Radical plan to ban SAND from French beaches - and ISIS could be loosely to blame
THE sandy stretches along the River Seine has been a much-loved part of Parisian summers for years but that could all end next year.
Paris's sandy Seine beaches could be banned
The local authorities in Paris are currently looking at plans to ban the unique beaches as of 2017.And in a strange twist, ISIS could be loosely to blame.The company delivering the sand to the Paris-Plages have allegedly “paid taxes” to ISIS.The popular artificial beach pops up every year along the Seine during a summer-long festival.
The Paris-Plages are a popular summer festival
The Le Parisian newspaper reported the city is considering “alternatives” to sand on the beaches, including grass and wood chips.This comes after France’s Left Party called for a boycott of the sand.Danielle Simonet, Left Party co-ordinator, voiced an opposition to the partnership between Paris authorities and the company Lafarge, which has alleged links to ISIS.Danielle expressed her outrage over the partnership in a Facebook post, which went viral, reaching more than 1.7 million people.
Paris officials are currently looking at alternatives to sand
According to reports by Le Monde, Lafarge has been accused of making arrangements with ISI over the operations of its cement works plant in the Syrian city of Jalabiya, before the plant was used as a base for Western forces.
There are now calls for the Mayor of Paris to demand a parliamentary inquiry into the possible links between French companies and ISIS.
Danielle also raised concerns about the negative impact of transporting 5,000 tons of sand from the Eure region Normandy to the French capital for the beaches.The politician urged the council to abandon the use of sand for the Paris-Plages as of next year.
The Paris-Plages was set up in 2002 by the office of the mayor of Paris
Muslim woman forced off French beach for wearing burkini
Le Parisian reported that a city official said the debate over the sand ban has been raging on for months.However, the council are yet to reach a decision on this.The Paris-Plages annual tradition was started in 2002 by the office of the mayor of Paris.It has been a hugely popular summer feature in the capital since it began.