h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Sunday 16 March, Angoulême, France.




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We Did It!!!

The Green Party, now allied with the Socialists in general, have had what is being quoted as a "historic" victory here today in France & yours truly played a small part in this. Sat through hours of meetings, trying very hard to make out what was going on (there are easier ways to learn a foreign language, believe me!)& went out campaigning; made my voice felt as a vegetarian, "handicapped" foreigner, but most importantly, as a Human who isn't gonna just sit here & watch this "mostly harmless" little & every creature on it being destroyed by Big Business.

I am obviously not the only one who feels like this, since even in the capitals of French bling culture, the right wing has been firmly defeated.

This is really, really important, my fiends. If our tiny little rock amongst the s disappears, politics ceases to matter & the fact that at least here, the whole country seems to have finally woken up & voted with their feet to "Carry on with Life, The Universe & Everything" deserves at least a new Jopurnal Entry (& 42 Clash songs!, so abandon EYEBALLS, spread the word & move over here...Yoda is throwing a big Paaaaaaaaaaartyyyyyy!

zdt

Well done That's very good news.

Can't make it to Yoda's party tonight (she's beautiful by the way) but here's a few supplies to help out:

etc.

There is an awful lot of unhealthy food in the smiley department which I won't offer so that will have to do - have a good one

Websailor

That's good news Terri! At any rate just one thing - this ball of rock is going to disappear any time soon. It may be reduced to *no more* than a ball of rock though.

I don't know how the general environmental and ecological awareness is over there in France. I just know that over *here* there is absolutely immense difficulty in getting people to understand anything at all about the global environment, about ecology, and about biodiversity. The ignorance is massive and breathtaking. I mean in *all* of our main population groups. People honestly, honestly don't grasp the 'idea' of it all.

Anyways, this gets me rather gloomy.

Is it Yoda's birthday today??

I meant to say this ball of rock is NOT going to disappear any time soon!

Bonjour y'all!

I can only really squeak for my own little place, which is centre of the littleish town of Angoulême, which is capital of Charente, which is seen as fairly unimportant nationally in France, but a reasonable indicator of general trends politically, having around equal numbers of studenty types, plus businesspeople, plus old folks who have lived & farmed here for centuries.

What has tended to happen in the past is that, basically "les Charentais'(e)s" ie the people of the region, are renowned for being very laid back & often don't bother voting, then spend forever moaning quietly about the current political situation in the bars.

The Greens ddecided to use this to their advantage & went round inviting people to attend a mildly political meeting, which included free & , so quite a few folk came along simply for this: fine. Some of those folk obviously bothered to get up & vote in the first round, which meant that, allied with the other leftie groups, the 2nd round became major Political threat. Around 2000+ people turned up for the "serious" meeting, which is a hell of a lot for this place. The Socialist guy gave all the Greens "our new allies" a chance to squeak, rather than using it solely as a platform for his own views: people respected this very much.

There *is* quite a bit of ecological awareness here, in France generally (Google Jose Bové vs mac donalds) & the farmers are very anti OGM (genetically Mondanofied crops): mainly because France is a nation of agricultruralists, who depend on diversity & quality & individuality of their produce to survive.

However, they are also a nation of meat-eaters & smokers; in general! But usually respond with "vive la difference!"...as a veggie, i've endured hours of debate, but since i am tolerant of carnivores & they are tolerant of me, we just both conclude "You are nuts, but OK!"

zdt

Well done Terri,it restores my faith in human nature just to read of the success.Today France,tomorrow the world ! X (Hope your OK ?)

Hiya Pinky! have a drop of! Good to see you here.

I am fine; rather "high as a kite" after all the effort & subsequent victory (which i didn't actually tell many people about)...no sense screaming from the rooftops before you've made it up the stairs!

How are you?

zdt

Well,you do have a good point there Terri,the rooftops can wait for another few days,I'm sure hahahaha Congratulations though,it is awesome news.Cheers,and thankyou for the drink ! I'm nursing a cold right now,apart from that,I'm doing OK thankyou.Good to be chatting to you ,as always X

I've moved over!



but can I have £22,000 to decorate my second home, get a kitchen and telly in ????



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@w*rk...

Well done!

Yippee!

Jab

Ooh, it's all so shiny and clean in here in this nice new thread.

Cor blimey, political activism actually working! Crivvens, that's a new one!

Yup. I reckon campaigning naked, covered in green paint was the key to our success really. "sign up or i slither all over you"

So, now tonight, just to round it all off; it's St Patrick's day, since i am half Oirish, i feel it's a dereliction of duty not to go & celebrate at me local Oirish pub.

Angoulême!!!!!

zdt

Terri it's great news about the Green Party and the Socialists victory.

Happy St Patrick's Day

every little helps!

I've had a weird St Patricks night, been talking to firemen, policewomane; "ethnix minorties"; Oirish, french, locals, musicians: the lot really. I am a bit like that i suppose.

The music was good, the dancing was less so, can't do the latter any more *but* can bang hell out of a table in True Oirish Rhythm & unlike anyone else in the place, am Actually half Oirish Plus live here, so i get Brownie points no matter what!

Plus got more signed up to Greens.

Plus got home & realised what all the frustrated failed to notice re: my skipping about CD player: if you look underneath, there's a tiny button that says "off/charge/on" if you stuff a battery in, quelle surprise, it works!...it's now on "charge" so i will probably be waking les neighbours with Loud Oirish at around 5am. Blame PC.

I have learned how to make a Bodhran 'traditional Irish drum': so PC Please send that drumskin with the other stuff!)

http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/

zdt

This is the bit that is almost impossible to explain to a percussionist who plays what he sees as "dominant rhythm" as per congas...

He says "garrgh, you are doing it all wrong, why aren't you leading?"

<<>>

*sigh*

zdt

I'm wearing green! Happy Saint Patrick's to ya Terri!

Now I'm off to bed early to make up for doing artwork last night.