You may have read about the burning of 1147 cars that took place in the Paris suburbs this past New Years Eve. This figure is higher than last year (878 cars), and significantly higher than in previous years (between 2002 and 2006, the number of cars burned each holiday remained steady between 325 and 425 per year).
What is the explanation for this alarming phenomenon - Urban violence? A somewhat extreme means by which thieves can eliminate police evidence like fingerprints or DNA? Another, more nefarious cause of the fires has also been proposed: that of insurance fraud.
It is estimated that of the 1147 burnings that took place this holiday, between 20 and 30% were instigated by car owners hoping to recoup up to 4,000 euros of indemnity. Following a regulation made this past October, the French Government is required to provide such compensation to non-insured car owners with salaries under 2,000 euros who are victims of car burning. What with the financial crisis and all, this may have appeared to some as too good an opportunity to pass-up.
On a lighter note, Europe shows it's ecological-friendly superiority to the United States with a city-wide Christmas Tree Recycling Program. Throughout the month of January, the mayor of Paris is collecting trees from people's homes through drop-off sites located in 95 of the city's gardens and parks. Rather than burn your tree in the apartment complex incinerator, or abandon it on the sidewalk, contribute to the fertility of the Paris park system by donating your sapin to be turned into mulch! Last year, 15,000 trees were recycled through the program.
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