It seems French President Sarkozy had a bit of difficulty arriving on time for a ceremony commemorating the 90th anniversary of the World War 1 armistice, an event planned to honor veterans of that war and those since.  Perhaps flustered by missing the moment to mark the 90th anniversary of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Sarkozy also forgot to mention Wales’ contribution to the Great War, despite standing spitting distance from the Prince of Wales.  But fumbles aside, the somber event served to honor those who sacrificed their lives in that and subsequent wars.

As Andy mentioned, Veteran’s day in the United States recognizes all military personal who have served, whereas Europe’s focus tends to be more on those who have lost their lives in battle.  Our friends over at Causecast have put their support behind the National Veterans Foundation, which provides support and counseling to veterans in need.  Check out this video that explains the vital help they provide:

takepart by supporting the National Veterans Foundation to improve the lives of those who have bravely served.

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie Halper:

Brigitte Bardot Fine: Top 5 Bardotisms That Got Hot Sex Symbol In Hot Water

Obama Pound: In Historic Moment, White People Exposed To Fist Bump For First Time

* * *
Nicole Hughes:

Get a Job: Top 10 Guides to Finding the Perfect Eco Career

Schwarzenegger Declares Drought in California

* * *

Andy Kondrat:

Barcelona Fines Citizens for Using Drinking Water in Pools and Gardens

Coal Power Plants Waste Two-Thirds of Energy Input

* * *

Jon Popham:

Megabus Expanding to the East Coast

Egyptian Blogger Freed from Prison

* * *

Giulia Rozzi:

Diamonds In The Rough: A Ugandan Hip Hop Revolution

Cluster Bomb Ban

* * *

Gina Telaroli:

Interview with Nina Davenport, Director of Operation Filmmaker

KidZui : Internet for Kids (and Those Young at Heart)

For Brigitte Bardot, the whole getting fined for making anti-Muslim remarks is soooo pasee. Been there, done that.   Her repeat offender behavior has led the prosecutor to say, “I’m a bit tired of trying Madame Bardot.”

The former actress and model was famous for her sex symbol status and roles in films like “And God Created Woman” by Roger Vadim in 1956 and “Contempt” by Jean-Luc Godard in 1963. But it’s no longer her sex appeal or her films that gets the 73 into the headlines and into the blog posts of  Gina Telaroli. Bardot has been a long-time a champion of animal rights, which she takes so seriously, she had a neighbor’s donkey castrated because he was sexually harassing her mare. But Bardot is not as fond of the Muslims as she is critters, and today was sentenced, for the FIFTH time, under a French law against for inciting hatred and discrimination on racial or religious or racial grounds. The equivalent of $23,325, this was the heaviest fine so far. So here are the five racism-inciting statements Bardot has made and paid for– literally– since 1997

1. “…my country, France, my homeland, my land is again invaded by an overpopulation of foreigners, especially Muslims.” - published in 1997 Open Letter to My Lost France Le Figaro.

2. “I am against the Islamisation of France. For centuries our forefathers…our fathers gave their lives to chase all successive invaders from France,” her book, A Cry in the Silence, 2003.

3. “Our lovely, kind street-walkers have been replaced by girls from the east, Nigerians, travellers, transsexuals, drag-queens, bearers of Aids and other friendly gifts… Not even French prostitutes are what they used to be.” A Cry in the Silence, 2003.

Read the rest of this entry »

What do Brigitte Bardot, beach litter, and American rappers on skid row have in common? They’re all on the TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup!   The Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

Katie:

Pras On Skid Row (Literally)

Top 10 Reasons to Go to the Havana Film Festival in New York

* * *
Nicole:

6 Million Pounds of Trash Found On World’s Beaches In One Day

“Take A Bite” Out of Climate Change

* * *
Giulia:

Once Upon A Time Mommy Wasn’t This Pretty

We Can Solve It

* * *

Gina:

The Fresh Air of the Flight of the Red Balloon and Hou Hsiao Hsien

Brigitte Bardot on Trial for Her Contempt Towards Muslims

French actress and international sex symbol Brigitte Bardot went on trial yesterday for a letter that she sent to President Nicholas Sarkozy. Bardot’s is being charged with “inciting racial hatred.” As an animal rights activist, Bardot has often expressed her anger at Muslim’s for their traditional sheep slaughtering. This letter went too far as she wrote :

“I am fed up with being under the thumb of this population which is destroying us, destroying our country and imposing its acts,” she wrote. The letter was later published by Bardot’s foundation. [Guardian]

Read the rest of this entry »