ROME: The world's energy lust is incompatible with the need to avert climate change, the European Commission president, José Manuel Barroso, said Monday in the keynote address of the 20th World Energy Congress here. How to "manage this energy environment and mitigate the worst effects of climate change" is "the greatest challenge of our generation," Barroso said, adding that Europe would lead the way toward conservation and the efficient use of energy. The World Energy Congress, the biggest industry gathering on the topic, has met every five years since 1924, bringing together world leaders and corporate executives. But the meeting this year has a special sense of urgency: It is the first since a United Nations report this year concluded that fossil fuel use was driving climate change, with potentially disastrous economic and social effects. Oil prices, which were the equivalent of $1.43 a barrel when the World Energy Council first met, are now are hovering below $100.
ROME: The world's energy lust is incompatible with the need to avert climate change, the European Commission president, José Manuel Barroso, said Monday in the keynote address of the 20th World Energy Congress here.
How to "manage this energy environment and mitigate the worst effects of climate change" is "the greatest challenge of our generation," Barroso said, adding that Europe would lead the way toward conservation and the efficient use of energy.
The World Energy Congress, the biggest industry gathering on the topic, has met every five years since 1924, bringing together world leaders and corporate executives.
But the meeting this year has a special sense of urgency: It is the first since a United Nations report this year concluded that fossil fuel use was driving climate change, with potentially disastrous economic and social effects. Oil prices, which were the equivalent of $1.43 a barrel when the World Energy Council first met, are now are hovering below $100.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The 27-nation EU is entering the final phase of talks on how to finance the bloc's troubled satellite navigation system, Galileo, but member states remain split, while the European Parliament has flexed its muscles on the issue. On Tuesday (13 November), EU finance ministers are expected to discuss a European Commission proposal to use the 2007 and 2008 budgetary margins for agriculture and administration - running to around €2.5 billion - to get the project on its feet. But a deal remains difficult due to strong opposition in a number of EU capitals, mainly in Berlin and London. Germany, the largest net contributor to EU coffers, has resisted the idea of funding Galileo exclusively from the bloc's common budget. This is thought to be because Berlin is concerned that it will then miss out getting unspent farm money returned to it.
That the UK wants Europe to fail is no surprise, but Germany?
Any way to put pressure on them?
EU telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding will on Tuesday (13 November) propose an EU regulatory authority for the bloc's heavily fragmented mobile phone and internet markets, a move likely to stir controversy among big operators in the sector. The commissioner in media interviews over the weekend called for a new Brussels-based authority overseeing the 27 EU states' national telecom regulators. The newly created body would have the power to propose the splitting up of big companies' network infrastructure and their customer services, as a radical measure to force telecom giants such as France Telecom to open their networks to smaller competitors. "I want to revolutionise the European telecom market. And that's why we need a European supervisory authority", Ms Reding told weekly Der Spiegel in comments quoted by German papers. The 27 national regulatory authorities, which would continue to exist under the plans, would through the new EU body get new tools "for example through the possibility of functionally separating the running of a network and [the offering of] services of a dominant provider," the commissioner said.
The European Union's anti-terror list violates basic human rights, a Swiss investigator working for the human rights body the Council of Europe has said. "The present system of blacklists flouts the fundamental principles which are the basis of human rights," notes the report by Dick Marty, according to Reuters. To be formally presented today (12 November), the report condemns the terror black lists of both the EU and the United Nations claiming that suspects on the list are not allowed the right of reply and also have difficulty clearing their names once on the list. This is not the first bad publicity for the EU list, which contains around 60 entries of groups and individuals and is reviewed around twice a year by member state secret service representatives. In December, an EU court questioned the 2002 decision to place the People's Mujahadeen Organization of Iran (PMOI), a Paris-based Iranian opposition group, on the terror register and freeze its assets.
EU officials want to increase competition in the German energy sector by separating energy production and distribution activities, amid sharply rising prices that have sparked widespread debate in Germany. The discussion in Brussels has led some in the German energy sector to call the European Union's executive commission a bigger threat to EU energy companies than Russia. "You are always talking about Russia but the real threat is coming from the European Commission," the chief executive of German energy giant EON Wulf Bernotat told the Financial Times on Monday, Nov. 12. Many in Europe have rung alarms over what they see as Russian intentions to dominate the European energy sector through investments by groups such as the state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom. Bernotat added, however, that he did not think commission plans to increase competition by breaking up big power groups through a process called unbundling would succeed because they were opposed by major EU members. "I am pretty sure unbundling is not coming," he said. "Such processes in Brussels take time especially if important member states such as France and Germany are against it."
The discussion in Brussels has led some in the German energy sector to call the European Union's executive commission a bigger threat to EU energy companies than Russia.
"You are always talking about Russia but the real threat is coming from the European Commission," the chief executive of German energy giant EON Wulf Bernotat told the Financial Times on Monday, Nov. 12.
Many in Europe have rung alarms over what they see as Russian intentions to dominate the European energy sector through investments by groups such as the state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom.
Bernotat added, however, that he did not think commission plans to increase competition by breaking up big power groups through a process called unbundling would succeed because they were opposed by major EU members.
"I am pretty sure unbundling is not coming," he said. "Such processes in Brussels take time especially if important member states such as France and Germany are against it."
Priceless. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
"I am pretty sure unbundling is not coming," he said.
And he may be right. Unbundling will come to the railway sector before it comes to the energy sector: energy companies are more powerful and seen as more strategic. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
EU Calls for Increased Energy Competition in Germany | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 12.11.2007
Hesse minister joins calls for more competition Meanwhile, the German state of Hesse's Minister for Economic Affairs Alois Rhiel called for Germany's Federal Cartel Office to have more power and to increase energy competition in Germany. snip snip But opening up the market to competition, energy prices in Germany could be reduced to by 10 percent to 15 percent, a target that the Hesse minister said he was pursuing in his own state.
Meanwhile, the German state of Hesse's Minister for Economic Affairs Alois Rhiel called for Germany's Federal Cartel Office to have more power and to increase energy competition in Germany.
snip snip
But opening up the market to competition, energy prices in Germany could be reduced to by 10 percent to 15 percent, a target that the Hesse minister said he was pursuing in his own state.
Followed by similar arguments from Kroes.
Is this just wishful thinking or realistic in the current state of affairs?
The lack of access for outsiders to the networks is a structural technical problem for electricity. It's not just like a highway network where you oepn the doors to all comers - there's a permanent need to balance inputs and outputs at all times, and that requires the network being able to order producers around. Having direct coordination between the network and the main producers remains the simplest option.
But economists and financiers know better than engineers, right... In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
From the point of "smart" electric grids, isn't direct coordination of the networks the best possible way forward?
In the wake of talks in Berlin, the leaders of France and Germany said they agreed on the need for diplomacy in dealing with Tehran, and pledged to do their utmost to keep nuclear weapons out of Iranian hands. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday, Nov. 12, that Germany and France agree that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon, after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "We are on the same wavelength: no nuclear weapons for Iran," Sarkozy told the AFP news service. "Germany and France believe in the usefulness of sanctions." Merkel said the two countries agreed that a new round of UN sanctions may be necessary to stop Iran from pursuing uranium enrichment. "The common position that, if Iran does not change its stance, further sanctions must be considered in the UN framework," she told reporters after the meeting.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday, Nov. 12, that Germany and France agree that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon, after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"We are on the same wavelength: no nuclear weapons for Iran," Sarkozy told the AFP news service. "Germany and France believe in the usefulness of sanctions."
Merkel said the two countries agreed that a new round of UN sanctions may be necessary to stop Iran from pursuing uranium enrichment.
"The common position that, if Iran does not change its stance, further sanctions must be considered in the UN framework," she told reporters after the meeting.
The Bush administration is losing patience with Gordon Brown over Iran, with senior American diplomats frustrated by his reluctance to declare bluntly that the Islamic state must never be allowed nuclear weapons.Interpol name Iranian officials over Jewish community centre bombingAllies of Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, have told The Sunday Telegraph that the Prime Minister should emulate France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and warn that Iran may face military action, in order to help avert a new war in the Middle East. Gordon Brown will not be drawn over IranThe concerns reflect growing irritation in Washington, from the White House down, that Mr Brown will not match his more robust private conversations on Iran with hard-hitting public statements that would put pressure on the Teheran regime. Ms Rice's inner circle argue that unless Iran believes that its defiance of the international community will lead to serious economic and military consequences, there is little hope of diplomacy succeeding. They regard Britain as a key to that effort. A senior State Department official with close ties to Ms Rice said: "It would be helpful if he took a tougher line in public. We've got to convince Iran that the West will not tolerate them developing nuclear weapons.
The Bush administration is losing patience with Gordon Brown over Iran, with senior American diplomats frustrated by his reluctance to declare bluntly that the Islamic state must never be allowed nuclear weapons.
Allies of Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, have told The Sunday Telegraph that the Prime Minister should emulate France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and warn that Iran may face military action, in order to help avert a new war in the Middle East.
The concerns reflect growing irritation in Washington, from the White House down, that Mr Brown will not match his more robust private conversations on Iran with hard-hitting public statements that would put pressure on the Teheran regime. Ms Rice's inner circle argue that unless Iran believes that its defiance of the international community will lead to serious economic and military consequences, there is little hope of diplomacy succeeding. They regard Britain as a key to that effort.
A senior State Department official with close ties to Ms Rice said: "It would be helpful if he took a tougher line in public. We've got to convince Iran that the West will not tolerate them developing nuclear weapons.
Gordon Brown last night proposed a worldwide ban on companies developing Iran's oil and gas fields if it failed to curb its nuclear ambitions. He promised to take the lead in seeking tougher penalties through the United Nations and the European Union as Britain and the United States seek to increase the pressure on Tehran. In his first major speech on foreign policy the Prime Minister said that Iran had a choice -- confrontation with the international community and stringent sanctions against it; or dropping its nuclear plans, ending support for terrorism and having a transformed relationship with the world. Unless imminent reports from the EU and the International Atomic Energy Agency suggested movement from Iran, there would be stronger sanctions, including on oil and gas investment and the financial sector. "Iran should be in no doubt about our seriousness of purpose," he said.
Gordon Brown last night proposed a worldwide ban on companies developing Iran's oil and gas fields if it failed to curb its nuclear ambitions.
He promised to take the lead in seeking tougher penalties through the United Nations and the European Union as Britain and the United States seek to increase the pressure on Tehran.
In his first major speech on foreign policy the Prime Minister said that Iran had a choice -- confrontation with the international community and stringent sanctions against it; or dropping its nuclear plans, ending support for terrorism and having a transformed relationship with the world.
Unless imminent reports from the EU and the International Atomic Energy Agency suggested movement from Iran, there would be stronger sanctions, including on oil and gas investment and the financial sector. "Iran should be in no doubt about our seriousness of purpose," he said.
Tougher sanctions on Iran's oil and gas fields were proposed by Gordon Brown as part of international efforts to persuade Tehran to abandon its alleged attempts to acquire a nuclear bomb. Energy companies would be banned from exploiting reserves for use by Iran if the sanctions outlined by the Prime Minister in a wide-ranging foreign affairs speech last night are endorsed by the EU or the UN. Those measures could be coupled with tougher economic sanctions by international banks if a report due shortly from the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) shows that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's regime continues to defy the international community over the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Mapping out his strategy of "hard-headed internationalism" for Britain's future foreign policy, Mr Brown marked a shift from Tony Blair's readiness to act as foremost ally of the US and favoured confidant of President George W Bush. He signalled that in future Britain would work more closely with EU partners and through the UN. Mr Brown made it clear that Britain believes tougher sanctions - rather than the threats of military action - against Iran are starting to work, although his senior officials insisted that "nothing is ruled out". Speaking at the Lord Mayor's Banquet in white tie and tails - an outfit he refused to wear when he was Chancellor - the Prime Minister also called for a standby civilian force including members of the police and judiciary to be created to deal with international crises such as Rwanda and Darfur.
Tougher sanctions on Iran's oil and gas fields were proposed by Gordon Brown as part of international efforts to persuade Tehran to abandon its alleged attempts to acquire a nuclear bomb.
Energy companies would be banned from exploiting reserves for use by Iran if the sanctions outlined by the Prime Minister in a wide-ranging foreign affairs speech last night are endorsed by the EU or the UN. Those measures could be coupled with tougher economic sanctions by international banks if a report due shortly from the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) shows that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's regime continues to defy the international community over the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
Mapping out his strategy of "hard-headed internationalism" for Britain's future foreign policy, Mr Brown marked a shift from Tony Blair's readiness to act as foremost ally of the US and favoured confidant of President George W Bush. He signalled that in future Britain would work more closely with EU partners and through the UN. Mr Brown made it clear that Britain believes tougher sanctions - rather than the threats of military action - against Iran are starting to work, although his senior officials insisted that "nothing is ruled out".
Speaking at the Lord Mayor's Banquet in white tie and tails - an outfit he refused to wear when he was Chancellor - the Prime Minister also called for a standby civilian force including members of the police and judiciary to be created to deal with international crises such as Rwanda and Darfur.
France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy, will tonight confront the biggest challenge yet to his six-month tenure, when transport and utility workers begin open-ended strike action which could paralyse the country, deepening the sense of a "November of discontent".Unions and the left yesterday accused Sarkozy of deliberately forcing workers onto the streets for a showdown over pensions reform in order to portray himself as a hard-man reformer who is prepared to stand his ground. From 8pm tonight, transport, gas and electricity workers, and staff at the Paris Opera and Comédie Française, will down tools in protest at plans to end special pension benefits enjoyed by certain public sector workers. Ending these special deals is key for Sarkozy if he is to retain his image as a tough reformer and push through more difficult changes in labour law and general pensions early next year.The special deals - which date back to the end of the second world war or, in some cases, to the time of Louis XIV - allow certain workers, such as train drivers, to retire early on favourable packages because their jobs were historically seen as dangerous or strenuous.
Unions and the left yesterday accused Sarkozy of deliberately forcing workers onto the streets for a showdown over pensions reform in order to portray himself as a hard-man reformer who is prepared to stand his ground.
From 8pm tonight, transport, gas and electricity workers, and staff at the Paris Opera and Comédie Française, will down tools in protest at plans to end special pension benefits enjoyed by certain public sector workers. Ending these special deals is key for Sarkozy if he is to retain his image as a tough reformer and push through more difficult changes in labour law and general pensions early next year.
The special deals - which date back to the end of the second world war or, in some cases, to the time of Louis XIV - allow certain workers, such as train drivers, to retire early on favourable packages because their jobs were historically seen as dangerous or strenuous.
It is good to see that strikes are back in fashion. They are the best, and often the only way, people can demand their fair share of the productivity they bring to the market. In Hollywood the Writers Guild of America is on strike to get a fair share of the revenue stream that will come through Internet distribution of their work. In New York the stage workers are trying to protect their hard-won benefits by shutting down shows. Huge railway and student strikes are planned this week in France to fight against Sarkozy's neo-liberal attack on pensions and on University financing. In Germany locomotive drivers and train conductors are in on and off strikes to get better payment. In Ireland bus drivers are on strike over new imposed working condictions that in effect require them to do longer hours.
It is good to see that strikes are back in fashion. They are the best, and often the only way, people can demand their fair share of the productivity they bring to the market.
In Hollywood the Writers Guild of America is on strike to get a fair share of the revenue stream that will come through Internet distribution of their work.
In New York the stage workers are trying to protect their hard-won benefits by shutting down shows.
Huge railway and student strikes are planned this week in France to fight against Sarkozy's neo-liberal attack on pensions and on University financing.
In Germany locomotive drivers and train conductors are in on and off strikes to get better payment.
In Ireland bus drivers are on strike over new imposed working condictions that in effect require them to do longer hours.
I learnt from (the same) internal source that the insane plans of cuts to the new regular interval timeplan are off the table, though not permanently: the issue should be back on the table after impact studies (read: the prior plans of the transport ministry weren't based on any studies whatsoever). However, regarding branchline closures, after the first strike, the ministry increased the number of lines in discussion from 28 to 37... Currently, local governments let themselves be blackmailed into financing ten of these, the game continues with the rest, disregarding the strikes so far. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Bosnia's three-man presidency accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Spiric, signalling the start of difficult talks on a new cabinet and possible early elections in the divided country. Spiric will remain caretaker PM while the country's three rival ethnic groups - Bosnian Serbs, Croats and Muslims - try to find a compromise candidate for prime minister. If they cannot agree, the country must hold a general election. Haris Silajdzic, the presidency's Muslim member, told reporters the presidency had tried to dissuade Spiric, but in the end had to accept his resignation. "We are launching consultations with parties for a new cabinet," Silajdzic said. "We have 30 days to propose a new prime minister-designate."
Bosnia's three-man presidency accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Spiric, signalling the start of difficult talks on a new cabinet and possible early elections in the divided country. Spiric will remain caretaker PM while the country's three rival ethnic groups - Bosnian Serbs, Croats and Muslims - try to find a compromise candidate for prime minister.
If they cannot agree, the country must hold a general election. Haris Silajdzic, the presidency's Muslim member, told reporters the presidency had tried to dissuade Spiric, but in the end had to accept his resignation. "We are launching consultations with parties for a new cabinet," Silajdzic said. "We have 30 days to propose a new prime minister-designate."
LISBON -- The European Union's (EU's) consumer chief dispelled industry fears on Saturday that she intends to introduce US-style class action lawsuits across the bloc next year as part of her strategy to strengthen consumer rights. EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva announced in March that she hoped to introduce a new system of "collective redress" aimed at giving European consumers more power to bring claims against providers of faulty goods or services. But she vehemently dismissed claims that she proposed to copy the US legal system, where class action laws have allowed lawyers to create a thriving litigation industry seeking colossal damages against companies. "To those who have come all the way to Lisbon to hear the words `class action', let me be clear from the start. There will not be any. Not in Europe, not under my watch," Kuneva told a meeting of business leaders, consumer groups and leading law firms in the Portuguese capital.
LISBON -- The European Union's (EU's) consumer chief dispelled industry fears on Saturday that she intends to introduce US-style class action lawsuits across the bloc next year as part of her strategy to strengthen consumer rights.
EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva announced in March that she hoped to introduce a new system of "collective redress" aimed at giving European consumers more power to bring claims against providers of faulty goods or services.
But she vehemently dismissed claims that she proposed to copy the US legal system, where class action laws have allowed lawyers to create a thriving litigation industry seeking colossal damages against companies.
"To those who have come all the way to Lisbon to hear the words `class action', let me be clear from the start. There will not be any. Not in Europe, not under my watch," Kuneva told a meeting of business leaders, consumer groups and leading law firms in the Portuguese capital.
Assassins (of masses) in the workplace In 2006 there were 1302 deaths in the workplace, 930 thousand injuries, about 27 thousand people made invalids. A social cost of 41 billion euro each year 5/6 little budgets. The number will easily be well above that for 2007. Just on 5 November there were 5 people killed at work. Their names are: Immacolata, Alan, Francesco, Cristiano and Paul. It's a war that the newspapers don't talk about, that the politicians either use or ignore. We need to ask ourselves why a man or a woman decides to work while putting their lives at risk. They are never casual deaths. Those who die know they are facing danger. They decide to do it because they have children, to pay the mortgage on their home, or simply to survive. They do it because they have no rights, clandestine or precarious with a resignation letter already signed, so, if they raise their voice, they have sacked themselves. There are more dead in Italy in a year than there are United States soldiers dying in the war in Iraq. snip Who gains? Because it's certain that someone gains. Today, tomorrow, for the whole week the media will saturate our brains with football violence. If someone has made a mistake, they must pay. But for those who die in the workplace, no one investigates; no one gives the job to the police. No front page. Football is a tool for mass distraction. You don't have to think.
In 2006 there were 1302 deaths in the workplace, 930 thousand injuries, about 27 thousand people made invalids. A social cost of 41 billion euro each year 5/6 little budgets. The number will easily be well above that for 2007. Just on 5 November there were 5 people killed at work. Their names are: Immacolata, Alan, Francesco, Cristiano and Paul. It's a war that the newspapers don't talk about, that the politicians either use or ignore. We need to ask ourselves why a man or a woman decides to work while putting their lives at risk. They are never casual deaths. Those who die know they are facing danger. They decide to do it because they have children, to pay the mortgage on their home, or simply to survive. They do it because they have no rights, clandestine or precarious with a resignation letter already signed, so, if they raise their voice, they have sacked themselves. There are more dead in Italy in a year than there are United States soldiers dying in the war in Iraq.
snip
Who gains? Because it's certain that someone gains. Today, tomorrow, for the whole week the media will saturate our brains with football violence. If someone has made a mistake, they must pay. But for those who die in the workplace, no one investigates; no one gives the job to the police. No front page. Football is a tool for mass distraction. You don't have to think.
g'morning fran! ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
Death and injury are major problems on work and construction sites but it must be coupled with the larger context of the job black market and generalized evasion.
As for it being reported it often gets headline coverage and has been a public concern of president Napolitano.
Security laws do exist, following EU directives I suppose, but the illegal, clandestine economy is so vast whatever repression there is is a drop in the bucket.
PS. It's always a pleasure to see some prominent racist (Lega Nord) arrested for running illegal immigrant rackets. By making harsh, segregational laws against immigrants you create a thriving illegal work pool of dirt cheap labour without rights.
"Franz Müntefering wird seine Funktionen als Arbeitsminister und Vizekanzler aus ausschließlich familiären Gründen niederlegen." Er betonte damit, dass der Rückzug nicht aus politischen Gründen erfolge. Es ist bekannt, dass Münteferings Frau schwer krebskrank ist. Müntefering galt als Garant der Regierungsfähigkeit und Koalitionstreue der SPD im Bündnis mit der Union. Über eine Nachfolge im Ministerium und der SPD-Führungsrolle als Vizekanzler gab es zunächst keine Informationen.
Müntefering will nach Angaben seines Sprechers am Nachmittag die SPD-Fraktion über seine Entscheidung informieren. Offenbar hatte er damit noch die Beratungen der Koalitionsrunde am Montag abend abgewartet. Er hatte an dem vorangegangenen Spitzentreffen vor einer Woche wegen der Krankheit seiner Frau nicht teilgenommen und auch die vergangene Woche weitgehend in Bonn verbracht, wo sie in einer Klinik operiert worden war. Müntefering hat in einem früheren Interview bestätigt, dass er beim ersten schweren Ausbruch der Krankheit 2002 einen Rücktritt erwogen habe.
"Franz Müntefering will lay down his function as Minister for Employment and Vice-Chancellor, due exclusively to family reasons." With this, he emphasised that the resignation was not caused by political reasons. It is known that Müntefering's wife is suffering from a bad case of cancer. Müntefering was held to be the guarantor of the SPD's ability to govern and faithfulness in the coalition with the CDU/CSU. For the time being, there was no information about the succession in the ministry and the SPD leadership role as Vice-Chancellor.
According to his speaker, Müntefering wants to inform the SPD faction of his decision in the afternoon. Apparently he had waited for the consultations in the coaltion round on monday evening. He had not attended the preceding meeting of the coaltion leaders in the week before due to the illness of his wife, and also spent much of last week in Bonn, where she was operated in a clinic. In an earlier interview, Müntefering confirmed that he had already considered resigning in 2002, at the first severe onset of the disease.
Answering a question as to whether or not the world could count on Russia to defend it from "insidious American plans," Baluyevsky replied, "Today, there is no need to be afraid of the Russian Armed Forces. However, I do not believe that the Russian military is obliged to defend the world from the evil Americans".
However, I do not believe that the Russian military is obliged to defend the world from the evil Americans".
