Well, well, well

Today is Earth Day and also the day of the first round of voting in the French
presidential elections.

Earth Day was set up in 1970 and promotes several questions regarding Earth and the environment. This work is important, not least in this day and age where the Christian Right gains momentum and at the same time, at least to a certain extent fights the environmental movement. This position is also evident in the documentary Jesus Camp (2006). Thankfully, not all Christians agree, and for the rest of us: we need to do what we can, pray when we have the possibility to and help mother earth as much as possible. Is this hard? Not really, and we can do it every day without changing that much of our routine!

Concerning the French election it is still early days. The main contenders are Ségolène Royal of the Socialist Party, Nicolas Sarkozy of the Union for a Popular Movement, François Bayrou of the Union for French Democracy, and last but not least, the in Europe infamous Jean-Marie Le Pen of the National Front. So far it seems Sarkozy and Royal are the two strongest candidates, BUT never ever dismiss people and parties like Le Pen and the National Front. It would be a disaster for the whole of Europe if they won, but do not dismiss them. Of the other two, as to which would best for the EU? It is, for me at least, a little early to say. France has been right-wing for a long time now, maybe a shift is in order, and Royal would be the first female president. On the other hand Sarkozy has proven him self capable of action in the face of a crisis. But he might be a little to much on the hard line. Well, we certainly will see. Elections in countries as large as France do not only effect the country in question, but the whole of the EU and in many ways the world. Any way: Vive la France!

For the Great Mother is the nourisher of all that is here,

/ | \ Taran MacDuir