Posted on 08/31/2005 9:52:12 AM PDT by ScaniaBoy
French president Jacques Chirac yesterday pledged to help fund a new European internet search engine to rival Google and Yahoo as he railed against what he sees as the threat of Anglo-Saxon cultural imperialism.
In a speech in Reims, Mr Chirac said: "We're engaged in a global competition for technological supremacy. In France, in Europe, it's our power that's at stake."
Mr Chirac's intention is to provide forgivable loans to a Franco-German "multimedia search engine for the internet" being developed by French group Thomson and Deutsche Telekom.
The plans reflect Mr Chirac's often-expressed concern about the omnipresence of US culture in French society. The government is already pushing to create an online digital library to rival one planned by Google.
Dubbed "Project Quaero", from the Latin word meaning "to seek", the programme will be fleshed out in more detail next month.
Serge Travert, who is leading the project for Thomson, admitted the new search engine was developed "in part" to combat the dominance of US companies in the internet arena. He said the new service would not be built from scratch, but would build on "science and technology that already exists in France and Germany". Much of the content is expected to be European.
"Culture is not merchandise and it cannot be left to the blind forces of the market," Mr Chirac said in a speech earlier this year giving the go-ahead for work to begin on a digital library of European literature. "We must staunchly defend the world's diversity of cultures against the looming threat of uniformity."
Mr Chirac's words have found favour with French intellectuals who are wary of the impact on French culture of Anglo-Saxon ways in general and the English language in particular.
Although Project Quaero does not yet have a formal budget, it will be financed by the companies involved and by European governments, Mr Travert said. Some of that money will come from the €2billion (£1.4billion) Agency for Industrial Innovation launched by Mr Chirac yesterday.
"It's time to go on the offensive," said Mr Chirac as he urged business leaders to keep their high-tech industries based in France to prevent job losses.
His comment come a day after industry minister François Loos sparked controversy by claiming there was a list of French industries that should be protected from foreign takeovers.
HAHAHAHAHah.... omg......
LMFAO!!! FROGGLE!!! Priceless....and I wonder what Chirac in his state of desperation to stay in power, would have FROGGLE search for?? The names of the world's arms dealers? All of his middle-east buddies? Their own email system so they can all communicate with their friend, Saddam?
FROGGLE! Just priceless.
French president Jacques Chirac yesterday pledged to help fund a new European internet search engine to rival Google and Yahoo as he railed against what he sees as the threat of Anglo-Saxon cultural imperialism.
I spit coke all over my keyboard. What a moronic statement. Does anyone in France even listen to this De Gaullist clown anymore? I thought the EU vote would of told Chirac what the people think of his opinions.
No you're not.
Other nations are though.
How many hits can you possibly get for stinky cheese and surrendering?
There is no such thing. There is only the free market. If you don't like American stuff, don't buy them! Nobody is forcing you to!
Wonderful!
Too bad we invented the transistor, the computer, the internet and tang.
The only thing they are engaged in a global competition with is to see what western nation will be declared an islamic republic first.
It seems France is always in a battle for supremacy. It's the reason Europe is always plagued with unrest. Maybe France should just quit trying to be the supreme commander of Europe and just try to get along with everyone else for a change. Besides, in every battle for "supremacy" France always ends up surrendering anyways.
they fear an open-market that isn't subsidized. Thats why the french taxpayers and businesses have to subsidize this moronic project so the french elite can have something to brag about.
Just like that rediculous Airbus A380 plane that will never turn a profit and cost EU tax payers billions.
Dear god, Chirac is a clown.
Hey chiac! Stop smoking the pot!
Google already has a "Froogle" service (a shopping service). But "Froggle", that is clearly French.
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