title: Python3.3 - Fatal Python error: Py_Initialize: Unable to get the locale encoding
body: <p>ImportError: No module named 'encodings'</p>
  
  <p>While the error is self explaining, I know the cause of the issue. The problem is that the platform is using colon in their path name so when I set the path using:</p>
  
  <p><code>Py_SetPath("the/path/with:colon/");</code></p>
  
  <p>And then call:</p>
  
  <p><code>Py_Initialize();</code></p>
  
  <p>It fails to find the required modules to import. So, my question is: Is there any way to workaround without renaming the path (which I'm not controlling)? Can I somehow escape the colons?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>