La réponse de Guenady aux questions de Jane
(Il y a deux articles sur ce blog déjà consacrés à l'histoire de Séverine et Elie. Séverine est une jeune Belge dont le fils de 2 ans a été enlevé par les autorités de Nice à cause du veganisme de sa mère. Guenady est une habitante de Nice qui aide Séverine. J'ai écrit à Guenady pour avoir plus de renseignements, et elle a pris le temps de me répondre. Elle veut que je partage sa réponse avec autant de gens que possible. Malheureusement pour les Français, nos échanges sont en anglais.)
As a member of the vegetarien_fr list, I have noticed many messages about Severine. I KNOW THIS LIST FOR HAVING ONCE BRIEFLY TAKEN PART UNTIL I WAS RUN OFF WITH INSULTS AND THREATS; IT IS OWNED LOCK STOCK AND BARREL BY THE ANTI SPECISTS WHICH EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME; NO DISCUSSION ALLOWED THAT DOESN'T FIT IN WITH THEIR PARTY LINE; We have in fact been bombarded with them. However, it's not all to Severine's good. I AM AWARE OF THIS TOO AS I KNOW THAT AT LEAST ONE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION WHICH IS IN A STRONG POSITION TO STEP IN AND HELP HER WOULD NOT DO IT, CITING CHARGES THE JUDGE HAS ALSO USED TO DISCREDIT HER; WE WILL BE GIVING SEVERINES VERSION OF THESE ACCUSIONS IN THE REPLY TO THE JUDGES DECISION SO IM NOT GOING TO JUMP THE GUN HERE. JUST WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF REPLY TO YOUR QUESTIONS BEFORE MY DAY BEGINS AS I HAVE ALL MY USUAL FULL TIME WORK PLUS MY OWN DOGS PLUS A RESCUE IVE BEEN FOSTERING FOR A WEEK(A YOUNG STAFFIE) PLUS SEVERINE SINCE HER LAWYER HAS GONE OFF ON VACATION AND LEFT HER AND THE APPEAL MUST BE FILED THIS WEEK AND THE JUDGES CHARGES ANSWERED. The information we are given is summary, and begs many questions. Nobody has yet stood up and said "I don't believe a word of it", not even vegetarians like to rock the boat, but there are many murmurings in private.
When I first read about Severine and Elie I was extremely touched: anger, sadness, personal identification. My two children are grown up and live on the other side of the world, but I remember the passionate love I had for them. If someone had taken them away from me, I would have reacted violently.
Some of the questions of ordinary vegans, vegetarians, and other readers of your communications:
Why did Severine pay big money for lawyers when legal aid is available? NOBODY ADVISED HER THERE WAS LEGAL AID AND SHE WAS UNDERSTANDABLY CONFUSED UPSET AND AT A LOSS WHEN SHE WAS ALONE TO FACE THIS SITUATION. ITS EASY TO PICK ON A WOMAN ALONE, A FOREIGNER, AND AT A MOMENT WHEN SHES DISTRAUGHT. MY COLLEAGUE AND I WENT TO SEE HER AT THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL BUT WERE NOT ALLOWED ANY CONTACT; WE SENT A LAWYER WHO WAS NOT ALLOWED CONTACT; i ONLY MANAGED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HER AFTER HER RELEASE (I THINK THEY KNOW NOT TO PUSH TOO HARD ON THE CHARGES THAT SHE IS CRAZY BECAUSE THEY WONT HOLD UP. DITTO FOR THE ACCUSATIONS OF BEING VIOLENT. IN ANTIBES SHE WAS REACTING TO BEING PHYSICALLY MOLESTED BY THE FATHER OF THE FOSTER FAMILY AND A FRIEND OF HIS, AND LEGAL CHARGES HAVE BEEN DROPPED, ALTHOUGH THE BAD IMAGE FROM THE PRESS STICKS TO SEVERINE ANYWAY.)
Does she have a lot of financial resources? NO; HER MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME AT THE MOMENT IS ALLOCATIONS FROM BELGIUM ALTHOUGH SHE HAS A SMALL CAPITAL SHE CAN DRAW ON IF SHE NEEDS TO; sHE PAID HER LAWYER FROM THAT; SHE NOW KNOWS SHE CAN APPLY FOR LEGAL AID BUT I KNOW HER PRESENT LAWYER AND THIS LADY WILL NOT ACCEPT TO WORK FOR LEGAL AID. I BROUGHT SEVERINE TO MY LAWYER YESTERDAY AND HE WILL ACCEPT TO WORK FOR LEGAL AID. ALSO HE STILL HAS HIS INTEGRITY WHICH IS IN SHORT SUPPLY AMONG NICE LAWYERS.
Why do you talk about a threat of adoption when the child is not adoptable? WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT ADOPTION THE JUDGE INFORMED SEVERINE THAT THE FOSTER FAMILY HAS MADE A PETITION TO ADOPT HER SON. WE ALSO WONDER WHY HE WOULD DO SUCH A THING. WE HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS JUDGES ACTIONS AND THESE WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO SEVERINES REPLY TO HIS ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HER.
Why the insistence on an international campaign? BECAUSE THERE WILL NOT BE MEDIA SUPPORT IN FRANCE AND YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN HOW COHESIVE A GROUP FRENCH VEGETARIANS ARE... THE REACTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO SEVERINE WILL BE BETTER IN COUNTRIES LIKE THE UK AND THE USA. ALSO THESE COUNTRIES DO NOT REALIZE HOW MANIPULATED PUBLIC OPINION IS HERE IN REGARD TO VEGETARIANISM; THATS THE FAULT OF THE LOBBIES AND THE POWER THEY WEILD IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THE CONTEXT OF LINGUISTIC ISOLATION. THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO ATTACK ALL THAT. BESIDES WHICH ALTHOUGH UNLIKELY THEORETICALLY IF THIS JUDGE GETS AWAY WITH WHAT HE IS TRYING TO DO THEN IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN IN FRANCE TO CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES VISITING HERE, IF THEY ARE VEGAN AND VISITING WITH SMALL CHILDREN THEY ARE RAISING VEGAN;
Why not a French campaign first? WHY NOT? CAN YOU GET ANYONE IN FRANCE TO SUPPORT SEVERINE, GO DEMONSTRATE FOR HER? NO LARGE ASSOCIATION IN A POSITION TO DO THIS HAS ACCEPTED TO GET INVOLVED; FOR THEIR OWN REASONS. HOWEVER NOT HAVING BEEN BORN YESTERDAY AND HAVING OBSERVED SUCH ASSOCIATIONS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THROUGH SIMILAR CRISES IN THE PAST, I MUST SAY I AM NOT SURPRISED. IM SURE SOME OF THESE WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR EFFORTS TO HELP SEVERINE CRASH SO AS TO JUSTIFY THEIR REFUSAL TO GET INVOLVED; SUCH IS HUMAN NATURE. HOWEVER, I WOULD NOT BE HELPING SEVERINE IF I DID NOT BELIEVE IN SOLIDARITY AND NOT JUST THAT BUT THAT THE JUDGES ACCUSATIONS CAN AND SHOULD BE ANSWERED. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL VEGANS AND VEGETARIANS IN FRANCE. WHO AMONG US COULD NOT BE SINGLED OUT AND BRANDED AND HUMILIATED AND OSTRACIZED BY THE AUTHORITIES IF THEY SET THEIR MINDS TO DOING IT? MY COLLEAGUE AND I ARE HELPING SEVERINE BECAUSE OTHERWISE NO ONE ELSE WILL. WE ARE HELPING HER THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE TO BE HELPED IF IT W ERE US IN THE DOCK AND NOT HER.
Why so few newspaper articles (we've seen the photo of Severine on hunger strike)? DO YOU THINK THE NICE MATIN IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF FREE SPEECH? OF DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS? THEY TOE THE LINE SET BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES LIKE MOST NEWSPAPERS IN FRACE. ALSO, WE ARE JUST TWO PEOPLE HERE HELPING SEVERINE, ON TOP OF ALL THE REST OF OUR BUSY LIVES AND PRIOIRITIES THAT HAVE TO BE MET AT THE SAME TIME; iT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF SOMEONE WOULD GET MARIANNE OR LE CANARD ENCHAINE OR CHARLIE HEBDO INTERESTED IN THIS STORY; BUT THOSE WHO ARE MEDIA SAVVY IN NICE WORK WITH THE BIG INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION WHICH HAS TURNED ITS BACK ON SEVERINE;
Surely a well-timed series of articles in Nice-Matin would have more impact than a group of
"ladies in England".GREAT IDEA; CAN YOU CONVINCE NICE MATIN TO GO ALONG WITH IT?
Who are the ladies in England? I DONT KNOW THEM; I DONT KNOW PERSONALLY ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING TO GET SEVERINES CASE KNOWN OUTSIDE FRANCE; BUT I CAN JUDGE BY THEIR EFFORTS AND THEY HAVE HELPED ALREADY A LOT BECAUSE THE JUDGE WISELY BACKED DOWN ON THE QUESTION OF CONDEMNING A VEGAN DIET FOR SMALL CHILDREN WHICH HE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY PLANNING TO DO; WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS SEVERINE WAS ABLE TO PRESENT AT THE LAST HEARING THE JUDGES NUMBER ONE POINT HAD TO BE ABANDONED AND HE TURNED INSTEAD TO A PERSONAL ASSASSINATION OF SEVERINES CHARACTER. WHY? I HAVE PLENTY OF SPECULATIONS BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO REMAIN SPECULATIONS BECAUSE IT WILL BE HARD TO PROVE ANYTHING; IT WILL HAVE TO BE ENOUGH TO GET ELIE OUT OF THE JAWS OF THESE (PERMIT ME TO SAY IN MY OPINION EVIL) PEOPLE AND BACK WITH HIS MOTHER;
Will the demonstration be in England, or do you expect a group of demonstrators to travel to Nice? I DONT EXPECT ANYTHING; I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY PLANS FOR ANYTHING. I HAD TO DROP OUT OF EVERYTHING FOR A FEW DAYS LAST WEEK DUE TO A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. ONCE AGAIN, I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO CALL FOR ANY DEMONSTRATIONS OR ORGANIZE THEM; IF I CAN HELP SEVERINE WITH THE REPLY TO THE JUDGES ACCUSATIONS (WHILE HER LAWYER IS OFF ON VACATION, TYPICAL NICE LAWYER) THEN THAT WILL ALREADY BE HELPFUL; I CAN WRITE ARTICLES ON HER BEHALF; i CANT DO MUCH MORE; EXCEPT THAT I CAN OBSERVE THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN A POSITION TO DO SOME ORGANIZING IN FRANCE AND TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF VEGANS AND VEGETARIANS USING THIS ISSUE THESE PEOPLE/GROUPS ARE DOING NOTHING AND CLAIMING THAT SEVERINE IS UNDEFENDABLE. WE SHALL SEE. I HOPE EVERYONE WILL DRAW APPROPRIATE CONCLUSIONS FROM THE CASE; IF WE ALL WAITED FOR THE BIG ASSOCIATIONS TO DO THE NECESSARY, WE'D WAIT A LONG TIME TO ADVANCE IN SOCIETY.
If you are planning a demonstration in September, that means you are expecting to lose the appeal? IM NOT PLANNING ANYTHING; I DONT EXPECT TO LOSE THE APPEAL BECAUSE THE MORE ATTENTION DRAWN TO THIS CASE INTERNATIONALLY THE MORE EMBARASSING THIS IS FOR A COUNTRY LIKE FRANCE AND THE MORE PRESSURE WILL BE BROUGHT TO BEAR TO DRAW THIS WHOLE SORRY STORY TO AN END BY RELEASING THIS CHILD TO HIS MOTHER;
Do you understand that an appeal will not be heard by the same judge, and will most probably reverse his decision? YES. IT IS ALREADY ONE MORE QUESTION AMONG SEVERAL QUESTIONS WE WILL RAISE AS TO WHY THE SAME JUDGE HEARD THIS CASE IN TWO SEPARATE HEARINGS; NOT KOSHER; SO WHY?
Does Severine have parents or other relations willing to help her? NO.
Are her friends in Nice supportive?NOT MUCH. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN FRENCH PEOPLE STAND UP TO AUTHORITY IF IT MEANS DOING IT AS INDIVIDUALS? FAT CHANCE. BUT TO BE FAIR IT IS SCARY TO BE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH THE WHOLE FRENCH GOVERNMENT ON YOUR BACK.
etcetera.
As I said in one of my messages to you or left at your blog (I DONT HAVE A BLOG. I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH ALL SOME PEOPLE HAVE DONE TO TRY TO HELP AND PUBLICIZE THE CASE. IM GIVING ALL THE TIME AND ENERGY I CAN TO SEVERINE BUT ITS HARD TO FIND BOTH AND MY COLLEAGUE AND I ARE LIMITED IN WHAT WE AS TWO INDIVIDUALS CAN DO IN THIS SITUATION, one of the members of our association is a professeur de droit. She has said that if you give her the necessary documents she will help you. THIS WILL BE MOST WELDOME BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN WITH SEVERINE AND FINISH HER REPLY TO THE JUDGES ACCUSATIONS; THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO DO THIS WEEKEND; AS HER LAWYER WILL ONLY BE BACK ON JULY 29 CLEARLY SHE DOES NOT INTEND TO DO THIS WORK. THIS ALSO DOES NOT SUPRISE ME KNOWING WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE FAMOUS NICE JUSTICE SYSTEM. ONCE THE REPLY IS DONE AND ONCE SEVERINE HAS DECIDED IF SHE WANTS TO CHANGE LAWYERS THEN WE CAN BRING THIS HELP TO BEAR; THE LAWYER SHE HAS NOW WILL NOT ACCEPT HELP. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IN NICE CASES ARE NOT DECIDED IN THE COURTROOM WHICH IS ONLY CINEMA FOR THE GULLIBLE. SEVERINES CASE IN MY OPINION WILL BE DECIDED ON THE BASIS OF HOW EMBARASSING WE CAN MAKE THE JUDGES STICKING TO HIS ACCUSATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION... LOCAL PUBLIC OPINION WILL NOT BE MOBILIZED AND ANYWAY WOULD NOT EMBARASS ANYONE HERE WHERE THESE JUDGES ARE LITTLE TYRANTS.
What more can I say? Many people have been touched by the story of Severine and Elie. They want to help. But how can they help when they don't have enough facts? They are asking themselves and each other: Does this woman really want our help? Is there something else to this story that we are not party to?
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO HAVE A BIG INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION GET INVOLVED AND MAKE THIS THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY TO FORCE FRENCH AUTHORITIES TO RECOGNIZE THAT VEGANISM IS GOOD FOR EVERYONES HEALTH AS WELL AS FOR THE PLANET BUT THE ONLY ONE ON THE GROUND REFUSED TO GET INVOLVED. I WONT WASTE WORDS TELL ING YOU WHAT I THINK OF THAT. BUT THEIR REFUSAL WILL NOT STOP ME FROM DOING WHAT I CAN IN THE SAME DIRECTION. I WOULD DO IT EVEN IF I DIDNT THINK THE EFFORT COULD SUCCEED BUT I DONT THINK THAT; WITH THE GRASSROOTS SUPPORT THAT SEVERINE HAS BEEN RECEIVING WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED AND AT THE SAME TIME SHOW THAT WE DONT NEED TO WAIT FOR ANY BIG ASSOCIATION (WHICH HAS ITS OWN AGENDA) IN ORDER TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
Well that's it Jane. I hope you are not offended by my frankness. I look forward to hearing from you, especially about the appeal. And please tell Severine that in spite of our doubts, we are thinking of her and little Elie, and hope they will soon be reunited.
CONSIDER IT DONE. KNOWING THAT SHE IS NOT TOALLY ALONE IS HELPING THIS YOUNG WOMAN TO BEAR UP IN EXTREMELY DEMORALIZING AND TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES; THAT, AND HER LOVE FOR HER CHILD. WE THINK THE JUDGE ORIGINALLY MISCALCULATED AND THOUGHT SHE WOULD GIVE UP AND GO AWAY. BUT SHE IS NOT DOING THAT; SHE IS FIGHTING AND CERTAINLY SHE WILL SUCCEED BECAUSE THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HER ARE A HOUSE OF CARDS THAT WE ARE GOING TO KICK DOWN.
As a member of the vegetarien_fr list, I have noticed many messages about Severine. I KNOW THIS LIST FOR HAVING ONCE BRIEFLY TAKEN PART UNTIL I WAS RUN OFF WITH INSULTS AND THREATS; IT IS OWNED LOCK STOCK AND BARREL BY THE ANTI SPECISTS WHICH EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME; NO DISCUSSION ALLOWED THAT DOESN'T FIT IN WITH THEIR PARTY LINE; We have in fact been bombarded with them. However, it's not all to Severine's good. I AM AWARE OF THIS TOO AS I KNOW THAT AT LEAST ONE MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION WHICH IS IN A STRONG POSITION TO STEP IN AND HELP HER WOULD NOT DO IT, CITING CHARGES THE JUDGE HAS ALSO USED TO DISCREDIT HER; WE WILL BE GIVING SEVERINES VERSION OF THESE ACCUSIONS IN THE REPLY TO THE JUDGES DECISION SO IM NOT GOING TO JUMP THE GUN HERE. JUST WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF REPLY TO YOUR QUESTIONS BEFORE MY DAY BEGINS AS I HAVE ALL MY USUAL FULL TIME WORK PLUS MY OWN DOGS PLUS A RESCUE IVE BEEN FOSTERING FOR A WEEK(A YOUNG STAFFIE) PLUS SEVERINE SINCE HER LAWYER HAS GONE OFF ON VACATION AND LEFT HER AND THE APPEAL MUST BE FILED THIS WEEK AND THE JUDGES CHARGES ANSWERED. The information we are given is summary, and begs many questions. Nobody has yet stood up and said "I don't believe a word of it", not even vegetarians like to rock the boat, but there are many murmurings in private.
When I first read about Severine and Elie I was extremely touched: anger, sadness, personal identification. My two children are grown up and live on the other side of the world, but I remember the passionate love I had for them. If someone had taken them away from me, I would have reacted violently.
Some of the questions of ordinary vegans, vegetarians, and other readers of your communications:
Why did Severine pay big money for lawyers when legal aid is available? NOBODY ADVISED HER THERE WAS LEGAL AID AND SHE WAS UNDERSTANDABLY CONFUSED UPSET AND AT A LOSS WHEN SHE WAS ALONE TO FACE THIS SITUATION. ITS EASY TO PICK ON A WOMAN ALONE, A FOREIGNER, AND AT A MOMENT WHEN SHES DISTRAUGHT. MY COLLEAGUE AND I WENT TO SEE HER AT THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL BUT WERE NOT ALLOWED ANY CONTACT; WE SENT A LAWYER WHO WAS NOT ALLOWED CONTACT; i ONLY MANAGED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HER AFTER HER RELEASE (I THINK THEY KNOW NOT TO PUSH TOO HARD ON THE CHARGES THAT SHE IS CRAZY BECAUSE THEY WONT HOLD UP. DITTO FOR THE ACCUSATIONS OF BEING VIOLENT. IN ANTIBES SHE WAS REACTING TO BEING PHYSICALLY MOLESTED BY THE FATHER OF THE FOSTER FAMILY AND A FRIEND OF HIS, AND LEGAL CHARGES HAVE BEEN DROPPED, ALTHOUGH THE BAD IMAGE FROM THE PRESS STICKS TO SEVERINE ANYWAY.)
Does she have a lot of financial resources? NO; HER MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME AT THE MOMENT IS ALLOCATIONS FROM BELGIUM ALTHOUGH SHE HAS A SMALL CAPITAL SHE CAN DRAW ON IF SHE NEEDS TO; sHE PAID HER LAWYER FROM THAT; SHE NOW KNOWS SHE CAN APPLY FOR LEGAL AID BUT I KNOW HER PRESENT LAWYER AND THIS LADY WILL NOT ACCEPT TO WORK FOR LEGAL AID. I BROUGHT SEVERINE TO MY LAWYER YESTERDAY AND HE WILL ACCEPT TO WORK FOR LEGAL AID. ALSO HE STILL HAS HIS INTEGRITY WHICH IS IN SHORT SUPPLY AMONG NICE LAWYERS.
Why do you talk about a threat of adoption when the child is not adoptable? WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT ADOPTION THE JUDGE INFORMED SEVERINE THAT THE FOSTER FAMILY HAS MADE A PETITION TO ADOPT HER SON. WE ALSO WONDER WHY HE WOULD DO SUCH A THING. WE HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS JUDGES ACTIONS AND THESE WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO SEVERINES REPLY TO HIS ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HER.
Why the insistence on an international campaign? BECAUSE THERE WILL NOT BE MEDIA SUPPORT IN FRANCE AND YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN HOW COHESIVE A GROUP FRENCH VEGETARIANS ARE... THE REACTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO SEVERINE WILL BE BETTER IN COUNTRIES LIKE THE UK AND THE USA. ALSO THESE COUNTRIES DO NOT REALIZE HOW MANIPULATED PUBLIC OPINION IS HERE IN REGARD TO VEGETARIANISM; THATS THE FAULT OF THE LOBBIES AND THE POWER THEY WEILD IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THE CONTEXT OF LINGUISTIC ISOLATION. THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO ATTACK ALL THAT. BESIDES WHICH ALTHOUGH UNLIKELY THEORETICALLY IF THIS JUDGE GETS AWAY WITH WHAT HE IS TRYING TO DO THEN IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN IN FRANCE TO CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES VISITING HERE, IF THEY ARE VEGAN AND VISITING WITH SMALL CHILDREN THEY ARE RAISING VEGAN;
Why not a French campaign first? WHY NOT? CAN YOU GET ANYONE IN FRANCE TO SUPPORT SEVERINE, GO DEMONSTRATE FOR HER? NO LARGE ASSOCIATION IN A POSITION TO DO THIS HAS ACCEPTED TO GET INVOLVED; FOR THEIR OWN REASONS. HOWEVER NOT HAVING BEEN BORN YESTERDAY AND HAVING OBSERVED SUCH ASSOCIATIONS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THROUGH SIMILAR CRISES IN THE PAST, I MUST SAY I AM NOT SURPRISED. IM SURE SOME OF THESE WOULD LOVE TO SEE OUR EFFORTS TO HELP SEVERINE CRASH SO AS TO JUSTIFY THEIR REFUSAL TO GET INVOLVED; SUCH IS HUMAN NATURE. HOWEVER, I WOULD NOT BE HELPING SEVERINE IF I DID NOT BELIEVE IN SOLIDARITY AND NOT JUST THAT BUT THAT THE JUDGES ACCUSATIONS CAN AND SHOULD BE ANSWERED. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL VEGANS AND VEGETARIANS IN FRANCE. WHO AMONG US COULD NOT BE SINGLED OUT AND BRANDED AND HUMILIATED AND OSTRACIZED BY THE AUTHORITIES IF THEY SET THEIR MINDS TO DOING IT? MY COLLEAGUE AND I ARE HELPING SEVERINE BECAUSE OTHERWISE NO ONE ELSE WILL. WE ARE HELPING HER THE WAY WE WOULD LIKE TO BE HELPED IF IT W ERE US IN THE DOCK AND NOT HER.
Why so few newspaper articles (we've seen the photo of Severine on hunger strike)? DO YOU THINK THE NICE MATIN IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF FREE SPEECH? OF DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS? THEY TOE THE LINE SET BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES LIKE MOST NEWSPAPERS IN FRACE. ALSO, WE ARE JUST TWO PEOPLE HERE HELPING SEVERINE, ON TOP OF ALL THE REST OF OUR BUSY LIVES AND PRIOIRITIES THAT HAVE TO BE MET AT THE SAME TIME; iT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF SOMEONE WOULD GET MARIANNE OR LE CANARD ENCHAINE OR CHARLIE HEBDO INTERESTED IN THIS STORY; BUT THOSE WHO ARE MEDIA SAVVY IN NICE WORK WITH THE BIG INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION WHICH HAS TURNED ITS BACK ON SEVERINE;
Surely a well-timed series of articles in Nice-Matin would have more impact than a group of
"ladies in England".GREAT IDEA; CAN YOU CONVINCE NICE MATIN TO GO ALONG WITH IT?
Who are the ladies in England? I DONT KNOW THEM; I DONT KNOW PERSONALLY ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING TO GET SEVERINES CASE KNOWN OUTSIDE FRANCE; BUT I CAN JUDGE BY THEIR EFFORTS AND THEY HAVE HELPED ALREADY A LOT BECAUSE THE JUDGE WISELY BACKED DOWN ON THE QUESTION OF CONDEMNING A VEGAN DIET FOR SMALL CHILDREN WHICH HE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY PLANNING TO DO; WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS SEVERINE WAS ABLE TO PRESENT AT THE LAST HEARING THE JUDGES NUMBER ONE POINT HAD TO BE ABANDONED AND HE TURNED INSTEAD TO A PERSONAL ASSASSINATION OF SEVERINES CHARACTER. WHY? I HAVE PLENTY OF SPECULATIONS BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO REMAIN SPECULATIONS BECAUSE IT WILL BE HARD TO PROVE ANYTHING; IT WILL HAVE TO BE ENOUGH TO GET ELIE OUT OF THE JAWS OF THESE (PERMIT ME TO SAY IN MY OPINION EVIL) PEOPLE AND BACK WITH HIS MOTHER;
Will the demonstration be in England, or do you expect a group of demonstrators to travel to Nice? I DONT EXPECT ANYTHING; I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY PLANS FOR ANYTHING. I HAD TO DROP OUT OF EVERYTHING FOR A FEW DAYS LAST WEEK DUE TO A SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. ONCE AGAIN, I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO CALL FOR ANY DEMONSTRATIONS OR ORGANIZE THEM; IF I CAN HELP SEVERINE WITH THE REPLY TO THE JUDGES ACCUSATIONS (WHILE HER LAWYER IS OFF ON VACATION, TYPICAL NICE LAWYER) THEN THAT WILL ALREADY BE HELPFUL; I CAN WRITE ARTICLES ON HER BEHALF; i CANT DO MUCH MORE; EXCEPT THAT I CAN OBSERVE THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN A POSITION TO DO SOME ORGANIZING IN FRANCE AND TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF VEGANS AND VEGETARIANS USING THIS ISSUE THESE PEOPLE/GROUPS ARE DOING NOTHING AND CLAIMING THAT SEVERINE IS UNDEFENDABLE. WE SHALL SEE. I HOPE EVERYONE WILL DRAW APPROPRIATE CONCLUSIONS FROM THE CASE; IF WE ALL WAITED FOR THE BIG ASSOCIATIONS TO DO THE NECESSARY, WE'D WAIT A LONG TIME TO ADVANCE IN SOCIETY.
If you are planning a demonstration in September, that means you are expecting to lose the appeal? IM NOT PLANNING ANYTHING; I DONT EXPECT TO LOSE THE APPEAL BECAUSE THE MORE ATTENTION DRAWN TO THIS CASE INTERNATIONALLY THE MORE EMBARASSING THIS IS FOR A COUNTRY LIKE FRANCE AND THE MORE PRESSURE WILL BE BROUGHT TO BEAR TO DRAW THIS WHOLE SORRY STORY TO AN END BY RELEASING THIS CHILD TO HIS MOTHER;
Do you understand that an appeal will not be heard by the same judge, and will most probably reverse his decision? YES. IT IS ALREADY ONE MORE QUESTION AMONG SEVERAL QUESTIONS WE WILL RAISE AS TO WHY THE SAME JUDGE HEARD THIS CASE IN TWO SEPARATE HEARINGS; NOT KOSHER; SO WHY?
Does Severine have parents or other relations willing to help her? NO.
Are her friends in Nice supportive?NOT MUCH. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN FRENCH PEOPLE STAND UP TO AUTHORITY IF IT MEANS DOING IT AS INDIVIDUALS? FAT CHANCE. BUT TO BE FAIR IT IS SCARY TO BE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH THE WHOLE FRENCH GOVERNMENT ON YOUR BACK.
etcetera.
As I said in one of my messages to you or left at your blog (I DONT HAVE A BLOG. I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH ALL SOME PEOPLE HAVE DONE TO TRY TO HELP AND PUBLICIZE THE CASE. IM GIVING ALL THE TIME AND ENERGY I CAN TO SEVERINE BUT ITS HARD TO FIND BOTH AND MY COLLEAGUE AND I ARE LIMITED IN WHAT WE AS TWO INDIVIDUALS CAN DO IN THIS SITUATION, one of the members of our association is a professeur de droit. She has said that if you give her the necessary documents she will help you. THIS WILL BE MOST WELDOME BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN WITH SEVERINE AND FINISH HER REPLY TO THE JUDGES ACCUSATIONS; THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO DO THIS WEEKEND; AS HER LAWYER WILL ONLY BE BACK ON JULY 29 CLEARLY SHE DOES NOT INTEND TO DO THIS WORK. THIS ALSO DOES NOT SUPRISE ME KNOWING WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THE FAMOUS NICE JUSTICE SYSTEM. ONCE THE REPLY IS DONE AND ONCE SEVERINE HAS DECIDED IF SHE WANTS TO CHANGE LAWYERS THEN WE CAN BRING THIS HELP TO BEAR; THE LAWYER SHE HAS NOW WILL NOT ACCEPT HELP. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IN NICE CASES ARE NOT DECIDED IN THE COURTROOM WHICH IS ONLY CINEMA FOR THE GULLIBLE. SEVERINES CASE IN MY OPINION WILL BE DECIDED ON THE BASIS OF HOW EMBARASSING WE CAN MAKE THE JUDGES STICKING TO HIS ACCUSATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION... LOCAL PUBLIC OPINION WILL NOT BE MOBILIZED AND ANYWAY WOULD NOT EMBARASS ANYONE HERE WHERE THESE JUDGES ARE LITTLE TYRANTS.
What more can I say? Many people have been touched by the story of Severine and Elie. They want to help. But how can they help when they don't have enough facts? They are asking themselves and each other: Does this woman really want our help? Is there something else to this story that we are not party to?
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO HAVE A BIG INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION GET INVOLVED AND MAKE THIS THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY TO FORCE FRENCH AUTHORITIES TO RECOGNIZE THAT VEGANISM IS GOOD FOR EVERYONES HEALTH AS WELL AS FOR THE PLANET BUT THE ONLY ONE ON THE GROUND REFUSED TO GET INVOLVED. I WONT WASTE WORDS TELL ING YOU WHAT I THINK OF THAT. BUT THEIR REFUSAL WILL NOT STOP ME FROM DOING WHAT I CAN IN THE SAME DIRECTION. I WOULD DO IT EVEN IF I DIDNT THINK THE EFFORT COULD SUCCEED BUT I DONT THINK THAT; WITH THE GRASSROOTS SUPPORT THAT SEVERINE HAS BEEN RECEIVING WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED AND AT THE SAME TIME SHOW THAT WE DONT NEED TO WAIT FOR ANY BIG ASSOCIATION (WHICH HAS ITS OWN AGENDA) IN ORDER TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
Well that's it Jane. I hope you are not offended by my frankness. I look forward to hearing from you, especially about the appeal. And please tell Severine that in spite of our doubts, we are thinking of her and little Elie, and hope they will soon be reunited.
CONSIDER IT DONE. KNOWING THAT SHE IS NOT TOALLY ALONE IS HELPING THIS YOUNG WOMAN TO BEAR UP IN EXTREMELY DEMORALIZING AND TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES; THAT, AND HER LOVE FOR HER CHILD. WE THINK THE JUDGE ORIGINALLY MISCALCULATED AND THOUGHT SHE WOULD GIVE UP AND GO AWAY. BUT SHE IS NOT DOING THAT; SHE IS FIGHTING AND CERTAINLY SHE WILL SUCCEED BECAUSE THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HER ARE A HOUSE OF CARDS THAT WE ARE GOING TO KICK DOWN.
IVE TAKEN THIS TIME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE SINCERE AND THAT THESE ARE QUESTIONS MANY PEOPLE MUST BE ASKING. NOW THE LITTLE TIME I HAVE LEFT THIS WEEKEND OUTSIDE MY OWN RESPONSIBILITIES WILL HAVE TO GO TO GETTING DOWN ON PAPER SEVERINES ANSWER TO THE JUDGES ACCUSATIONS. SO DONT BE DISMAYED IF YOU DONT HEAR FROM ME FOR A WHILE. THERE HAVE BEEN DAYS THIS LAST WEEK I DID NOT EVEN TURN MY COMPUTER ON, AS THERE WAS NO TIME.
YOU MAY SHARE THIS MESSAGE WITH ANYONE AND EVERYONE.
BEST WISHES
GUENADY
Publicité