“Good year !” On the night of Friday December 31 to Saturday January 1, you will surely sing these same two prophetic words once again. But after a still tumultuous year 2021 in health, economic and environmental terms, it is not easy to find a glimmer of hope in the new vintage that is coming. So, at franceinfo, we set out to find 22 good news for the year 2022. The task was not easy, and some of the events on the list may not please you, but you can always draw some some to spend New Years Eve with a smile.
1Full coverage of contraception for women up to 25 years of age
An important step forward for women. From January 1, 2022, free contraception will be extended to women aged 18 to 25. Health insurance will cover 100% and via the third party paying the costs necessary for contraception: one consultation per year with a doctor or midwife, the resulting biological examinations, as well as contraceptives, including some pills. contraceptives, contraceptive implants, IUDs, diaphragms and hormonal emergency contraception. Three million young women are potentially affected by this measure.
2400 years of Molière
That you are rather Tartuffe Where Imaginary sick, this year 2022 will be the occasion to reread, or to review, the greatest pieces written by Molière. And for good reason, France is celebrating the 400th anniversary of the birth of actor and playwright, January 15, 2022. Performances are scheduled throughout the year. An entire season is even dedicated to him in his theater house, the Comédie-Française, in Paris, with its largest plays. Molière will also be in the spotlight at the Palace of Versailles, during the night festivals in Grignan (Drôme) or at the cinema throughout France.
3A year with two total lunar eclipses
Astronomy enthusiasts will be delighted! During the year 2022, not one but two total lunar eclipses will darken the sky. This phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes entirely in the shadow of the Earth. The first eclipse is scheduled for May 16, 2022. Well, you will have to get up early (or go to bed late) to see it, but if you live in France, you will be in a good position to observe it, specifies Numerama. For the second total eclipse, we will have to wait until November 8 and be in Asia, Oceania or America to observe it correctly. Unless the weather decides otherwise …
4Free toilets in stations for travelers
A pressing desire before taking your train? In 2022, station toilets will become free for travelers with a ticket. Currently, you often have to spend a euro to access the little corner … or hold back until you get on the train. It must be said that for several years, the SNCF has subcontracted the operation of station toilets to a private company. Access to the toilets will remain chargeable for people without tickets.
5Stromae’s return to the stage after six years of silence
Then we dance ! In 2022, Stromae returns to concert after long years of silence. And it’s an understatement to say that his fans are impatiently waiting for him! The last album of the Belgian singer, Square root, dates back to 2013. As an appetizer, Stromae released a first tube, Health, in October 2021. The tour will begin in Brussels on February 22, 2022, then the artist will perform in Europe all summer.
6The end of live castration of piglets and crushing of male chicks in France
This is a measure eagerly awaited by animal protection associations. On January 1, 2022, the ban on the live castration of piglets and the crushing and gassing of male chicks comes into force in France. Only the technique known as in ovo sexing remains authorized, which makes it possible to determine the sex of the chick embryo inside the egg itself.
7The meeting, in front of the camera of Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro
Three giants of the seventh art in a single film. This is the promise of Killers of the Flower Moon, the next film directed by Martin Scorsese with, for the first time, his two favorite actors together on the same poster: Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. The highly anticipated film is an adaptation of the eponymous book by David Grann based on an FBI investigation after the murder of natives of the Osage community in Oklahoma state in the 1920s.
8Automatic payment of support to parents
The fight against unpaid alimony will take a giant step forward in 2022. From March 1, their payment will gradually become automatic, via the Alimony Recovery and Intermediation Agency (Aripa). This intermediary will thus allow the divorced parent to have the guarantee of receiving the sum due to him. It must be said that the situation has become very problematic: 30%, or nearly a third, of alimony is not paid, or paid irregularly, according to the government.
9The French biathlon team at the rendezvous of the Olympic Games
Martin Fourcade is no longer there, but the French biathletes promise us a great show. In February, the French women’s and men’s biathlon teams will be at the Beijing Winter Olympics. There are many hopes for medals: Emilien Jacquelin, Quentin Fillon Maillet, Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet or even Julia Simon. In short, suspense guaranteed against the Norwegians and medals in sight!
10The role of women in art in the spotlight at the Musée du Luxembourg
Women artists are (still) very rare in large museums. They represent, on average, only about 20% of the permanent collections of these establishments, according to The Parisian (article for subscribers). This will change (a little) in 2022. The Musée du Luxembourg, in Paris, will inaugurate, on March 2, the great exhibition “Pioneers. Artists of a new genre in the Paris of the Roaring Twenties”. The goal? Highlight the primordial role of women in the development of the great artistic movements of modernity. It was time !
11The end of plastic packaging for many fruits and vegetables
No more cucumbers and apples sweating under a layer of cellophane! As of January 1, many unprocessed fresh fruits and vegetables can no longer be sold in plastic in France. Your supermarket will thus reduce (a little) its impact on the environment, even if a tolerance has been voted until 2026 for the most fragile foods, such as red fruits.
12The adaptation of “Lord of the Rings” in series
The fantastic saga of JRR Tolkien will know a new adaptation. On September 2, 2022, Amazon Prime Video will air the first season of the series The Lord of the Rings. Always located on Middle-earth and featuring some emblematic characters from the saga, the series will start with new adventures taking place “in a period of relative peace, thousands of years before the events of the books The Hobbit“, Amazon Studios announced. Guaranteed success.
13The possibility of definitively opposing the canvassing by telephone
Are you tired of receiving constant phone calls from companies? In 2022, it will finally be possible to oppose these appeals definitively. Indeed, a decree published on November 26, 2021 provides that “registration on the list of opposition to canvassing is tacitly renewable” from January 1, 2022. There is therefore no longer any question of renewal every three years. To take advantage of this service, all you have to do is register for free on the Bloctel platform.
14Celine Dion concerts in France
“I’ll go wherever you will go”… French Celine Dion fans will simply have to go to Paris to enjoy a concert of their idol in 2022. After the postponement of all her dates scheduled in France, the Canadian singer must make her comeback in the french capital in September 2022, with no less than six dates in a row at Paris La Défense Arena.
15Extension of the Culture pass to those under 18
A helping hand for teenagers. From January 1, the culture pass is extended to young people under 18 who request it. In details, a young person in college will receive 25 euros per year from the age of 13, then 50 euros per year during his high school years and 300 euros when he is 18; a total of 500 euros, to be spent on cultural activities or goods.
16Automatic access to complementary health insurance for RSA recipients
Better health coverage for beneficiaries of minimum social benefits. From January 1, the complementary solidarity health will be automatically allocated and paid to beneficiaries of the RSA, in order to facilitate access and avoid non-recourse. The allocation of this supplement will also be “facilitated” for recipients of the Solidarity Allowance for the Elderly (Aspa) or “minimum old age”.
17Harry Potter 20 years celebrated by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are back! For the 20th anniversary of the cinematographic saga adapted from the work of JK Rowling, HBO Max invited all its actors during a major special, broadcast on January 1 on the American channel. On the program of this episode called “Harry Potter, the 20th anniversary: return to Hogwarts”, a lot of memories and some anecdotes of the shooting.
18The creation of new protected areas to conserve biodiversity in France
A little respite for the flora and fauna. France will protect new land and marine areas in 2022 in order to conserve biodiversity. In total, 30% of French territory should be protected in this way at the end of the year, according to the government’s action plan. (PDF). The Scattered Islands, in the Indian Ocean, must therefore see their protection completed in 2022.
19The opening of the Tour de France to women
After twelve years of absence, the Tour de France Women is back. This new version will start from the Eiffel Tower on Sunday July 24, on horseback with the arrival of the men on the Champs-Elysées, and will extend over eight stages until July 31, without a day of rest. A total of 1,029 kilometers of racing for the 22 teams of six riders. With a Frenchwoman in a yellow jersey?
20Batman returns to the movies
Bruce Wayne pulls on his black tights. The film The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves, is due out on March 2 in France. On the bill: Robert Pattinson in the lead role and Zoë Kravitz in the role of Catwoman. The people of Gotham (and fans of the superhero) are now just waiting to know the exact date of his return.
21The prospect of a bridge around Thursday July 14 and an extended weekend thanks to Monday August 15
Beautiful long weekends in sight! If the year 2022 will not offer you extending bridges at the beginning of May (May 1 and 8 fall on Sundays), you will have better luck during the summer. Indeed, if you do not work on weekends, all you need to do is take one day off, Friday July 15, to take advantage of four days off, and Monday August 15, public holiday, will give you a weekend of three days.
22The designation of Villeurbanne as the first French capital of culture
They were nine finalist cities, but it is ultimately Villeurbanne, in the Rhône, which will become the first French capital of culture from January 1. This new label distinguishes, every two years, the cultural project of a municipality or a group of municipalities with 20,000 to 200,000 inhabitants. At stake: funding of one million euros to promote art in the city.