Spotlight on France - Podcast: French Communism is not dead, making a baby in Spain, and the dog who discovered Lascaux

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Despite its association with Stalin and gulags, Communism is alive and kicking in France. The youth movement of the French Communist Party has 10,000 card-carrying members. Why does the party continue to charm, three decades after the fall of the Berlin wall? A young member tells us what lit the spark and why Le Parti Communiste is still relevant.

Also, a big political issue this autumn, besides pension reform, is legislation that would open up medically-assisted procreation, or fertility treatments, to single women and lesbian couples. It's a controversial issue. But beyond the debate, we hear the story of a woman who went to Spain to get around the French law in order to have a baby by herself.

And, 79 years ago this week, four teenagers discovered the Lascaux caves. It's a story that involves luck, a dog, and the Nazi occupation of France.

In this episode:

- Léon Deffontaines, Secretary general, French Communist youth

- Gwendoline Desarménien, Secretary general, ADFH, French Association of LGBT Parents

- Maths teacher  Radouane Abbassi, aka Great Teacher Issaba, rapping about polygons

 

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For more stories about France and beyond, visit www.rfienglish.com.
12 Sep 2019 English South Africa News

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