Sunday, May 01, 2005

Happy First of May!

Workers of the world unite! Does this motto have any credence any more? Do labour unions still represent their members, or are workers these days languishing in the comforts provided by their employers? Where are the demonstrations of yesteryear? With the upcoming elections in the U.K. will the voters re-elect Blair's Labour party, or will the Tories be successful in convincing the electorate to re-institute them to power?

Lest anyone here in North American think that May Day has lost its lustre, there were certainly numerous demonstrations in the streets of Europe during this international day of workers. In France, people were demonstrating against the EU constitution as opinion polls showed that the Non side had started to lose ground, as the referendum on Europe's constitution is approaching.FT.com

In Moscow, where in the "good old days" the Soviet Union would proudly display its once superpower might, people were marching for better working conditions, although the demonstrations were marred by radical violence. Yahoo News

For my part, as a young boy growing up in Europe, I used to associate May Day with spring, as my friends and I would hop on our bikes and ride out in the country. And to this day I still take a moment on this day to think about the coming of spring and summer, and where should I spend my summer vacation.

But seriously though, May 1st has become less politicised over the years and will eventually turn into the North American equivalent of the Labour Day in September, that one last chance for barbecue, visiting the cottage and enjoying the lake before the onset of winter.

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