The siege (red tents)

Porte de la République
In conjunction with the large demonstration that took place on Thursday, an action in favour of the homeless was organised by The children of Don Quixote. This French NGO made a breakthrough during the winter of 2006 by distributing red tents to the homeless people of Paris and organising them to camp as a group along the banks of Canal Saint Martin. They also invited ordinary citizens to come and stay in one of those tents for a night or more so they could experience life in the streets for themselves and also express their solidarity with the homeless.
The homeless are usually an "invisible" part of society: This very visually striking action effectively helped both the public and the authorities recognise their massive numbers and the urgent need to address the problem. Today the organisation's red tents, now a well known symbol in France, are a harsh reminder that with the economic crisis the situation, far from improving, is getting worse. The question resonates deeply in the nation's psyche: a poll conducted in December 2008 for French TV channel France2 revealed that 60% of the French feared they might become homeless one day.
My top photo is the organisation's distinctive logo (Don Quixote on his horse followed by his faithful servant Sancho Panza on his donkey) - a sticker on their bus window with the ramparts of Avignon in reflection.
En conjonction avec la manifestation de jeudi dernier, l'association Les enfants de Don Quichotte est venue planter ses célèbres tentes rouges au pied des remparts d'Avignon. Depuis son premier campement citoyen durant l'hiver 2006 le long du canal Saint Martin, cette association n'a jamais cessé de défendre activement la cause des sans-abri. Malheureusement depuis deux ans la situation ne s'est pas améliorée : les pouvoirs publics n'ont guère fait progresser les choses et la crise économique vient encore aggraver la précarité. Selon un sondage effectué en décembre 2008 pour le journal télévisé de France 2, 60% des français ont peur de se retrouver un jour SDF. Plus que jamais la cause des sans-abris et des mal-logés reste d'actualité.
Ma photo du haut est le logo de l'association (Don Quichotte sur son cheval suivi de son fidèle Sancho Panza sur son âne) - un autocollant sur la vitre de leur bus, où se reflètent les remparts d'Avignon.