Not just teargas from the French riot police that brought tears to my eyes
It’s their go-to weapon of choice, their trigger-happy response to pretty much anything to which they take exception. Like most people who have been to the Calais Jungle, I’ve been tear-gassed on multiple occasions; the CRS stand on a flyover and fire down into the camp, so that everyone — children, teenagers, women, people going about their business — are suddenly gasping, choking, streaming and burning.
Tear gas being fired sounds like gun shots, which adds to the fear and panic. You can make masks out of plastic water bottles and rags soaked in vinegar, but really you need a proper gas mask. And it’s not just physical — for ages afterwards you feel disorientated, dizzy, angry, emotional. It’s quite horrible.
