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In France, the strict measures to limit COVID‑19 contagion risks have dramatically increased “the loneliness of the dying” (Norbert Elias). These measures have also had severe repercussions on funeral rituals. This article uses philosophical anthropology to reflect on the events of 2020-2021, based on contemporary literature in medicine and sociology. It discusses the need to find meaning in deaths suffered during the epidemic. It suggests a parallel between the current organization of commemorative events for epidemic victims and the aftermath of mass death during wars; both are meant to compensate for survivors' trauma. Shouldn't the true meaning of the pandemic be to analyze these processes rather than celebrating a collective confrontation with a virus?

Keywords: épidémies, champ d'honneur, contagion, martyre, accompagnement des mourants, rituels funéraires, epidemics, field of honour, contagion, martyrdom, care for the dying, funeral rituals, epidemia, campo de honor, contagio, martirio, acompañar al moribundo, rituales funerarios

AbstractThe peasants of north Cameroon are anxious about the beginning of the privatization of SODECOTON and the drop in cotton revenues. The Agricultural Institute of Research for Development, in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Research and Development of the Savannah in Central Africa, conducted a study (2002) to assess the perception of peasants concerning the constraints of the cotton sector and to identify their strategies as regards those constraints. This study is based on the farmers' declarations and on a discussion workshop with the players in this sector. The results show that cotton is cultivated by the majority of peasants in north Cameroon. This product is practically impossible to circumvent. But the peasants appear unequally equipped to face the impending changes. Two groups may be distinguished: the first group is in a precarious situation and has adopted essentially “defensive” strategies of risk limitation. The second group is in a situation of development and capitalization and has chosen “offensive” strategies. The peasants also have established collective strategies through producer organizations. Discussions with the players have made it possible to identify organizational problems in the cotton sector upon which researchers and developers in this sector must focus.

Keywords: Mutations, coton, stratégies, exploitants agricoles, Cameroun, Mutations, cotton, strategies, farmers, Cameroon

The author exposes first of all the results of the study of the earth's relief in the world, with respect to planetary, structural, and climatic geomorphology, geomorphological cartography, applied geomorphology, and the theory of geomorphology, considering that the basis of such study is still today W. M. Davis's theory. The latter must be understood in a broad sense, as a theory of the peneplain, which is created as a result of the superimposition and juxtaposition of several Systems of land formation (riverine, coastal, semi-arid, arid system, etc.), as a theory of the progressive flattening, in time and space, of the earth's relief.The peneplanation process corresponds generally with the stage of glyptogenesis, or with the stage of geostructural evolution of platforms, of « cratinisation » of the earth's crust. The classification of peneplains into three categories: fossil, current, and fragmented! (regenerated) is followed with examples from Rumania (Figure 2) and from the world (Figure 3).

Regional planning is an important item of government policy in France, and the rural land management of the Landes in the Aquitaine region offers a good example. The factors which instigated this planning operation were the constant rate of decrease in the areas under forest and of agricultural land, the decline in economic activity in an area where the natural environment is not very favourable and the exodus of the population. Numerous measures have been taken to improve the level of the economy in this region. In 1965, la Compagnie d'aménagement des Landes de Gascogne was established; its main objective is to protect the forest from destruction by creating enclaves of subsistence agriculture, which serve as fire breaks and at the same time reactivate the economy. La Compagnie d'aménagement des Landes de Gascogne aims there fore at stabilizing the region once again by setting up new activities. The arable land has been re-divided and transport, drainage and irrigation equipment, capable of attracting labour, is being installed. The planning organization has partially attained the goals that were set. The area of forest devastated by fire has been reduced more and more, and agricultural returns are higher. On a long term basis, the application of this plan of land management in the rural areas of Aquitaine is proving a success.

The evolution of means of transport in the Hundred Islands of lake Saint-Peter has led to the permanent opening of this insular world and to an increased dependency on the surrounding more developed regions. The original means of transports within the islands were primarily developed for the needs of the residents and were therefore in close harmony with the local agricultural activities. The residential areas were, on the one hand, linked to each other by a network of roads and barge crossings and, on the other hand, with the agricultural areas by a complex network of land and water communications. However, in 1938 a network of bridges was constructed linking the northern islands to the left shore of the Saint-Lawrence thus ensuring a better link between Berthier and Sorel ; a new residential axis was thus formed on the islands. While the agricultural activities began dwindiing in the islands, the communication function of the new axis was prospering, this being linked to the remarkable growth of ferry traffic between Sorel and the island of Saint-Ignace. However, this growth was seriously checked, and traffic actually dropped when, in 1967, a new bridge was built across the Saint-Lawrence at Three Rivers and a tunnel was dug under the river, east of Montréal. The construction of another bridge spanning the entire group of islands and facilitating the development of the tourist industry has been considered. This must be seriously questioned for it would surely lead to an accelerated erosion of the major picturesque, cultural and even economic characteristics of the original milieu represented by the Hundred Islands.

Keywords: Géographie culturelle, langue, transports, aménagement, Les Cent-îles du lac Saint-Pierre, fleuve Saint-Laurent, Province de Québec, Cultural geography, language, communications, planning, The Hundred Islands of lake Saint-Peter, Saint-Lawrence River, Province of Quebec

The Power Contract signed in 1969 between Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limited and Hydro-Québec was the result of protracted negotiations between the parties which lasted six years. It became the cornerstone of a complex financial arrangement to secure a loan which was at the time the largest private placement effected in the United States of America to provide the funds required for the construction of the Churchill Falls Plant terminated in 1976 at a cost of approximately a billion dollars. This long term contract which had led Premier Smallwood to exclaim : « Glory Hallelujah » when he had heard that the deal had been agreed upon started to be looked at in much a different light by Newfoundland following the rise in the cost of energy resulting from the increases in the price of oil demanded by OPEC. It became the nub of several Court cases instituted in the Newfoundland and Québec Courts. This article is in substance the text of a conference given by the author to the lawyers and notaries of the Ministry of Justice of Québec during the Fall of 1981. It outlines the historical events which led to the negotiations and the signing of a Letter of Intent in 1966 followed by the Power Contract in 1969 and details the events leading to the institution in September 1976 of an action before the Supreme Court of Newfoundland by the Attorney General of that province against CFLCo and Hydro-Québec for a declaration that 800 megawatts of power from Churchill Falls may be recalled, to the institution by Hydro-Québec of a declaratory action in the Québec Courts against CFLCo and the other interested parties, including the Attorney General of Newfoundland, to have certain clauses of the Power Contract interpreted and finally to the adoption in 1980 by the Newfoundland Legislature of The Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act and its reference to the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland to rule on its constitutional validity.