def tostring(element, *args, **kwargs):
    """
    Helper func to provide easy access to the (possibly) moving target that is
    C{ET}.
    """
    global modules

    _bootstrap()
    t = _get_type(element)

    etree = modules.get(t, None)

    if not etree:
        raise RuntimeError('Unable to find the etree implementation related '
            'to %r (type %r)' % (element, t))

    return etree.tostring(element, *args, **kwargs)