Translating the printemps érable
If you would like to volunteer and join the effort, please contact us at the above email before embarking on any translation work, in order to avoid any redundancies. We cannot accept translations that have not been cleared with us first.
-----------------------
For more useful English-language sources on the conflict, see:
CUTV - broadcasting live from the protests nightly
Rouge Squad - Tactical Translation Team
Rabble.ca's Maple Spring Coverage
Marie Vaillancourt August 2, 2012
Original French Text: http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/elections-2012/356034/participer-a-la-reelection-du-gouvernement-charest
In my opinion, the re-election of Charest’s government would be a tragedy. Even without a majority. We would still be left with the fact that Quebeckers chose this government and endorse its politics. A re-election of the Liberal Party would mean going ahead with the Plan Nord, disregarding the environment, and acquiescing to smokescreens, misinformation and false concern for Quebec’s nation and language.
The re-election of the Liberal Party would probably mean perfecting a system that protects a privileged group of friends with mutual vested interests. The re-election of the Liberal Party would mean, among other things, giving this government another four years to develop shale gas operations, ruin Anticosti Island, make a mockery of students, and steer universities to serve the economic machine.
Personally, the idea of re-electing Jean Charest disgusts me, and I think the priority has to be getting rid of this government and choosing between the “lesser of two evils,” as the saying goes.
This party has mismanaged the country for too long. They are aware of their unpopularity and counting on a divided vote to stay in power. One has to admit it’s an excellent strategy, especially since most people aren’t seeing the forest for the trees.
For me, “voting by my convictions” means getting rid of this government as soon as possible and conveying our disgust for its values and politics. I could never forgive myself for contributing to this government’s re-election by choosing to be a purist. This time, more than ever, we have to think collectively.
***
Translated from the original French by Translating the printemps érable.
*Translating the printemps érable is a volunteer collective attempting to balance the English media’s extremely poor coverage of the student conflict in Québec by translating media that has been published in French into English. These are amateur translations; we have done our best to translate these pieces fairly and coherently, but the final texts may still leave something to be desired. If you find any important errors in any of these texts, we would be very grateful if you would share them with us at translatingtheprintempsderable@gmail.com. Please read and distribute these texts in the spirit in which they were intended; that of solidarity and the sharing of information.
