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　　Unrest continues in France as the government debates a reform to France's retirement¹ system that has sparked more than a week of action targeting transport. Demonstrators blocked access to Marseille airport and continue to block fuel depots² halting gas supplies.
在法国政府就退休制度改革展开辩论的同时，法国各地罢工浪潮导致的骚乱仍在继续。一个多星期来，反对退休制度改革的罢工工人把目标对准交通系统。示威者封锁了通往马赛机场的道路，并继续封锁油库，导致汽油供应中断。
Government plan
France's Labor³ minister, Eric Woerth spelled out the financial benefits of the government's retirement reform program to the Senate. He outlined the billions of Euros that will be saved, saying that is essential in today's economy to address France's deficit⁴.
法国劳工部长沃尔斯向参议院阐明了政府退休改革方案在财政方面的好处。他表示，这项改革将节省数十亿欧元，这对解决法国经济目前面临的财政赤字问题至关重要。
The proposal to raise the retirement age by two years, to 62, has sparked mass protests, including a day of demonstrations⁵ last Tuesday that brought at least a million people onto the streets, the unions that called the strikes claim 3.5 million demonstrated. Another day of mass action could come next week.
法国政府的提案将法定退休年龄提升两年至62岁。这一计划引发大规模抗议活动，包括这个星期二长达一天的示威游行。这次全国范围的抗议至少有一百万民众走上街头。号召罢工的工会则称，有350万人参加了这次示威。下个星期可能还会发生大规模的抗议活动。
Helene Puyrigaud has been protesting with others, outside the French Senate, which is debating the law. She says every day the demonstrations will continue until they have won.
海伦·普瑞戈同其他人一起在法国参议院外参加抗议活动。参议院正在就退休改革的立法进行辩论。普瑞戈说，他们会将示威活动进行到底，直到胜利的那天。
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has appealed for calm as some protests have turned violent.
法国总统萨科齐呼吁民众保持冷静，因为一些抗议者将示威活动演变为暴力骚乱。
Fuel shortage
Nearly a quarter of French gas stations are without fuel because of the blockade of refineries⁶ and fuel depots, and there has been some panic buying. Pressure is increasing to get the gas supplies back to normal before Friday, which marks the start of school breaks when many French travel.
由于炼油厂和油库被封锁，法国已经有将近四分之一的加油站发生供油短缺，导致一些民众进行恐慌性抢购。在周五前恢复汽油正常供应的压力正不断增加，因为从那天起，法国学校将开始休假，许多法国民众将赴各地度假旅游。
Analysts⁷ say the protests are about more than just retirement reform, and reflect the public's discontent with the president. Polls show Mr. Sarkozy's popularity at an all-time low a year and a half before elections.
分析人士认为，这些抗议活动不仅仅是针对退休制度改革的，也反映了民众对总统萨科齐的不满。民调显示，萨科齐的支持率已经下滑到他上任以来的最低水平，而目前距离下次大选只有一年半的时间了。
Pop singer Lady Gaga cancelled her weekend concerts in Paris, over concerns that trucks carrying stage equipment and other necessities may not be able to reach the concert venue⁸.