ASPECTS OF FRANCE

• ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Although diverse, the natural resources of France are limited in quantity. France has some coal, iron ores, bauxite, and uranium but the coal veins are deep and difficult to work. Iron ores are of a low grade, and the uranium ore is found only in small quantities.

Deposits of petrol are almost nonexistant that's why France is dependent on outside sources for petrol. French people used to say : "We don't have petrol but we have ideas !" " On n'a pas de p�trole mais on a des id�es !"

On the other hand France has become the world's leading producer of nuclear power with the world's second-greatest nuclear capacity ( second after the USA). Most major generating plants are administered by Electricit� de France which produces 95% of the country's electricity.

There's a tidal power plant in Brittany. And Paris provides 30% of the city's heating needs by burning rubbish. Solar panels which can provide 30 to 70% of an ordinary home's needs for hot water per year are becoming more popular and France is trying to catch up with some European countries by installing wind turbines.

(photo provided under creative commons licence by Graham_T via Flickr)

• The role of france in the world and its cultural influence.

French movies are admired worldwide for their subtlety and depth. French fashion houses dress the rich and powerful worldwide and in a survey of people in 23 counrties across the globe, a majority described France as exerting a positive influence on world affairs.

• The French language

Did you know that about a hundred years ago many educated people learnt and spoke French when they met people from other countries. Today most people speak English when they meet foreigners. The English language is the new international language of business and popular American culture has spread throughout the world bringing its language with it. Maybe the popularity of English won't last as there are more people in the world who speak Chinese than any other language, so perhaps Chinese will be the new international language. Who knows?

French and English are also the only languages spoken as a native language on five continents and the only languages taught in every country in the world. French is an official language in 33 countries, second only to English ( spoken officially in 45 ).

French is the official language of France and its overseas territories as well as Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Congo, C�te d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Luxembourg, Mali, Monaco, Niger, Senegal, Togo, the Canadian Province of Quebec, and the Swiss district of Vaud, Neuchatel and Gen�ve.

In many countries French plays an important role, either as an administrative, commercial or international language or simply due to a significant French-speaking population Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Dominica, Egypt, Greece, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, India, Italy ( Valle D'Aosta), Tunesia, UK ( Channel Islands).