Fashion trends may come and go, in jewelry as in clothing and hairstyles, but just as in those arenas, there are some elements that never seem to go out of style. In fact, they get reinvented for a new audience. The ballet flat. The little black dress. Pearl jewelry is one such fashion evergreen that just goes on and on. However, far from the stuffy  chokers of society matrons or demure Grace Kelly single strands, pearls today are used in jewelry as fresh and fashion-forward as any couture collection.

Rambaud of Paris has been adorning French women with beautiful jewelry since 1885. Today the company specializes in cultured pearls from Tahiti and other parts of the South Seas such as China and Japan.

An organic gem, courtesy of a friendly oyster

For the uninitiated, a cultured pearl is not artificial. It is simply a “farmed” version of a pearl created naturally by ocean mollusks such as oysters in certain parts of the world. These “wild” pearls are created when a grain of sand lodges in the flesh of the mollusk. The pearl is the result of the animal’s reaction to the foreign object. A defense mechanism kicks-in and coats the particle with layer after layer of a substance called nacre, or mother-of-pearl, which eventually becomes thick enough to form a pearl. So rather than being a mineral like other precious jewels, pearls considered organic gems because they are created by a living organism. In the creation of a cultured pearl, man simply helps nature along by introducing the object into the bivalve in a controlled environment rather than allowing it to happen at random. The result is just as naturally beautiful as pearls found in the wild, and can be controlled as to color and shape depending on the conditions. As in the wild, some pearls are cultivated in salt water and others in freshwater, giving different properties to the pearls.

Pearls: Not just for Jackie O anymore

Rambaud offers nearly a dozen different collections featuring these pearls, in a range of styles from traditional to rock-n-roll, for an
amazing variety of looks. If you think of pearls as being white, or cream, or the occasional grey, think again. The cultured pearls in Rambaud’s collection come in a dazzling array of colors, including pink, gold, even chocolate.

The cultured pearl earrings on the website range in price from under 100 euros for a simple Tahitian freshwater pearl and silver pair to nearly 1000 euros for a spectacular set of 9mm grey-green pearls set off with .028 carats of diamonds. There is a wide selection, in between, so every set of ears can find lovely cultured pearl earrings at a price that sounds good to them.

If a cultured pearl necklace is more your thing, you can find an array of lengths and fashion-forward styles at Rambaud. Pearls are the stars, but these necklaces bring in interesting supporting characters. you’ll find original styles including long pendants with iridescent disks or pearls dangling from delicate silver chains, as in the “Tactiles” collection, or an Art Deco-inspired creation combining black and white pearls in “Les Annees Folles” collection.

Whether a delicious treat for yourself or a glorious gift, cultured pearl jewelry from Rambaud is sure to be a hit — a perfect marriage of nature and art, tradition and cutting-edge fashion.

Rambaud travels the world in search of the finest suppliers and materials to create its unique pieces. Founded in 1885 by Henri Marie Prosper Rambaud, the house that bears his name has been providing quality jewelry for four generations.

Services

• cultured pearls
• cultured pearl necklace
• cultured pearl earrings

Unlike the US, whose history compared to that of Europe sometimes seems just weeks old, France boasts a number of businesses over a century old that still bear the family name. Rambaud is one such company. Founded in 1885 by Henri Marie Prosper Rambaud, the family had carried the tradition forward for four generations.

Today, Rambaud specializes in jewelry made with cultured pearls, and is one of the largest importers in France of this “organic gem”.  Cultured pearls are formed like pearls found in the wild, except that under controlled circumstances results auch as shape, size and color can be predicted and planned. The executives of the firm travel the world in search of the  best suppliers and the highest quality pearls to use in their jewelry. Designs range from the traditional to the ultra-modern. Unlike the conservative, virginal reputation of the strand of pearls and the twin set as worn and popularized by Grace Kelly, today’s cultured pearl jewelry as conceived by the designers at Rambaud is exciting, sensual and even whimsical. Their “Lila” line, for example, marries rose-colored pearls with amethysts for pink-and-purple confection that is anything but staid. The pearls Rambaud uses in their designs come in the traditional cream or black, but they also have pieces incorporating pearls of champagne and even rich chocolate colors.

Cultured Pearls- the Way to Make Mother’s Day

With Mothers’ Day fast approaching (though the French have a bit more time that the Americans, with their Mothers’ Day falling on the last Sunday of the month rather than the second one) any one of Rambaud’s cultured pearl necklaces may be the perfect gift for almost any mom on your list.  Rambaud offers such a wide range of styles, colors and prices that it would be hard not to find something to fill the bill.  Because the company imports such a high volume of cultured pearls, they get amazing prices which they pass on to their customers. That means that buyers can score spectacular cultured pearl pendants and fashionable cultured pearl bracelets sure to impress any mother without breaking the bank.  Of course, if you want to splurge,  you can find pieces combining diamonds and white gold for over 1000 euros. But you can get away for very little, with a lovely set of earrings for only 85 euros. And there is a wide selection at every price point in between.

You really can’t go wrong giving an elegant gift of cultured pearl jewelry from a company that’s been family-run for generations. Someone who is special in your own family is sure to appreciate your good taste.

Rambaud travels the world in search of the finest suppliers and materials to create its unique pieces. Founded in 1885 by Henri Marie Prosper Rambaud, the house that bears his name has been providing quality jewelry for four generations.

services

• cultured pearl necklaces
• cultured pearl bracelets
• cultured pearl pendants

Hernia repair used to require an extensive operation, general anesthesia, and a long recovery time with an extended period of limited mobility. But  there is good news for the three-quarters of a million people who will suffer hernia this year. Surgeons are now using an innovative “plug and patch” method that takes only about half an hour on the table, does not even require general anesthesia and allows patients to resume normal activities in as little as two days.

ASPIDE MEDICAL of France is applying even more innovation to the traditional Plug Technique for hernias. The company has introduced EASYPLUG®, a hernia repair technology that answers surgeons’ needs. The innovations of this solution, based on Aspide Medical’s SURGIMESH® technology have surgeons smiling. The micro-perforated zones ensure a maximal reinforcement, and at the same time helps localizing fixation points. The Easyplug has zones of lighter density, which keeps the implanted material at a minimum, and also allows the implant to be more easily accepted by the body. EASYPLUG® has a special microporous structure designed exclusively by ASPIDE MEDICAL. For the comfort and convenience of patients, the EASYPLUG® allows for less chronic post-operative pain and less shrinkage.

It is generally accepted that the plug and patch method of hernia repair is the most effective replacement for old and outmoded surgical methods for the treatment of hernias. Earlier hernia repair methods, which are still used today, involve stitching together the two sides of the hole using sutures or wire.  This approach creates tension and often causes a recurrence of the hernia, and also produces swelling and pain. More importantly, the tension inhibits full and effective healing of the edges.  Recovery is prolonged with reduced patient flexibility, prolonged pain and restrictions imposed on activity.

With the newer method, using EASYPLUG® surgical mesh, a specially designed mesh system is gently placed through the defect. It opens to cover and effectively repair the defect from the inside, the best place for mesh to be positioned. After this, an additional sheet of mesh is s included as reinforcement. This is placed in a completely tension free fashion, being held in place by a “VELCRO-Like” effect of the mesh itself. Since there is no tension and only a minimal amount of surgical dissection, there is little post operative pain, and patients return to normal activity in just days. In combination with the plug, this method eliminates much of the tension that occurs with the older method of hernia repair and reduces the hernia surgery recurrence rate from up to 20 percent to less than 1 percent.

Founded in 1994, Aspide Medical is a world leader in textile surgical implants. The Surgimesh® range, developed in partnership with surgeons includes implants for for digestive, urological and gynecological surgery.

Services

• Hernia repair

ASPIDE Medical
246 allée Lavoisier
42350 La Talaudière
FRANCE
Tel : +33 (0)4 77 53 16 59
Fax : + 33 (0)4 77 53 01 97
Email : aspide@aspide.com
Web : http://www.aspide.com

The treatment of incontinence in women is an issue that is not always easy for women to discuss. However, the problem is widespread. An estimated 51 million women worldwide (17 million of them in the U.S. alone) have to deal with urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is the medical term used to describe the condition of not being able to control the flow of urine from your body. Incontinence usually occurs because the urethra cannot close tightly enough to hold urine in the bladder. It is surprising to learn how prevalent this rarely talked about condition actually is. For women over age 60, approximately 23% deal with incontinence, and the problem is more common in women than men. 50% of nursing home residents suffer from urinary incontinence.  But urinary incontinence is not just a problem for older women. Between the ages of 18 and 44, approximately 24% of women experience incontinence.

Causes of incontinence

Urinary incontinence usually is caused by weakened or damaged pelvic muscles and tissue that prevent the urethra from closing tight enough to hold urine in the bladder. Some people are unable to prevent leaking urine when they cough, sneeze or exercise. Other women experience a strong urge to urinate but are unable to make it to the bathroom in time.

To determine the type and cause of urinary incontinence, doctors take a complete medical history and conduct a thorough physical examination. Specialists such as gynecologists and urologists may use a variety of testing methods to determine the cause and type of urinary incontinence.

There are a number of factors that contribute to incontinence in women. The most common is pregnancy and vaginal childbirth, because Weakened or damaged pelvic muscles and tissue can be the result of pregnancy and childbirth. The bladder and urethra must be well supported by the pelvic muscles and tissue to allow them to work properly. Here the surgical treatment of incontinence may be recommended, with or without muscular exercises.

The second most important predictor of incontinence is aging, which tends to worsen all forms of muscular injury and weakness, and the pelvic muscles are no exception. Certain medical and neurological conditions, such as hysterectomies, spinal cord problems, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’sdisease, stroke and diabetes can make incontinence worse. Lifestyle factors can also add to the problem. For example, while obesity does not cause incontinence, it does contribute due to the increased abdominal pressure. And while smoking is not a direct cause of incontinence, it may aggravate it.

Of course, not all incontinence is a permanent condition. Urinary tract infections can cause temporary incontinence, and certain medications may increase the likelihood of temporary incontinence. These can be treated effectively with medications such as antibiotics and with the help of Kegel exercises.

Treatment of incontinence

With the advents of superior technology, there are now a number of advanced and effective options for the treatment of incontinence in women, to help restore the urinary continence women have lost with age, or after bearing children.

One of the newest and most effective surgical treatment of incontinence uses the sling procedure, which serves as support for the urethra during increased abdominal pressure. Bone fixated slings treat incontinence by supporting the urethra with a graft material that is secured to the pubic bone. Self-fixating slings treat incontinence by supporting the urethra. The sling is secured in place by friction and natural tissue ingrowth, rather than by sutures or screws. New sling models have built in features that anchor the sling and provides short-term fixation. Mesh characteristics allow tissue fixation without suturing.

For the least invasive surgery,  the Surgimesh® sling, from Aspide Medical can be inserted vaginally. The lightest sling in the market, it is a polypropylene sling specially designed to limit extensibility and deformation of the mesh during implantation.It boasts a very high mechanical resistance which enables elongation control, and the smoothed sides of the sling reduce considerably the risks of erosion. The special weave  of the mesh allows a very quick colonization, and does not salt out particles (optimized knitting and pores size) Another advantage of the Surgimesh® sling is easy insertion; the sling remains flat, even under tension. All of these factors allow a smoother implantation during surgery and maximum patient comfort afterwards.

With so many women suffering in silence, understanding the prevalence, possible causes and treatment options may encourage more women to seek today’s more advanced and effective treatment of incontinence.

Founded in 1994, Aspide Medical is a world leader in textile surgical implants. The Surgimesh® range, developed in partnership with surgeons includes implants for for digestive, urological and gynecological surgery.

Services

• treatment of incontinence

ASPIDE Medical
246 allée Lavoisier
42350 La Talaudière
FRANCE
Tel : +33 (0)4 77 53 16 59
Fax : + 33 (0)4 77 53 01 97
Email : aspide@aspide.com
Web : http://www.aspide.com

]]> http://www.webinfrance.com/treatment-of-incontinence-women-worldwide-advances-new-technology-567.html/feed 0 http://www.webinfrance.com/prolapse-surgery-more-effective-lasting-with-advanced-mesh-techniques-234.html http://www.webinfrance.com/prolapse-surgery-more-effective-lasting-with-advanced-mesh-techniques-234.html#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:22:15 +0000 Web in France team http://www.webinfrance.com/?p=2771 Prolapse prosthetic treatments by French company Aspide Medical allow for mini-invasive surgery and better results

Prolapse is a condition that affects many women. Many cases are mild and cause little or no discomfort. However, women who suffer from more significant prolapse problems often encounter issues that greatly affect their quality of life on a daily basis. Besides general pain and discomfort, these women may experience embarrassing urine leakage when coughing or sneezing, difficulty with bowel movements or pain during sexual intercourse.

What causes prolapse problems?

Connective tissue separates the pelvic organs. The tissue, called fascia, is attached to nearby muscles. When healthy, the fascia and muscles support the bladder, vagina and rectum. Defects in the fascia can cause prolapse problems known as cystoceles (located between the bladder and vagina) and rectoceles (located between the vagina and rectum). Like hernia, cystocles and rectocles involve tissue that bulges or protrudes into an area where it does not belong. In this case, the breach occurs in the walls between the vagina and bladder or rectum. These can be damaged by one or more of the following factors: difficult vaginal births, multiple births
problems during delivery or the use of episiotomy during birth. However, factors unrelated to childbirth can also cause or aggravate the problem. These include strain from lifting heavy objects, chronic cough, chronic constipation or the weakening of vaginal muscles caused by a lack of estrogen after menopause.

Treatment of Prolapse Problems

Activity Modification  is the first suggestion of most doctors. This includes avoiding heavy lifting Kegel exercises (squeezing the pelvic floor muscles) to help to strengthen the muscles around the vagina and bladder. For rectocele doctors often suggest a diet that allows for easy passage of stools by adding fiber, liquids, and a stool softener if necessary.

In cases where these lifestyle changes do not produce  relief, surgical repair is another option. Until recent years, this surgery was only partially effective, as patients often developed recurring problems when resuming normal activities and reinjuring themselves by coughing or straining to lift heavy objects. However, the use of advanced surgical mesh technology has greatly increased the success of prolapse operations.

The Miracle of Mesh – Hope for Prolapse Sufferers

Mesh reinforcement is used with the aim of reducing the risk of recurrence of the prolapse. The mesh has many holes within it to allow the body’s own tissue to grow into the mesh. The mesh then provides a framework of support.  It may provide a longer lasting repair and has been shown to be successful in 80% of people. Mesh is a synthetic material and is permanent, and has been extensively used in surgery, especially in hernia repairs.

SURGIMESH®PROLAPSE  from Aspide Medical of France is a range of safe and efficient prosthetic devices for a  surgical treatment of prolapse problems. Developed to correct cystoceles and rectoceles, among other conditions, each one of Aspide’s surgical devices includes a sling and specific tools corresponding to the operating technique chosen by the surgeon. There are solutions that are optimized for abdominal surgery (coelioscopy) and for a vaginal option that does not require an abdominal incision.

The SURGIMESH®PROLAPSE range of products was designed in partnership with surgeons’ teams.  The mesh is composed essentially of  monofilament polypropylene knitting, a solution particularly adapted to the surgical treatment of cystoceles and rectocele.  The newest knit dimensions are  0,08mm. Many precut shapes are available for coelioscopic use, as well as to open surgery allowing treatment of all pathologies.

Surgical repair of the cystocele or rectocele can result in improved bladder or bowel control. Patients find that they no longer have problems with stress incontinence and can resume activities they did not feel comfortable doing before. Surgery can also relieve pain they may have experienced during sexual intercourse.

Aspide Medical, founded in 1994, is a world leader in textile surgical implants. The Surgimesh® range, developed in partnership with surgeons includes implants for for digestive, urological and gynecological surgery.

Services

• prolapse treatment

A bed and breakfast in France sounds like a lovely holiday at any time of year. But a winter holiday in the beautiful district of Puy-de-Dome in the Auvergne region fairly cries out for the relaxed accommodations of one of these traditional guest houses in France, with the warmth of a personal welcome and a cozy place for family and friends to make themselves at home after a day in the snow. These Auvergne guest house accommodations, known in France as chambres d’hotel (literally, “rooms at a host’s”) or gites are a much more comfortable and convivial choice for a ski or hiking vacation than a commercial hotel. They also often include some meals,  featuring wonderful regional specialties.

The Gites de France website for Puy-de-Dome offers an interactive map so that you can browse all the accommodations on offer and their various levels of luxury and amenities. Since the properties are all privately owned and operated, they are all different with their own unique character, yet are vetted by the    Gites de France high standards for quality, comfort, authentic decor and hospitality, so you can be confident of finding your perfect Auvergne guest house or chalet. Outdoor activites abound in Puy-de-Dome, with the star being winter sports such as downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, showshoeing and climbing. Typical of these guest houses in France, these gites in the Auvergne are very much a part of their surroundings, and your host will likely offer sage advice on the best skiing spots and hiking trails. In keeping with the tradition of the bed and breakfast in France, you may even find yourself conversing with your host about art, history, crafts or other interests and passions of your own. Gites de France understands how much this personal interchange can add to stays in guest houses in France, so  on their website for the Puy-de-Dome region and others, you can even click on “Talents and Passions” to choose a host with whom you have common interests to talk about!

Winter is not the only time that is beautiful in Puy-de-Dome. The hiking trails and the gorgeous mountain scenery make it a terrific tourist destination year-round. Hikers and nature lovers can choose an Auvergne guest house right along some of the most glorious walking paths and hiking trails in France. you hosts will be able to advise you on walks of a day or even longer. There are also trails and roads for motorcycling and mountain biking in Puy-de-Dome, and you can find a bed and breakfast in France that caters to these as well on the gites de France website. There are even guest houses that cater to the sybarite, with spa facilities near the famous volcanoes for which the Auvergne is also known. You can even stay on a real working farm! You won’t be required to to any milking or egg-gathering, though your host may show you if you ask.

The history of the Puy-de-Dome region is as rich and colorful as its present is inviting. Clermont-Ferrand, where the volcano for which the region is named has its summit, saw the launch of the Crusades and is now home to an International Short Film Festival and a number of universities and colleges. Issoire boasts castles, Romanesque churches and quaint villages perched over its valleys of wildflowers. The Combrailles country with its rivers and streams has welcomed fishermen since time began. And the Sancy range displays a fascinating array of volcanic topography for the visitor. All this and more can be explored from the warmth and comfort of your Auvergne guest house where you will always have a convivial welcome awaiting you when you return for your adventures.

Services:

• Auvergne guest house
• Bed and breakfast in France
• Puy-de-Dome

June 21 is the Summer Solstice, and the first day of summer in much of the world. But in France, since 1982, it has also been the date of La Fête De La Musique (Music Festival), a day dedicated to the celebration, and performance, of music. Concerts are held all over France, many of them free. And musicians of all stripes take to the streets and perform impromptu on sidewalks and in restaurants. It’s a day to enjoy, celebrate, listen to and make music.

The one-day event, which began as an informal grass roots movement, has grown to be one of France’s best loved holidays and has gone somewhat establishment with corporate sponsors and televised events. Now, it has also gone global, with 350 cities aorund the world dancing to France’s tune and holding their own versions on La Fête De La Musique.

France brings La Fête de La Musique to China

In Shanghai, hundreds of music lovers and curious thronged public spaces, temples and grand homes to hear different kinds of music in celebration of France day at the Shanghai World expo.  It was the first time that the Fête de La Musique has been held in China. Listeners were treated to music of all styles played by musicians of all ages. People were amazed, as street poerformances in China are very rare, as are indeed all public displays and demonstrations in the restrictive atmosphere propagated by the Chinese government.

France’s Minister of Culture and the inventor of the event, Jack Lang, expressed pleasure at the adoption of La Fête de La Musique by China this year and hopes that it will become a yearly tradition as it is in France.

In Europe, La Fête De La Musiquehas been invading countries outside France for years. In Rome, for example, it is a beloved annual tradition that still retains in French flavor.

Marie Beréngère Chapoton, Managing Director of Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese states, “Every year many businesses, companies and authorities take part in putting together the Music Festival, adding to the international development of the event”. “ Because of our strong liaison with France, we have chosen to help develop and spread this event event in Italy, aware that music is for all people and cultures.”

In Italy, the AIPFM – Italian Association for Promotion of the Music Festival – together with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, has made an agreement to involve as many cities as possible in Italy and to coordinate relations with other European countries. At present Siena, Modena, Lucca, Arco Val di Ledro and Rivolitake place in the event. An agreement between the French and Italian Ministry of Culture has been approved aimed at promoting artistic trade between the two countries and to give more visibility over the border to the artists involved. In the beautiful setting of the Cuisine & Lounge La Terrasse in Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, deeply tied to French cultural activities, an elegant evening of music will be held.. Antonella Aprea’s concert for 80 invited guests will take place in the early evening on the spectacular panoramic terrace overlooking Villa Borghese.

Similar events are being arranged in cities all across Europe…and now the world.

The Champs Elysees became a huge farm on the last Sunday in May, to focus attention on France’s crisis-hit agriculture. Paris’ most famous avenue was covered with plants, trees and flowers.

The event, called Nature Capital, drew two million people over two days and was organized by the Young Farmers association and the French forest industry.

Over a stretch of almost a mile, from the Arc de Triomphe down halfway to the Place de la Concorde, the Champs were filled with more than 100 type of grain, fruit and vegetables.  By bringing in 8,000 plots of earth and 150,000 plants to the city and installing them, amid sheep and cattle,  struggling farmers are attempting to highlight an aspect of French life which they believe is too often overlooked by Paris. There were also cows, pigs, goats and lambs and the livestock show showcased some of the famous breeds such as the enormously fat black-bottomed Limousin pigs, prized for their meat quality.

French Farmers: Pride and Protest

French farmers are already a diminishing breed but one of the worst crises in decades has further unsettled the sector, fuelled by falling prices and rocketing production costs.  In the ravages of a crisis which has seen production costs soar and product prices fall, representatives of the agricultural sector say farmers are being brought to their knees.

President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government has offered an aid plan for French farmers with some 1.8 billion euros in loans (2.3 billion dollars) and 650 million euros in other support payments.

For the 55,000 members of the young farmers’ union, the stunt has a more serious purpose. Agricultural workers are one of the most alienated sections of Nicolas Sarkozy’s electorate and, as a steep fall in revenues causes anger to grow, farmers have used increasingly eye-catching means to draw attention to their grievances.

In April, hundreds of farmers rode into Paris on their tractors, bringing their worries about the future of farming to the capital of Europe’s agricultural powerhouse. Anxious and angry, thousands of French farmers gathered in Paris to demand emergency aid measures amid tumbling grain prices. Many of them travelled across the country on their tractors, crawling across French highways at 30 kilometres per hour to reach the capital by morning rush-hour.

More than 1,500 giant tractors rolled across the capital’s iconic squares and boulevards, displaying banners that read “Don’t sell out agriculture.”
Cereal producers, along with sunflower and rapeseed farmers, are angry that volatile markets have left them substantially bankrupt in a “black year” for their industry. The farmer’s union FRSEA rallied delegations from 14 different regions across France.

Sarkozy has in past months made several trips to rural France, visiting farms and trying to ease the anger of producers who say they are no longer making ends meet.

For Nature Capital, about 200 trucks rolled onto the Champs Elysees to unload the trees, plants and topsoil and part of the avenue has been closed to traffic.

Nature Capital was designed by Gad Weil, an outdoor events planner who 20 years ago organised a similar happening that turned the Champs Elysees into a giant wheat field.

People in France are eating more fish, but not all fish are created equal, or are equally available. Grocery shoppers may not realize it, but they can make a difference by choosing to eat fish that are harvested in a sustainable manner, rather than others. This is the message of the Mr. Goodfish campaign, which swam into France two months ago. French conservationists are applauding the initiative, which alerts consumers to the “good fish” to eat with a sticker on the packaging or other notification. The conservationists hope that with the proper education and given a choice, French fish-eaters will opt for fish that are sustainable rather than more endangered species.

A good time for Mr. Goodfish

The campaign was already a success in Italy and Spain. The European program, run under the auspices of the World Ocean Network Association, wants to help consumers buy fish that are neither endangered nor out of season. Given the recent disaster off the coast of Louisiana, the move seems eerily prescient. The fishing industry there has been devastated by a massive and growing oil spill that threatens generations of family seafood businesses and fish not only in the gulf waters but also in the inland waterways.

The blue Mr. Goodfish logos will not only appear on fish sold in supermarkets, but also at fishmongers and even on restaurant menus, steering diners toward fish that they may not be familiar with but whose consumption is healthier for the environment.  Experts in France assert that if consumers choose a Mr. Goodfish instead of another fish, even just once a year, it will have a positive impact on 18,000 tons of endangered fish.

Even an iphone app is in development, to help French consumers know which fish are in season when, and see a list of current Mr. Goodfish choices.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that he will push hard for the pushing back of France’s retirement age during the second half of his term. The move was expected to meet fierce resistance from the French public, but so far, the response has been anemic, possible due to the sobering effect of the the news of the economic crisis that is spreading like wildfire across Europe. Last Thursday, workers prepared a day of protest against the core of Sarkozy’s unspoken but implied austerity program. But French trade unions’ protests failed to rally enough street power against the crucial reform of its costly pension system.

Protests lacking in numbers and conviction

Unions across Europe have called for strikes and protests against austerity measures meant to stem the Greek debt crisis from spreading, but many have been puny at best. A Greek rally last week drew only half the crowd that turned out for the protest on May 5 that was punctuated by riots viewed around the world in mass media. Spanish unions also saw a limited turnout  at their last anti-austerity protest. The weak showings seemed to reflect a new state of resignation vis-a-vis the European economic crisis, some media reported. Given the massive coverage of riots in Greece and the plummeting of the euro, even the normally strike-happy unions of France are having a  reality-check. French labor leaders are having a hard time justifying  outrage over belt-tightening measures that all European countries will probably need to adopt in order to avert total calamity.

Government ministers in France indicated the turnout at Thursday’s protests was too weak to block an increase in the formerly  sacred pension age of 60, a trademark reform of the late Socialist President Francois Mitterrand, The ministers said that they would soon present details of the change, though only rumors exist of exactly what age they are planning to propose as the new retirement age in France. Ministers are reportedly not yet sure whether to push it to 62 years, 63 or even higher. However, the French government has made clear any reform would not change the special retirement schemes for transport workers, whose fierce defense of their privilege of retiring as early as 50 or 55 sparked a crippling general transport strike in 1995.

European economic crisis puts writing on the wall for unions

Gripped by the sovereign debt crisis, many of France’s European neighbors have announced massive spending cuts in a bid to curb their mounting deficits and restore stability to the battered euro currency.

While Sarkozy has insisted that his announcement of a three-year spending freeze does not amount to an austerity program, an attack on France’s iconic 60-year retirement age was formerly unthinkable and is now very much on the table. The reduction of the minimum age for workers to receive a full state pension from 65 to 60 was in 1984 one of the key reforms of Socialist president Francois Mitterrand’s government, and remains cherished by the left.

Previous attempts in France in recent years to reform state finances and cut entitlements have been squashed by large-scale protests, but Sarkozy’s supporters insist pension change is essential. Germany has already raised the minimum age for a full state pension to 67 by the year 2029, and many other European countries have begun large-scale budget cuts. France has been slower, putting its faith in a gradual return to growth and a freeze on spending increases.

Statistics show that France will have 18 million retirees by 2030, up from 15.5 million today, and the number will rise to 23 million by mid-century.