The far-right demonstrators unmasked

This week on The Sound Kitchen you’ll hear the answer to the question about Marine Le Pen and the recent far-right demonstration in Paris. There’s an homage to loving fathers and the “Listeners Corner” with Paul Myers. All that, and the new quiz question, too, so click on the “Play” button above and enjoy! 

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Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday – here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You’ll hear the winner's names announced and the week’s quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you’ve grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, “On This Day”, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music … so be sure and listen every week.

Erwan and I are busy cooking up special shows with your musical requests, so get them in! Send your musical requests to [e-mail]  Tell us why you like the piece of music, too – it makes it more interesting for us all!

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Another idea for your students: Br. Gerald Muller, my beloved music teacher from St Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English - that’s how I worked on my French, reading books which were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it’s a good method for improving your language skills. To get Br. Gerald’s free books, click here.

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This week’s quiz: On 13 May, I asked you a question about a new French policy that would ban far-right extremist groups from demonstrating. On 6 May, around 600 people dressed in black, some of whom were masked, marched in Paris carrying black flags marked with the Celtic cross: a symbol that’s been appropriated by white nationalists and far-right extremists in Europe. Their demonstration had been approved by Paris’ police prefect Laurent Nuñez.

There was an immediate outcry from France’s left-wing politicians and activists because several demonstrations against Macron’s pension reform had been denied permits.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stepped in and banned far-right extremist demonstrations; he said he’ll let the courts decide if they can be held. 

My question to you was: what was Marine Le Pen’s response to the demonstration? Marine Le Pen, as you know, is the former president and current parliamentary leader of the far-right National Rally party. Additionally, you were to tell us the names of the two men who worked as treasurers for her party - and who participated in the march.

The answer is: To quote our article: “Marine le Pen, the parliamentary leader of the far-right National Rally, said the protesters should not have worn masks.  

"These provocations cannot be tolerated. It's inadmissible," she said, also defending herself against accusations that she was close to two of the participants, Axel Loustau and Olivier Duguet, who worked as party treasurers.”

In addition to the quiz question, there was the bonus question: “What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word ‘patriotism’ ?” The question was suggested by RFI Listeners Club member Radhakrishna Pillai from Kerala State in India. 

The winners are: Saidul Islam, a member of the Nilshagor RFI Fan Club in Nilphamari, Bangladesh. Saidul is also the winner of this week’s bonus question. Congratulations, Saidul !

Also on the list of lucky winners this week are M. N. Sentu, a member of the RFI Amour Fan Club in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, and RFI Listeners Club members Sairun Bibi from Odisha, India, and Zenon Teles, the president of the Christian – Marxist – Leninist - Maoist Association of Listening DX-ers in Goa, India.

Last but certainly not least, there’s RFI English listener Deep Paul from West Bengal, India. 

Congratulations winners!

Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: “The Cuckoo” from The Birds by Ottorino Respighi, performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Louis Lane; “Drums of the Horde” by Filip Lackovic; “The Flight of the Bumblebee” by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; “The Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and “Bridging the Gap” by Nas, performed by Nas and his father, Olu Dara.

Do you have a musical request? Send it to [e-mail] 

This week’s question ... you must listen to the show to participate. After you’ve listened to the show, re-read our article “Swiatek battles past Muchova to claim her third French Open crown” to help you with the answer.

You have until 10 July to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 15 July podcast. When you enter, be sure you send your postal address with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.

Send your answers to:

[e-mail]

or

Susan Owensby

RFI – The Sound Kitchen

80, rue Camille Desmoulins

92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

France

or

By text … You can also send your quiz answers to The Sound Kitchen mobile phone. Dial your country’s international access code, or “ + ”, then  33 6 31 12 96 82. Don’t forget to include your mailing address in your text – and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number.

To find out how you can win a special Sound Kitchen prize, click here.

To find out how you can become a member of the RFI Listeners Club, or form your own official RFI Club, click here.