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www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ DECEMBER 2012NATIONAL NEWS ♦7Septic tanks Electrics Renovationsystems designed with permissions &paperwork included and independentapproval with certification.New campaigntargets mobile phoneusage while drivingA campaign has been launched in France to try andreduce the number of road accidents caused by mobilephones. Statistics released recently have shown thatmobile phone usage while driving is behind 10% of allaccidents on French roads.L'Association Prévention Routière has providedstatistics showing that 58% of drivers admitted to havingused a mobile phone at the wheel in 2011 - up from 23%in 2004 and 19% in 1999.The focus of the campaign will be on younger drivers:76% of those questioned aged between 18 and 24 say theyhad used their phone whilst driving.If you are caught driving while using a mobile phonethen you face a fine of €135 and three points off yourlicence. ■Eurozone in doubledip recession as Francereturns to growthThe Eurozone has slipped into a double-dip recessionafter posting negative growth of 0.1% in the third quarterof 2012.Many Eurozone economies such as Greece and Italy havebeen in recession for a while now but this is the first timesince 2009 that the zone has collectively posted consecutivequarters of economic contraction.France and Germany managed to buck the trend, withboth managing 0.2% growth in the same period, but thiswas not sufficient to save the 17-country bloc from overallrecession.Millions of people across Europe have protested againstthe government spending cuts that EU policymakers sayare crucial to ending the debt crisis, but which others blamefor the economic contraction. “We are now getting into adouble dip recession which is entirely self-made,” saidPaul De Grauwe, an economist with the London School ofEconomics. “It is a result of excessive austerity in southerncountries and unwillingness in the north to do anythingelse.”The European Commission is predicting a 0.4%contraction for the Eurozone as a whole in 2012. Hopesfor a recovery next year are also fading, with the EuropeanCommission saying the economy will grow just 0.1% in2013. ■ELEGANCEHome Improvements-Windows-Doors-Conservatories-References AvailableFull ComprehensiveBuilding ServiceCALLTEL: 05 55 64 18 33 / 06 77 12 27 66www.elegancehomeimprovements.cominfo@elegancehomeimprovements.comSIREN: 511 268 310Got a Question forThe Bugle...?editor@thebugle.eudiagnostic report and remedial works – consuelapprovals - liaison with ERDF for changes. fullre-wires, new-build, additions, modifications.Your garden product expertSTIHL MS 170 D Chainsaw35cm, 4.2 kg - 199€ TTCbathrooms & kitchensfrom design to completion; ceilings;partition walls; drylining.France set to approvesame-sex marriageFrance is pressingahead with plansto legalise gaymarriage despitevocal opposition andwidespread protests. A draftbill, approved in Novemberby the French cabinet,has redefined marriage tostipulate that it is “contractedbetween two persons ofdifferent sex or of the samesex,” and the words “father”and “mother” in existinglegislation are to be replacedby “parents”. The bill willalso allow married gaycouples to adopt children. Tothe disappointment of someleft-wing politicians andgay campaigners, however,it does not give lesbiancouples the legal right tohave “medically assisted”children - i.e. the state willnot fund IVF treatment forgay married couples.France already allows civilunions between same-sexcouples, through the PACS(pacte civil de solidarité),although this does not grantthe same rights as marriage.The legislation followsthrough on an electionpledge by François Hollandewho had promised to legalisesame-sex marriage duringhis presidential campaign.The president called the bill“progress for all of society”.Before becoming law, itwill have to be passed byboth houses of the Frenchparliament when it isdebated in January; since theSocialists hold a majorityin both houses, this shouldproceed with relative ease.Although opinion pollsindicate that a majority ofthe French public supportgay marriage, only halfapprove of allowing gaycouples to adopt and theproposals have proved tobe controversial. SergeDassault, an influentialsenator from the centrerightUMP party, said thebill represented “the endof the family, the end ofchildren’s development, theend of education.” He calledit “an enormous danger tothe nation”.More than 1,000 mayorshave signed a petitionagainst the proposedchanges and there have beenprotests in 75 towns andcities. The largest of theseLog sawsfrom 790€ TTCwas in Paris, where policeestimated that 70,000 peopletook to the streets.The most virulentopposition has come fromreligious leaders, withCardinal André Vingt-Trois, the Roman Catholicarchbishop of Paris, callingthe bill an act of “deception”.In a speech before 120bishops in Lourdes, thecardinal said the law wouldestablish “the marriage of afew imposed on everyone”.Jewish, Muslim, Protestantand Orthodox Christianreligious leaders have alsoopposed the bill.The mayor of Paris' 8 tharrondissement, FrançoisLebel, went even furtherand warned that if thegovernment broke the tabooof gay marriage, it wouldlead to the breaking ofother taboos, like incest orpolygamy.If the bill passes throughparliament, France willbecome the 12th countryto make its marriage lawsgender neutral, joining a listthat includes the Netherlands,Denmark, Norway, Swedenand Spain. ■Tel: 05.55.80.83.30Email: sales@LCE23.comWeb: LCE23.comVAT ratewill risefrom 19.6%to 20% in2014>> continued from pg 1largest proportion oftheir incomes on theseproducts and services.The lowest rate appliesto shop-bought food(excluding sweets andcertain luxuries like foiegras and caviar), bottledwater and non-alcoholicdrinks and electricityand gas subscriptions,and it should also applyto books and live showswhich are dropping tothe 5% rate as of January.The changes comefollowing a muchanticipatedreport byLouis Gallois, who wasgiven the task of lookingat ways to improveFrench business. Thegovernment has alsoannounced that it willcut a further €10 billionfrom public spending in2014-15. ■English spoken - ask forAlain or Olivia at receptionRoute de Montluçon23000 GUERETTel: 05.55.81.35.55motoculture@micard.frTrailer RB 2014, wooden baseLoad capacity 750 kg - 789€ TTCMon - Fri from 8h30 - 12h and 14h - 18h & Sat from 9h - 12h