que c'était des femmes qui se formaient aux sciences et donc sortait des normes de genre pour le tueur. Ne les oublions pas.

[plaques-memoire]

Plaque en hommage à : Laurent Schwartz

Type : Lieu de résidence

Adresse : 35-37 rue Pierre Nicole, 75005 Paris, France

Date de pose : 13 mars 2017 (délibération) [source]

Texte : LAURENT SCHWARTZ, 1915-2002, Mathématicien, Lauréat de la médaille Fields, a vécu ici de 1958 à 2002. Auteur de la théorie mathématique des distributions, il fut aussi un intellectuel engagé dans la lutte pour les droits de l'homme et dans les combats contre le colonialisme.

Quelques précisions : Laurent Schwartz (1915-2002) est un mathématicien français. Après une scolarité brillante, il rejoint en 1934 l’École normale supérieure et passe l'agrégation de mathématiques en 1937. Il rejoint le groupe de mathématiciens Nicolas Bourbaki. En dépit de ses origines juives, il parvient à éviter la déportation et survit à la Seconde Guerre mondiale. En 1950, il est le premier Français à obtenir la médaille Fields pour ses travaux sur la théorie des distributions (quoiqu'il peine à se rendre aux États-Unis pour recevoir sa récompense en raison de ses positions politiques). Il poursuit ses activités d'enseignement et de recherche au sein de diverses écoles et universités, en particulier l’École polytechnique de 1959 à 1980. Il prend sa retraite en 1983. En parallèle de son parcours de chercheur, il est également passionné d'entomologie et manifeste des convictions profondément anticolonialistes puis anti-interventionnistes (héritage de son passé trotskiste). Cette plaque commémorative est située juste à côté d'une autre honorant l'écrivain Jean Guéhenno, qui a vécu dans le même immeuble que Schwartz, dont il fut contemporain.

[lillcarrionbird]

35th anniversary of the femicides at Polytechnique: Statement of PolyRemembers (December 5, 2024) Tomorrow, on December 6th, like all Quebecers and Canadians, we will be marking the 35th anniversary of the femicides at Polytechnique. Many of us will be on Mount Royal, where the City of Montreal and the Comité Mémoire are inviting us to pay our respects and honour the memory of our 14 missing daughters, sisters and classmates. At this solemn event, we will be accompanied by many dignitaries, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other members of his government. On this anniversary, we will express our gratitude to the Liberal government which, after years of promises, has finally taken a critical step towards eliminating all assault weapons from circulation, in addition to providing concrete timelines to ban large-capacity magazines, implement a preauthorization process for new firearm models and enact C-21 measures aimed at protecting women and children from gun-related intimate violence. By adopting a second Order in Council banning hundreds of existing assault weapons (and committing to finalizing it in the comings weeks), the government aims to complete the one issued in 2020, which excluded numerous models by virtue of two arbitrary exemptions. In doing so, the Liberal government is demonstrating its commitment to complete the ban and buyback of all assault weapons in Canada – consistent with the wishes of most Canadians. We applaud the list of gun control measures announced today, which demonstrate true political courage to prioritize public safety despite enormous pressures from the gun lobby. These crucial and long-awaited concrete steps to reduce gun violence across Canada honour the memory of the victims of the femicides at Polytechnique as well as countless other Canadians who have lost their lives to gun violence. On December 6th, 2024, we will finally gather with a feeling of relief and a sense accomplishment, knowing that our decades-long campaign and the support of so many partners and Canadians has finally paid off, leading to a comprehensive ban on assault weapons in addition to other concrete changes including a freeze on handgun sales. As we continue to remember the 14 women killed by gun violence in the 1989 Montreal Massacre at Polytechnique, we can now say that their lives and memory have inspired profound and lasting change for greater public safety. We thank Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Dominique LeBlanc, Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, along with Liberal MPs Rachel Bendayan and Pam Damoff who both worked tirelessly on this issue. We are now counting on them to finish the job before the next election.

[jcmarchi]

David Fattal, Co-Founder & Chief Technical Officer at Leia – Interview Series

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/david-fattal-co-founder-chief-technical-officer-at-leia-interview-series/

David Fattal, Co-Founder & Chief Technical Officer at Leia – Interview Series

David Fattal is the CEO and founder at Leia, the leading provider of glasses-free 3D display hardware and software solutions. He previously spent nine years at HP Labs working on various aspects of quantum computing and photonics, and specializing in the manipulation of light at the nanoscale. He holds a PhD in Physics from Stanford University and a BS in theoretical physics from Ecole Polytechnique, France.

Fattal holds over 100 granted patents and was featured on the 2013 list of 35 Innovator under 35 by the MIT technology Review. He co-authored the text-book “Single Photon Devices and Applications” and was awarded the French National Order of Merit in 2014 for developing the “Diffractive Lightfield Backlighting” concept.

As a former research scientist at HP Labs in the Quantum Science Research Team and a specialist in Nano-Photonics, can you share some key highlights from your experience?

During my time at HP Labs, I focused on the intersection of quantum computing and nano-photonics, exploring how light manipulation at the nanoscale could revolutionize communication technologies. A key highlight was Project Leia, where we developed diffractive light field backlighting technology and advanced the field of 3D displays beyond traditional methods. This work laid the foundation for the innovative display technologies we now use at Leia Inc.

What inspired the inception of Project Leia, and how did a chance observation during a fire drill at HP Labs lead to the discovery of using nano-structures for creating holographic images?

Project Leia drew inspiration from technologies used in the field of optical interconnects, which deals with replacing electrical signals with light signals inside computer chips. During a fire drill at HP Labs, I noticed the intricate patterns formed by light passing through one of our “light on a chip” prototypes. This observation led to using nano-structures to intentionally bend light similarly, ultimately enabling the creation of holographic images. This serendipitous moment sparked the development of the diffractive light-field backlighting technology central to Leia Inc.

How does Leia Inc.’s technology convert 2D experiences into immersive 3D experiences on any device?

Leia Inc.’s technology leverages advanced optics and AI to transform 2D experiences into 3D. 

Our LeiaSR optical technology can upgrade any personal device screen and give it the ability to send different images to the viewer’s left and right eyes, thereby creating a high-quality 3D effect. The 3D optics can be switched off on demand, allowing standard 2D content to display at full resolution. 

Our Neural Depth Technology, powering the Immersity AI platform, can convert any 2D picture or video into 3D. Users don’t need to have a 3D display to see the effects of the conversion.

The combination of screen conversion and content conversion gives us this unique ability to create immersive 3D experiences today on any familiar device, from cell phones to computer monitors.

How does the Neural Depth Engine in the Immersity AI platform contribute to generating precise depth maps for 3D content?

The Neural Depth Engine is a state-of-the-art neural network fine-tuned on millions of 3D images collected by Leia-equipped devices in the field. Thanks to this proprietary training dataset, it can create very precise depth maps from 2D images.  

The better your depth maps are, the better results you get in applications like smartphone photo enhancements and 3D imaging. If you’re familiar with the background blur (bokeh) portrait mode, then you might have an unknown appreciation for depth maps.

Depth maps are also used for things like photogrammetry, creating 3D models of real-world objects from multiple photographs, and can also be used in medical imaging.

What industries could benefit the most from Leia Inc.’s 2D-to-3D conversion technology, and how?

Several industries can benefit significantly from our 2D-to-3D conversion technology. Social media creators and influencers can enhance their content by offering more engaging experiences that connect them with their community. The media and advertising industry can create more captivating advertisements that stand out from their competition. Filmmakers and game developers can provide audiences with a richer and more immersive visual experience. Additionally, the design industry, including image and video editing professionals, can use our technology to add depth and dimension to their projects, resulting in more compelling and dynamic visuals.

How does the 3D overlay technology used by Leia Inc. ensure that 2D image quality is not compromised when the 3D mode is inactive?

We designed our 3D overlay technology to be non-intrusive. When the 3D mode is inactive, the nanostructures used for 3D rendering become virtually invisible, maintaining the original 2D image quality without any degradation.

Can you describe a real-world application or project where Leia Inc.’s 3D technology has been successfully implemented?

We are powering ZTE’s first mobile 3D tablet, the Nubia Pad, released in 2023, and Acer’s first professional creator 3D laptop, released the same year.

How does Leia Inc. collaborate with companies like ACER and ZTE to integrate their 3D display technology into consumer devices?

We closely collaborate with companies like ACER and ZTE by providing our 3D hardware and software solutions, technical support, and integration services. This partnership ensures that our 3D technology is seamlessly embedded into their devices, offering consumers a unique and enhanced user experience.

How does Leia Inc. ensure user-friendly interfaces and seamless integration of their 3D technology for everyday consumers and professionals alike?

We prioritize intuitive design and user experience in our technology development. Our SDKs and software tools are easy to integrate, with extensive documentation and support for developers. Our interfaces are straightforward for consumers, ensuring seamless and user-friendly switching between 2D and 3D modes.

What future developments can we expect from Leia Inc. in the field of 3D display technology and immersive AI experiences?

Leia Inc. is continuously innovating. Future developments will focus on enhancing our AI algorithms for even more realistic 3D conversions, expanding our device compatibility, and exploring new applications in the mobile and extended reality (XR) space. We aim to make immersive 3D experiences more accessible and impactful across various industries.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Leia.

[codename-adler]

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, in Canada

Today is December 6. 

1989: 35 years ago, in Montreal, Canada, an armed man entered École Polytechnique and shot 14 women. That man killed 14 women.

Geneviève Bergeron, 21, mechanical engineering student

Annie Turcotte, 20, metallurgic engineering student

Maude Haviernick, 29, metallurgic engineering student

Sonia Pelletier, 28, mechanical engineering student

Hélène Colgan, 23, mechanical engineering student

Anne-Marie Lemay, 22, mechanical engineering student

Nathalie Croteau, 23, mechanical engineering student

Anne-Marie Edward, 21, chemical enginerring student

Barbara Daigneault, 22, mechanical engineering student

Maryse Laganière, 25, financial service employee

Maryse Leclair, 23, metallurgic engineering student

Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, 31, nursing student

Michèle Richard, 21, metallurgic engineering student

Annie St-Arneault, 23, mechanical engineering student

This was an misogynistic act of terrorism. A femicide. They were targeted because they were women in a field mainly occupied by men. They were targeted because they were women. Because they were women. 

Since then, gun control has improved, Polytechnique is now more than ever full of women thriving in engineering. 

But these 14 women are still gone. This won’t bring them back. They were still murdered by a hateful man that hated and hated and hated women. 

I’m 24. I live on that same campus. I’m not studying engineering. I have lived longer than some of these women. I live at the same age of some of these women. And I know I’ll probably be living past the age of some of these women. 

But some women won’t. Many didn’t.

Because the war on women is not over. 

The war on black women, women of color, trans women, indigenous women, jewish women, queer women, uygghur women, latinx women, muslim women, hijabi women, religious women, atheist women, abstinent women, sexually-active women, small women, big women, survivor women, mentally-ill women, neurodivergent women, infant women, teenage women, adult women, old women, women in male-dominated fields, women in female-dominated fields, rich women, poor women, middle class women, women with children, women without children, single women, married women, divorced women, widowed women, women in prostitution, women in prison, disabled women... Women.

Womanhood is a battlefield. 

So thrive. Fight. Study, learn, teach. Work, create, give. 

Be you, my dear sisters. Breathe and don’t let anyone step on your crown. 

May you rest in peace, fallen sisters.

[dustandspray]

Balade au Chaberton, un peu d'histoire...

Le Mont-Chaberton est un sommet des Alpes françaises dans le massif des Cerces et précisément dans le chaînon du Chaberton, dans le département des Hautes-Alpes. Il culmine à 3 131 m d'altitude.

Jusqu'en 1947, le mont Chaberton faisait partie intégrante du territoire italien (commune de Cesana Torinese).

Les anciennes batteries militaires

En 1898, l'Italie, qui venait d'adhérer à la Triplice, entreprit de construire au sommet du mont Chaberton une batterie de huit tours de maçonnerie surmontées de canons tournés vers la France et Briançon, défendant ainsi le passage du col de Montgenèvre.

Pour cela, les soldats et ingénieurs dirigés par le major du génie Luigi Pollari Maglietta ont réalisé une route depuis le village de Fénils (val de Suse) et ont abaissé d'environ 6 mètres le sommet du Chaberton pour y installer les huit tours de 12 mètres de haut, correspondant à la plus haute chute de neige enregistrée. En 1906, chacune des tours fut armée d'un canon de 149/35[2] (en réalité, des 149/36 — le tube d'acier étant porté à la longueur de 36 calibres), ce qui allongeait la portée du tir. Mais fut conservée la dénomination 35 pour préserver le secret militaire. Chaque pièce, servie par 7 hommes, était protégée par une coupole blindée relativement légère (50 mm devant, 25 mm sur le toit et 15 sur les flancs et derrière), plus légère que les normes en vigueur alors pour les forteresses : on considérait en effet que la batterie se trouvait hors de portée de l'artillerie classique, et on se contenta de coupoles de conception anglaise Armstrong Montagna offrant une bonne protection contre la neige, les éclats et les schrapnels. L'ensemble des travaux fut terminé en 1910. Le fort, parfois surnommé le « cuirassé des nuages », faisait l'orgueil des militaires italiens et était alors réputé comme le plus haut et l'un des plus puissants du monde. Sa position était inexpugnable, le mettant hors de portée de la plupart des pièces d'artillerie de l'époque, et permettant théoriquement à ses huit pièces de 149 mm d'atteindre la gare de Briançon distante de près de 18 km. Cependant, pour des raisons mécaniques liées à l'installation des tubes sous des coupoles Armstrong, la portée utile fut limitée à 16 km.

Pendant la Première Guerre mondiale, quand l'Italie entra en guerre aux côtés de l'Entente, les pièces d'artillerie furent démontées pour être employées sur le front contre l'Empire austro-hongrois.

Sous le régime fasciste, la batterie du Chaberton fut réarmée, et représenta de nouveau une menace pour Briançon et la France. En 1940, le fort fut intégré au IV Corpo d'Armata (général Mercalli) et constitua la 515a batteria du XXXIV Gruppo du 8° Raggruppamento Artiglieria de la Guardia alla Frontiera. Sa garnison comptait environ 340 hommes, sous le commandement du capitaine Spartaco Bevilacqua. Contre d'éventuelles attaques aériennes des mitrailleuses de DCA avaient été prévues.

Pour y faire face, l'armée française fit venir quatre mortiers de 280 modèle 1914 Schneider, répartis en deux batteries camouflées de deux pièces, une à l'Eyrette et une autre au lieu-dit Poët-Morand, deux emplacements situés hors de la vue du fort italien. Ces deux sections constituaient la 6e Batterie du 154e RAP (154e régiment d'artillerie de position), intégré au XIVe Corps d'armée (général Beynet). Les principales difficultés auxquelles se heurtèrent les artilleurs français venaient de ce que l'objectif, distant de 10 km, était situé à une altitude supérieure de 1 000 m à celle de leurs batteries, que les projectiles décriraient une parabole culminant à une altitude de 5 000 m et atteindraient leur cible plus d'une minute après le départ du coup. Il n'existait pas alors de tables de tir indirect pour des conditions de combat aussi extrêmes et inédites : le général Georges Marchand, qui commandait l'artillerie du XIVe Corps d'armée, fit appel à une équipe d'ingénieurs pour calculer en toute hâte les tables de tir des différentes pièces de l'artillerie de montagne, qu'il fit reproduire à l'imprimerie des aciéries Ugine non loin de là, afin de les diffuser auprès des artilleurs de Briançon.

Le 20 juin 1940, le fort du Chaberton reçut l'ordre d'ouvrir le feu contre les ouvrages français du Janus, de Gondran, de l'Infernet, des Trois-Têtes et de plusieurs batteries de campagne, mais ne causa que des dommages mineurs, par manque de précision. Les conditions météorologiques ne permettaient pas aux Français de régler leur tir pour répliquer, car le sommet du Chaberton restait voilé par les nuages. Le 21 juin 1940 à 10 h, le ciel s'éclaircit et le lieutenant Miguet, un ancien de Polytechnique qui commandait les deux batteries de 280 depuis un poste d'observation situé sur les pentes de l'Infernet, donna l'ordre d'ouvrir le feu. Il eut le temps de faire tirer trois coups qui s'approchèrent des tourelles du Chaberton, quand les nuages revinrent et lui masquèrent de nouveau sa cible.

Le ciel se dégagea vers 15 h 30 et le duel d'artillerie reprit. Miguet multipliait les coups qui encadraient les tourelles du Chaberton, observant les impacts, en liaison avec les observateurs de l'ouvrage du Janus qui lui signalent les coups longs dont les impacts lui étaient invisibles. Un des deux 280 de Poët-Morand, commandés par le sous-lieutenant Fouletier, mit un coup au but sur la tourelle 1 à 17 h 15. Dans la demi-heure qui suivit furent touchées les tourelles 3, 4 et 5. « Manifestement, le Chaberton n'a pas repéré cet adversaire qui l'inquiète, car il tire sur le Fort des Têtes » écrira dans son rapport le lieutenant Miguet. À 17 h 30 la tourelle 3 fut touchée, et se déclencha un incendie qui fut bien près de gagner le dépôt de munitions situé en contrebas. À 18 h 5 la tourelle 2 reçut un coup au but, puis la 6. Le feu cessa à 20 h. Au total ce jour-là 6 tourelles sur les 8 furent touchées, et les Italiens eurent à déplorer 9 tués et une cinquantaine de blessés.

Le Chaberton n'était pas totalement hors de combat, les tourelles 7 et 8 continuèrent à tirer les trois jours suivants, sans être atteintes par l'artillerie française, jusqu'au cessez-le-feu et à l'armistice du 24 juin 1940.

Le fort, inutilisable, fut abandonné le 8 septembre 1943, même s'il fut brièvement réoccupé un an plus tard, à l'automne 1944, par des parachutistes de la République sociale italienne surveillant l'avance alliée par la vallée de la Durance.

Pendant la période de négociation du traité de Paris signé en 1947, le ministre français des Affaires étrangères, Georges Bidault, se laissait aller en privé à se plaindre du « chabertonisme » du général de Gaulle, président du gouvernement provisoire : il entendait par là la propension du général à se passionner pour des détails insignifiants, au risque de compromettre le rapprochement franco-italien auquel poussait Bidault. Ainsi en réponse à une note du 15 janvier 1946 où Bidault souligne qu'il ne serait pas de bonne politique d'exiger de l'Italie des clauses exorbitantes, le général lui répond-il deux jours plus tard en insistant sur l'importance qu'il accorde à l'annexion du fort Chaberton[3].

C'est ainsi qu'à l'issue de la guerre, le vallon des Baïsses, le sommet du Chaberton et la batterie furent annexés par la France, déplaçant, de fait, la frontière à l'entrée du village italien de Clavière. À l'été 1957, tous les restes métalliques des tubes et des coupoles blindées furent enlevés et descendus dans la vallée. Il ne reste plus aujourd'hui sur le site que les supports des tourelles en maçonnerie et les ouvrages souterrains qui se dégradent rapidement et dont la visite est dangereuse.