In defiance of the major music companies and film industry, the European Parliament has voted against punishing alleged file-sharers by shutting off their internet connection, an idea that has been pushed by both record labels and French President Nicolas Sarkozy over the last year. An amendment to a report on Europe's Cultural Industries that was narrowly adopted by the parliament on Thursday (10 April) describes such a manoeuvre as disproportionate to the act of downloading a copyrighted music track or film. Recognising the internet as a "vast platform" for cultural expression and democratic participation, the amendment, proposed by 31-year-old Swedish centre-right MEP Christofer Fjellner and French Socialist MEP Michel Rocard, calls on the European Commission and member states "to avoid adopting measures conflicting with civil liberties and human rights and with the principles of proportionality, effectiveness and dissuasiveness, such as the interruption of internet access." The International Federation of Phonographic Industries - the music industry's trade association - had heavily lobbied MEPs to adopt the so-called three strikes approach, whereby repeated violators of copyright through the sharing of songs, films, games or software would have their internet connection cut off.
This collection of web pages is intended to be a guide to some of the resources for the analysis of spatial data using R, and other associated software.
Slovakia's parliament has ratified the Lisbon Treaty, despite a boycott of the vote by some opposition parties. Previous attempts to hold a vote had to be scrapped because of a series of walkouts by MPs over a media law, which critics say harms press freedom. But one of the opposition parties decided to drop its boycott and give Prime Minister Robert Fico the majority he needed to push the bill through. Poland has also formally ratified the treaty, after a vote by MPs last week. President Lech Kaczynski took the final step, nine days after both houses of parliament had backed a law authorising him to do so. Austria's parliament ratified the document on Wednesday.
Slovakia's parliament has ratified the Lisbon Treaty, despite a boycott of the vote by some opposition parties.
Previous attempts to hold a vote had to be scrapped because of a series of walkouts by MPs over a media law, which critics say harms press freedom.
But one of the opposition parties decided to drop its boycott and give Prime Minister Robert Fico the majority he needed to push the bill through.
Poland has also formally ratified the treaty, after a vote by MPs last week.
President Lech Kaczynski took the final step, nine days after both houses of parliament had backed a law authorising him to do so.
Austria's parliament ratified the document on Wednesday.
At least 19,000 school students and teachers have demonstrated on the streets of Paris against a proposed reform of the French education system. They marched against job cuts in secondary schools. The government plans to cut some 11,200 education jobs this year, including 8,500 teaching posts. The protest, which began on Thursday afternoon, is the students' second this week and the fifth in two weeks. Thursday's protest is thought to be the largest so far.
At least 19,000 school students and teachers have demonstrated on the streets of Paris against a proposed reform of the French education system.
They marched against job cuts in secondary schools. The government plans to cut some 11,200 education jobs this year, including 8,500 teaching posts.
The protest, which began on Thursday afternoon, is the students' second this week and the fifth in two weeks.
Thursday's protest is thought to be the largest so far.
It is 10 years since leaders of Northern Ireland's Protestant and Catholic communities signed up to the Good Friday Peace Agreement, ending decades of violence and laying the foundations for a poltical settlement. David Trimble was the first First Minister of the power-sharing government established by the Agreement. He resigned in 2001 over the disarmament issue and the peace process was stalled for several years before a final accord was reached. The Nobel Peace Prize winner talked to EuroNews about how the agreement was brokered and reflects on possible lessons for other regions of conflict. <...> EN: Lets go back to Ireland, Ireland and Europe, do you think the European Union has done enough, should it be more engaged? DT: The main effect of the European Union is not something the European Union did as an institution. The main effect was its existence and by virtue of the changes that the European Union symbolises the whole idea of nationality in western Europe is quite different to what it was a generation ago. That changed the context within which we were looking at the problem. <...> EN: Republicans and Unionists are still divided on one key issue, the possible reunification with the Republic. Do you envisage that happening one day or is that just of the question. DT: I don't think personally that will ever happen, but I don't think in a few years it's going to matter. Because the other thing that's happened over the course of the past ten years is that there's now a much closer relationship between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, so I don't see this as being a problem for the future at all.
<...>
EN: Lets go back to Ireland, Ireland and Europe, do you think the European Union has done enough, should it be more engaged?
DT: The main effect of the European Union is not something the European Union did as an institution. The main effect was its existence and by virtue of the changes that the European Union symbolises the whole idea of nationality in western Europe is quite different to what it was a generation ago. That changed the context within which we were looking at the problem. <...>
EN: Republicans and Unionists are still divided on one key issue, the possible reunification with the Republic. Do you envisage that happening one day or is that just of the question.
DT: I don't think personally that will ever happen, but I don't think in a few years it's going to matter. Because the other thing that's happened over the course of the past ten years is that there's now a much closer relationship between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, so I don't see this as being a problem for the future at all.
That'll annoy the Atlanticists.
Very, very interesting comment about the idea of nationhood though. The Atlanticists are defined by their rather old-fashioned worship at the altar of the nation state. The Yurpeans - not so much.
When the UK and US have failed as nation states, they may become more interested in taking a long-term view.
The EU Question The European Freedom Alliance Party in the European Parliament is reportedly calling to make missile defense in Eastern Europe an EU issue.[8] This is bad news. The supranational European Union is a bureaucratic, statist, cumbersome, anti-American entity that has attempted to frustrate American policy on multiple occasions. The involvement of the EU is unnecessary and would effectively kill any hope of a deal. Poland, the Czech Republic, and the United States must give zero consideration to involving the EU at any level. For its part, NATO has generally considered the Washington-Warsaw-Prague talks to be bilateral and has not interfered. Also, NATO has expressed general support for European missile defenses, especially against short- and medium-range missiles. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer stated after the April North Atlantic Council meeting: "There is absolutely a shared threat perception between the allies. Allies all agree that there is a threat from ballistic missiles."[9] NATO's developing interest in missile defense is a good thing; it should ultimately complement America's missile defense program in Eastern Europe. There is no reason to believe that simultaneous development of missile defenses in Europe by both NATO and the U.S. would be incompatible in the long-term.
The European Freedom Alliance Party in the European Parliament is reportedly calling to make missile defense in Eastern Europe an EU issue.[8] This is bad news. The supranational European Union is a bureaucratic, statist, cumbersome, anti-American entity that has attempted to frustrate American policy on multiple occasions. The involvement of the EU is unnecessary and would effectively kill any hope of a deal. Poland, the Czech Republic, and the United States must give zero consideration to involving the EU at any level.
For its part, NATO has generally considered the Washington-Warsaw-Prague talks to be bilateral and has not interfered. Also, NATO has expressed general support for European missile defenses, especially against short- and medium-range missiles. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer stated after the April North Atlantic Council meeting: "There is absolutely a shared threat perception between the allies. Allies all agree that there is a threat from ballistic missiles."[9] NATO's developing interest in missile defense is a good thing; it should ultimately complement America's missile defense program in Eastern Europe. There is no reason to believe that simultaneous development of missile defenses in Europe by both NATO and the U.S. would be incompatible in the long-term.
The involvement of the EU is unnecessary and would effectively kill any hope of a deal. Poland, the Czech Republic, and the United States must give zero consideration to involving the EU at any level.
That would be this military and intelligence community: As EU governments focus on securing ratification of the proposed Lisbon Reform Treaty in 2008, United States policymakers are concerned its provisions could present serious challenges to transatlantic intelligence and homeland security co-operation. The main US reservation is that, by transferring additional law and justice functions from the individual EU member states to EU institutions, the treaty could disrupt existing bilateral relations between US and EU governments without establishing anything better.(Janes) Fertile ground for a conspiracy theory, wouldn't you say?
That would be this military and intelligence community:
As EU governments focus on securing ratification of the proposed Lisbon Reform Treaty in 2008, United States policymakers are concerned its provisions could present serious challenges to transatlantic intelligence and homeland security co-operation. The main US reservation is that, by transferring additional law and justice functions from the individual EU member states to EU institutions, the treaty could disrupt existing bilateral relations between US and EU governments without establishing anything better.(Janes)
The EU and Washington in its current toxic state are natural enemies. In the longer term EU alignment with Moscow is more likely than EU involvement with Washington.
Washington hasn't realised this, and probably won't until it's too late.
The only thing that has kept Washington at some distance from EU involvement is a condescending belief that the EU is already tame
In what way are they mistaken ? keep to the Fen Causeway
EU policy is, to a greater extent, an expression of our collective national politics If our respective lords and masters bend the knee to Washington, then the EU defers as well.
Whilst I'd agree with you that there are areas of difference, particularly with the ECB. But it is equally true that there are significant matters where the realitonship is supine and grovelling.
I didn't know that cynicism was a particularly British trait. Most of the complaints I receive are from fellow Brits who wish I'd stop being so monotonously negative about British politics and our lapdog relationship with the US. But seeing as I've already been called a pretentious git by your good self I'm just accumulating insults these days. keep to the Fen Causeway
The story that Gordon Brown fumbled the Olympic crisis was so credible because it seemed to fit a pattern. It turns out that it was announced long ago that he was never due to attend the Olympic opening: the Chinese already confirmed his attendance only at the closing ceremony. Brown, anxious to offend neither side, failed to clarify that he was not attending and not protesting either. It was a bum rap. ... Here is the puzzle. Those who know him know Gordon Brown to be a man of sincere beliefs with a profound concern for the poor at home and abroad. There is nothing showy or sham about him. But, alas, a good man doesn't necessarily make a good prime minister. So was it right when the Blair camp malevolently tarred him as "psychologically flawed"? Well, who isn't? There's no reason to think him any crazier than others with the vaulting ambition to reach No 10. Blair was considerably madder and badder by the time he left office - what with war, Catholic conversion and shameless plunder from fat directorships. ... The 10p tax fiasco is serious: in one iconic error Brown has blown away his most admirable reputation - a 10-year record of directing money to the poorest. Even in this year's tight budget, money was found for poor children. But now the voters see some of the lowest-paid having their income tax raised from 10p to 20p. We who inquired about this after Brown's last budget were too easily fobbed off with apparent evidence it would effect few people - but there are 5.3 million low-paid childless losers. Never mind that many more voters gained. Never mind that Cameron will vote against it without saying where he'll get £7bn to restore the 10p rate. This does inestimable harm to the "Whose side are you on?" question. So why not tax the richest to take the low-paid out of tax? Answer comes there none - though conversation in every pub and wine bar points the finger at the fat cats whose avarice caused the crisis in which ordinary people risk losing their homes. Why did it take the Tories to first suggest taxing non-doms ... After all, under-reported as ever, the NHS is doing well with waiting lists down, GPs' opening hours up and funds in reserve. Soon 3,500 children's centres will be open for all toddlers, and extended schools will open from breakfast to tea, with diplomas and apprenticeships to keep all in training until 18. Two million council and housing association homes have been quietly renovated to decent standards. These are good reasons why Labour deserves another term, but it can't be won with weather vane politics blowing with every contrary puff of wind. The time is short - but it's never over until the fat returning officer sings.
...
Here is the puzzle. Those who know him know Gordon Brown to be a man of sincere beliefs with a profound concern for the poor at home and abroad. There is nothing showy or sham about him. But, alas, a good man doesn't necessarily make a good prime minister. So was it right when the Blair camp malevolently tarred him as "psychologically flawed"? Well, who isn't? There's no reason to think him any crazier than others with the vaulting ambition to reach No 10. Blair was considerably madder and badder by the time he left office - what with war, Catholic conversion and shameless plunder from fat directorships.
The 10p tax fiasco is serious: in one iconic error Brown has blown away his most admirable reputation - a 10-year record of directing money to the poorest. Even in this year's tight budget, money was found for poor children. But now the voters see some of the lowest-paid having their income tax raised from 10p to 20p. We who inquired about this after Brown's last budget were too easily fobbed off with apparent evidence it would effect few people - but there are 5.3 million low-paid childless losers. Never mind that many more voters gained. Never mind that Cameron will vote against it without saying where he'll get £7bn to restore the 10p rate. This does inestimable harm to the "Whose side are you on?" question. So why not tax the richest to take the low-paid out of tax? Answer comes there none - though conversation in every pub and wine bar points the finger at the fat cats whose avarice caused the crisis in which ordinary people risk losing their homes. Why did it take the Tories to first suggest taxing non-doms
After all, under-reported as ever, the NHS is doing well with waiting lists down, GPs' opening hours up and funds in reserve. Soon 3,500 children's centres will be open for all toddlers, and extended schools will open from breakfast to tea, with diplomas and apprenticeships to keep all in training until 18. Two million council and housing association homes have been quietly renovated to decent standards. These are good reasons why Labour deserves another term, but it can't be won with weather vane politics blowing with every contrary puff of wind. The time is short - but it's never over until the fat returning officer sings.
She's absolutely right to ask if he's suited to be Prime Minister, he won't make decisions, he dithers till it's too late. He won't lead difficult policies, he hides. It's the only time you ever see ministers on the telly. Gordon is always ready when it's a good thing, usually for "hard-working families", but when it's awkward up pops some other minister to take the flak.
This does inestimable harm to the "Whose side are you on?" question. So why not tax the richest to take the low-paid out of tax? Answer comes there none - though conversation in every pub and wine bar points the finger at the fat cats whose avarice caused the crisis in which ordinary people risk losing their homes.
Gordon believes the City does "wealth creation" and so will do absolutely anything to reduce their tax burden and regulation, ot the point of bleeding the coutnry to death. He's on the side of the City and the wealthy and thereis no alternative cos the tories are as well. Another shit idea copied from America; two right wing parties arguing over who can penalize the poor the most. keep to the Fen Causeway
No, she's more a distressed Tony fan who thus naturally hates Brown. She has a history of negative commentary on Brown. *Traitor*, n. A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.
