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PARIS

Photo of the day: Eiffel Tower hit by flashmob

Hundreds of people descended on the Champs-de-Mars by the Eiffel Tower on Wednesday night as part of a huge flash mob. Find out what it was all in aid of.

Photo of the day: Eiffel Tower hit by flashmob
Eiffel Tower flash mob. Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP

A 500-strong flashmob danced in front of the Eiffel Tower at 8pm Wednesday night in a choreographed tribute to the 50th anniversary of civil right's activist Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech.

Organised by Unesco as one of 17 international flashmobs around the world, in association with the American Embassy and SOS Racisme (a charity for fighting against racism in France), around 500 Parisians danced in front of the art installation the Wall of Peace (le Mur de la Paix) on the Champs-de-Mars in the 7th arrondissement. T

The dance, which lasted several minutes, was choreographed by Mourad Merzouki, director of the National Centre of Choreography in the paris suburb of Créteil.

“It’s more than just an opportunity to pay homage to this emblematic figure who fought for civil rights in the USA," an organiser of the event told Le Parisien newspaper. 

"It’s also an opportunity to remind ourselves of the necessity to take action against hateful ideas which stop us living together in peace in our country."

King delivered the famous “I have a dream” speech in Washington on August 28th 1963 in front of 250,000 supporters.

by Naomi Firsht

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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