Eclipse glasses shortage a 'fiasco,' says French Ecologists leader

Marine Tondelier, the leader of the Ecologists party and a presidential candidate, has strongly criticized the government's handling of protective eyewear for the upcoming solar eclipse, labeling it a public health "fiasco." Tondelier expressed dismay at the nation's apparent inability to anticipate and ensure widespread access to the essential glasses needed for safe eclipse viewing.

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What is happening in our country that public health has been so relegated to the background? For us not to know how to anticipate, to the point of not guaranteeing everyone access to the protective glasses essential for observing a solar eclipse safely?

"What is happening in our country that public health has been so relegated to the background?" Tondelier questioned in a post on X. She lamented that the event, which could have been a "great collective moment that marks a generation," like the 1999 eclipse, is instead characterized by "unpreparedness" and a "gap between those who managed to get glasses and the others." She further described this as highly symbolic of the current administration's focus on "injustice" and warned of potential "irreversible consequences."

Recalling the 1999 solar eclipse, Tondelier noted that over 30 million pairs of certified glasses were distributed as part of a large information campaign. Subsequent studies identified 147 cases of retinal damage among the population. In contrast, current reports indicate that while protective glasses are available for purchase from retailers, they are frequently out of stock, leaving many unable to acquire them.

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That's what will remain: the unpreparedness, the gap between those who were able to get glasses and the others (very symbolic of this five-year term of injustice, by the way), and irreversible damage... What a fiasco!

Nathalie Arthaud, another presidential candidate representing Lutte Ouvrière, echoed Tondelier's concerns. She pointed out the stark difference between the free and widespread distribution in 1999 and the current situation where glasses are paid and scarce. "In capitalism, there is no small profit," Arthaud stated, criticizing the commercialization and lack of accessibility. While the eclipse on Wednesday will not be total in France, it will be visible across a large part of the country.

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1999: 30 million free glasses massively distributed for the solar eclipse. 2026: paid and in shortage... In capitalism, there is no small profit.