You’ve likely seen the images of violent protests in France and Argentina over the last week. But do you know what’s happening?

What’s going on in FRANCE?
Almost two weeks ago two teenage boys of North-African descent died from electrocution while hiding from police they apparently thought were chasing them. The deaths triggered fiery riots across the country in neighborhoods and major cities with large, poor immigrant populations – many of whom are Muslims of African and Arab descent – where tensions simmer from high unemployment numbers and overall neglect. Among other things, more than 1,000 cars have been set on fire and one person was beaten to death.

Why are tensions high?
Much of the unrest comes from second and third-generation immigrant teenagers who, unlike their parents and grandparents, don’t care to downplay their religion. These sentiments are happening at a time when it’s illegal for students to wear Islamic head scarves at school. And prospects for escaping poverty seems slim -- within these poorer suburbs, unemployment at some estimates is as high as 60 percent. Further, in some of the Muslim and lower-income communities, police identification checks are apparently not uncommon. About five million Muslims live in France, making Islam the second largest religion in the country.
> Read the latest news on the riots

What was all the rioting about in ARGENTINA?
A continent away from France, Argentina saw two days of riots as President Bush joined leaders from 34 countries in the Americas to discuss a free trade zone, specifically the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). FTAA is a U.S.-led plan to encourage easier trade among countries stretching from Canada down into South America. Major anti-U.S. and anti-Bush protests ensued last Friday and Saturday in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, including one led by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for an estimated 25,000 people. Five countries – Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay and Paraguay – rejected the plan for various reasons. Brazil, South America’s largest economy, wants the U.S. and Europe to cut subsidies to farmers to create a fair playing field for its own farmers. (Farm subsidies might enable U.S. or European farmers to sell goods in Latin America more cheaply than say the Brazilians in a free trade arena.) The meeting ended without completing a deal.

What is “free trade” anyway?
Free trade makes it easier for foreign countries to export goods and services into other countries by eliminating tariffs (taxes), trade quotas, and subsidies for local producers of competitive goods while also opening the borders for capital and labor to move freely back and forth. You’ve probably heard of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which is meant to promote easier trade between Canada, Mexico and the United States. Countries may fear open trade borders if they think foreign products could undercut prices and harm local producers. But free trade introduces competition and may help people save money, in turn helping the economy.

So what’s next?
Watch for FTAA to be a hot topic at next month's Word Trade Organization meeting in Hong Kong, where there will surely be plenty of protestors. The WTO promotes international trade and one of the key points of conversation -- and key to pushing through FTAA -- will be whether Europe will cut its farm subsidies. If so, President Bush says so will the United States.

As for France, the government is allowing local governments to impose curfews, with hope this will curb the violence. It’s likely that France will soon have to address a large portion of its population that clearly feels marginalized.