German participation in air surveillance flights ahead of the Iraq War was unconstitutional, according to a Constitutional Court ruling. Parliament always has the final say in foreign troop deployments, the court said. The German government erred in getting involved in the lead-up to the Iraq War without parliamentary approval, according to a Wednesday, May 7 decision from Germany's highest court. The German center-left government under then-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder should have gotten prior approval from the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, before taking part in a surveillance mission to Turkey in 2003, the court ruled.
The German government erred in getting involved in the lead-up to the Iraq War without parliamentary approval, according to a Wednesday, May 7 decision from Germany's highest court.
The German center-left government under then-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder should have gotten prior approval from the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament, before taking part in a surveillance mission to Turkey in 2003, the court ruled.
The decision is unlikely to have any legal consequences for Schroeder or other members of his government but will influence the military policy-making of future administrations.
Lack of consequences. This is a problem. Not only in Germany, but also definitely in the United States. Without consequences, there is nothing to prevent the next government to doing the same thing and having it died up in courts for five years.
FDP head Guido Westerwelle hailed the Constitutional Court ruling as "historic," saying that it would keep the German army under parliamentary control and prevent it from being turned into a tool of the government.
As historic the decision may be, without consequences for Schroeder and others who gave the orders, will it really keep the "the German army under parliamentary control"?
One can only hope that a direct court ruling will prevent a future government from trying the same stunt. It takes 5 years to make it through the courts the first time, but an immediate injunction would be easier the 2nd time.
What is interesting to me is that Germany ostensively went in at the request of Turkey. Germany and Turkey are two countries who publicly were opposed to the US invasion. But they ended up playing Gunga Din for the master.
Interesting too is the AWACs mission - the Iraqi airforce had already been decimated. I want to find out that Turkey was using the Germans to keep the US out of Turkish airspace. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission has pushed back a decision on whether to permit three genetically modified crops, saying that additional scientific analysis on their effects on the environment and human health was needed before they could be approved. One of the crops is a potato that produces extra starch - suitable for industrial uses and animal feed - and contains a gene that confers resistance to certain antibiotics, and the other two are maize varieties engineered to produce their own pesticide. The commission asked its in-house food safety analysts, the European Food Safety Agency, to once again review the three strains - the third time it has requested EFSA review these particular crops. In its previous assessments of the two GM maize varieties, EFSA stated that both varieties were safe. "The commission will adopt these decisions if and when EFSA has confirmed the safety of these products," said commission spokesperson Johanes Laitenberger
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Slovakia has received formal confirmation that it is ready to join the euro on 1 January 2009, despite the "considerable concerns" of the European Central Bank about the forthcoming price stability performance of the country. "The report finds that Slovakia has achieved a 'high degree of sustainable convergence' and therefore it is considered ready to adopt the euro in 2009," said the European Commission evaluation report. It stated that "the budget deficit in Slovakia has seen a credible and sustainable reduction to below 3 percent of GDP," and its average inflation rate "is well below the reference value, and it is likely to remain below the reference value in the months ahead, albeit with a narrowing margin." The levels of inflation in Slovakia were previously regarded as the most sensitive area of the Slovak candidacy, with Brussels urging Bratislava until the last minute to make more lasting cuts in the budgetary deficit to prevent future inflation hikes.
The European Commission on Wednesday approved the application of Slovakia to adopt the euro as its currency on Jan. 1, 2009, completing a fast and furious transformation that brought the small country from dictatorship to thriving market economy in less than a decade. Slovakia will become the 16th country using the euro. In an annual report on candidates for the euro zone, the commission said that Slovakia fulfilled the criteria laid down in European treaties for joining the euro zone on interest rates, budget deficits and, above all, inflation. Under the formula used to evaluate potential members, Slovakia had to have an inflation rate no higher than 3.2 percent over the past 12 months, a mark it beat by a full percentage point. No other countries have yet applied for euro membership, but no others would have been accepted if they had. The Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, once the strongest candidates, now appear far from that goal because of high inflation rates. Larger countries like Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic seem equally unlikely to move quickly to adopt the euro.
The European Commission on Wednesday approved the application of Slovakia to adopt the euro as its currency on Jan. 1, 2009, completing a fast and furious transformation that brought the small country from dictatorship to thriving market economy in less than a decade.
Slovakia will become the 16th country using the euro.
In an annual report on candidates for the euro zone, the commission said that Slovakia fulfilled the criteria laid down in European treaties for joining the euro zone on interest rates, budget deficits and, above all, inflation. Under the formula used to evaluate potential members, Slovakia had to have an inflation rate no higher than 3.2 percent over the past 12 months, a mark it beat by a full percentage point.
No other countries have yet applied for euro membership, but no others would have been accepted if they had. The Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, once the strongest candidates, now appear far from that goal because of high inflation rates. Larger countries like Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic seem equally unlikely to move quickly to adopt the euro.
It's not just football we're bad at.
Nine million Europeans can't read or write, according to a recent United Nations report. Low levels of literacy are not confined to the fringes of European society, the report said. While Euorpe has a literacy rate of more than 96 percent, serious disparities persist, according to a United Nations report released Tuesday, May 6. Illiteracy affects nine million people in the central and eastern part of the continent, according to the UN's education and scientific agency UNESCO. "Contrary to the commonly held assumption that only minority groups are affected, low levels of literacy touch mainstream European populations," UNESCO said in a statement.
While Euorpe has a literacy rate of more than 96 percent, serious disparities persist, according to a United Nations report released Tuesday, May 6.
Illiteracy affects nine million people in the central and eastern part of the continent, according to the UN's education and scientific agency UNESCO.
"Contrary to the commonly held assumption that only minority groups are affected, low levels of literacy touch mainstream European populations," UNESCO said in a statement.
France already controls 11 million square kilometers of the world's oceans, second only to the US. Now they want more, demanding the equivalent of three Germanys all in one gulp. It's part of a rush to divvy up the world's oceans by this time next year. Oil reserves are running out, gas prices are soaring. France's government is reacting to the dwindling energy supply much like Russia and Great Britain: the government is laying claim to vast stretches of the world's oceans. In France's case, the claims span the globe: from French Guyana in South America to Africa and across the Indian Ocean. Paris would like to see its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) -- defined by international law as the ocean extending 200 nautical miles, or 370 kilometers, off a state's coasts -- expanded by almost a million square kilometers. That's three times as big as Germany, according to researcher Walter Roest of the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFRMER) in Brest. Like many other states, the French government will be arguing in the next year that its geographic features in many cases extend far beyond the 370 kilometer zone. At most, that could mean an extension of its EEZ to 650 kilometers past the coastline. Right now, France claims more than 11 million square kilometers of the world's oceans -- the second largest in the world, after the United States.
France already controls 11 million square kilometers of the world's oceans, second only to the US. Now they want more, demanding the equivalent of three Germanys all in one gulp. It's part of a rush to divvy up the world's oceans by this time next year.
Oil reserves are running out, gas prices are soaring. France's government is reacting to the dwindling energy supply much like Russia and Great Britain: the government is laying claim to vast stretches of the world's oceans. In France's case, the claims span the globe: from French Guyana in South America to Africa and across the Indian Ocean.
Paris would like to see its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) -- defined by international law as the ocean extending 200 nautical miles, or 370 kilometers, off a state's coasts -- expanded by almost a million square kilometers. That's three times as big as Germany, according to researcher Walter Roest of the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFRMER) in Brest.
Like many other states, the French government will be arguing in the next year that its geographic features in many cases extend far beyond the 370 kilometer zone. At most, that could mean an extension of its EEZ to 650 kilometers past the coastline. Right now, France claims more than 11 million square kilometers of the world's oceans -- the second largest in the world, after the United States.
Won't global warming cause "massive expansion" of the oceans too?
Mikhail Gorbachev has accused the United States of mounting an imperialist conspiracy against Russia that could push the world into a new Cold War. With Dmitry Medvedev due to be inaugurated today as Russian president, the Soviet Union's last leader said that the White House's claims of peaceful intentions towards its former superpower rival could no longer be trusted. Delivering one of his most scathing attacks on the US, Mr Gorbachev told The Daily Telegraph that a US military build-up was under way to contain a resurgent Russia. From Nato's expansion plans in the former Soviet Union to Washington's proposals for a bigger defence budget and a missile shield in central Europe, the US was deliberately quashing hopes for permanent peace with Russia, Mr Gorbachev said.
In what is becoming a game of brinkmanship between the United States and one of its closest European allies, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday that Washington was prepared to seek a different location for part of its planned antiballistic missile shield if the Polish government could not agree on the terms. This was the first public acknowledgment by the U.S. State Department that talks with Poland had become difficult to the point of rupture because of tough conditions set by the Polish government over the location of up to 10 interceptors for the antimissile system. "The United States would very much like to place those interceptors in Poland," Stephen Mull, the State Department official, said at a news conference in Washington after another round of talks over the issue. Senior Polish government officials said Wednesday in Warsaw that they were extremely concerned that they were failing to persuade the Bush administration to finance the modernization of the Polish armed forces in exchange for deploying part of the shield on Polish territory. They said it appeared that the administration and the U.S. Congress were becoming increasingly reluctant to link the deployment of the missile shield to upgrading Poland's air defenses, at a cost that could run into billions of dollars.
In what is becoming a game of brinkmanship between the United States and one of its closest European allies, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday that Washington was prepared to seek a different location for part of its planned antiballistic missile shield if the Polish government could not agree on the terms.
This was the first public acknowledgment by the U.S. State Department that talks with Poland had become difficult to the point of rupture because of tough conditions set by the Polish government over the location of up to 10 interceptors for the antimissile system.
"The United States would very much like to place those interceptors in Poland," Stephen Mull, the State Department official, said at a news conference in Washington after another round of talks over the issue.
Senior Polish government officials said Wednesday in Warsaw that they were extremely concerned that they were failing to persuade the Bush administration to finance the modernization of the Polish armed forces in exchange for deploying part of the shield on Polish territory.
They said it appeared that the administration and the U.S. Congress were becoming increasingly reluctant to link the deployment of the missile shield to upgrading Poland's air defenses, at a cost that could run into billions of dollars.
The US isn't interested in deals - it wants to dominate and control any exchange. So the Poles aren't going to be finding a lot of support for a tit for tat coming from Washington.
Don't they know they have never been demonstrated to work, probably can't be made to work ?
And who are the missiles protecting them from ? Are politicians capable of independent thought without lobbyist money greasing the works ? keep to the Fen Causeway
A) They don't work. B) They are being sold on the premise of protection against a non-existent threat. C) They have nothing to do with the methods of the people they have pissed off enough to seek some retribution. D) They aren't effective against the new Russian missiles, even if they did work (See A). E) The country is broke and can't afford these boondoggles anymore. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
I can just imagine the racial slurs being slung around the white house. Still over 200 days of terrorism from that group to endure. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
The EU could subsidise coal and other fossil-fuel-burning energy companies to support the rapid development of a controversial technology that involves the storage of carbon deep underground or under the sea bed, according to proposals currently under consideration. However, the proposals have been made at precisely the same moment that the bulk of the international environmental movement chose to come out with extensive criticisms of the technology, known as carbon capture and storage, or CCS. UK Liberal MEP Chris Davies, the lawmaker responsible for steering legislation on CCS through the European Parliament, wants to see a short-term 'double credit' special arrangement introduced into the third phase of the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS). This would enable power plant operators to not only benefit from the ETS by not having to buy allowances, having not produced any CO2, but they would in addition be given an extra credit note for every tonne, which could then be sold on the carbon market.
Greenpeace report finds CCS is unproven, risky and expensive CCS is unproven, risky and expensive and investing in it threatens to undermine the range of clean energy solutions which are available right now. CCS not ready in time ... CCS wastes energy and resources ... Capturing and storing carbon dioxide would be a major energy consumer, gobbling up anything from 10 to 40% of a power plant's electricity output. ... Demands for cooling water also increase dramatically. Power stations with capture technology could require 90% more freshwater than those without. ... Storing carbon underground is risky ... CCS is expensive and undermines real solutions to climate change CCS and liability: risky business ... The alternative to CCS: renewables and energy efficiency Renewable energy and energy saving have proven track records in meeting energy needs safely, cleanly, predictably and cost-effectively. The world has sufficient technically accessible renewable energy to meet global energy needs six times over. Compare that to the risky and expensive option of CCS which is still on the drawing board. Full details of how clean energy and energy efficiency can cut almost halve global CO2 emissions by 2050 are contained in Greenpeace's Energy [R]evolution blueprint.
CCS is unproven, risky and expensive and investing in it threatens to undermine the range of clean energy solutions which are available right now. CCS not ready in time ... CCS wastes energy and resources ... Capturing and storing carbon dioxide would be a major energy consumer, gobbling up anything from 10 to 40% of a power plant's electricity output. ... Demands for cooling water also increase dramatically. Power stations with capture technology could require 90% more freshwater than those without. ... Storing carbon underground is risky ... CCS is expensive and undermines real solutions to climate change CCS and liability: risky business ... The alternative to CCS: renewables and energy efficiency Renewable energy and energy saving have proven track records in meeting energy needs safely, cleanly, predictably and cost-effectively. The world has sufficient technically accessible renewable energy to meet global energy needs six times over. Compare that to the risky and expensive option of CCS which is still on the drawing board. Full details of how clean energy and energy efficiency can cut almost halve global CO2 emissions by 2050 are contained in Greenpeace's Energy [R]evolution blueprint.
ROME: Conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi formed Italy's 62nd postwar government on Wednesday for his third stint as premier. The 71-year-old Berlusconi will be in charge of a Cabinet that includes longtime allies and some fresh faces. He faces the difficult tasks of kick-starting a sluggish economy, boosting productivity and cutting the privileges of a political class that is much maligned and largely discredited. Franco Frattini, the outgoing EU Justice commissioner, will serve as foreign minister while Giulio Tremonti was named finance minister. Both return to posts they held in previous Berlusconi governments. Berlusconi's right-hand man and closest aide, Gianni Letta, returned to his job of Cabinet undersecretary.
ROME: Conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi formed Italy's 62nd postwar government on Wednesday for his third stint as premier.
The 71-year-old Berlusconi will be in charge of a Cabinet that includes longtime allies and some fresh faces.
He faces the difficult tasks of kick-starting a sluggish economy, boosting productivity and cutting the privileges of a political class that is much maligned and largely discredited.
Franco Frattini, the outgoing EU Justice commissioner, will serve as foreign minister while Giulio Tremonti was named finance minister. Both return to posts they held in previous Berlusconi governments.
Berlusconi's right-hand man and closest aide, Gianni Letta, returned to his job of Cabinet undersecretary.
Irony is dead.
The key positions are occupied by old faces with the exception of Justice which has Angelino Alfano as the youngest ever for the job, 37 years old. His family hails from the Calogero Manino political current, the Sicilian DC rais convicted then freed on his notorious mafia links. Alfano did a marvelous job of expressing how much he hates the mafia on national TV, surefire credentials that put him in the class of "Kissy-kiss" Cuffaro, whose "The mafia is disgusting" campaign was apparently inspired by a reflection in the mirror. Alfano is of course a staunch defender of the mafia gate-keeper, Marcello Dell'Utri, condemned to 11 years for association with the mafia. So there will plenty of wind about "politically motivated red robes" in the years to come. He's young, he's brilliant. Famous statement: "The minute I saw him [Berlusconi] on TV I fell in love."
In the sexpot department Berlusconi has put the show-girl, Mara Carfagna, well remembered for having been the object of Silvio's advances, "Just look at her -- if I was not married I would marry her at once." It prompted the outrage of his wife who wrote a letter to an anti-Berlusconi daily demanding an immediate apology. A famous witness to the event dismissed Silvio as "cunt struck." Now that the smoldering Mara is Minister of Equal Opportunities Silvio will have her around as his daily fix. Mara's other quality is her staunch defense of heterosexual family values. But in the end she's better appreciated for the axial length of her femurs. The other beauty, who is competent by the way, Stefania Prestigiacomo is now handling Environment. She distinguished herself in the last two Berlusconi government for having entirely refurbished the ministry with her interior decorators. She has a bad habit of smashing cell phones and making mega-galactic consultancy contracts with her Syracuse friends. She actually did present a law on equal opportunities but was derided by the studs in the cabinet to the point she broke down and cried. Touching.
The best news is that Environment is no longer in the hands of the old MSI-AN left-over, Altero Matteoli. It's a mystery why he was reconfirmed twice to the job, like putting Attila in charge of catechism reform. Of course Reagan and Bush did the same with Interior, so it's in keeping. He's remembered best for inventing Mario Scaramella, who behind his escapades managed to pocket one million euro in false destruction of abusive villas. Altero also had a long case of sanctioning abusive building on Elba and revealing to the persons involved that they were under investigation. One wonders if he is also behind the fact that Scaramella learned he was under investigation. It remains strange that Altero was able to know these facts. As head of Infrastructure Altero will be responsible for the ill-fated bridge over the Messina Straits, highways, tunnels and railroads. We may only think the worst of him and make a consideration: He must have an inordinate amount of back room power to be appointed to such a key position. His power certainly cannot come from his disastrous management of Environment.
Mariastella Germini is the very young Minister of Education. Her qualifications include banning public school for immigrant children if their parent's papers weren't regular while working for the City of Milan under Letizia Moratti. An open violation of UN Rights of Children as well as the Italian Constitution. Moratti was Berlusconi's last Minister of Education, remembered for having banned Darwin from school through age 13 as being too dangerous for the formation of young minds.
Another Minister of interest is Georgia Meloni who will handle Youth. She was national coordinator of "Young Action," the rightwing youth organization of MSI-AN. The organization is known for its porridge of crackpot myths such as Tolkein, Thule, legendary crusaders, Wagnerian knights, the racist fanatic Evola, axes and Celtic paraphernalia. Well, the idea is that kids like that sort of hero worship. Elysian fields for martyrs. Let's hope Meloni has grown out of that despite her young age.
The government has plenty of talent to embark on unchartered seas somewhat far from European coasts.
DUBLIN, Ireland: Finance Minister Brian Cowen was elected Ireland's new prime minister Wednesday, and he pledged to keep the country on its pro-European course through choppy economic waters. Cowen won in an 88-76 vote in Dail Eireann, Ireland's parliament. He received support from all three parties in the government of his predecessor, Bertie Ahern, who stepped down Tuesday after 11 years in power. A downcast-looking Ahern and lawmakers from all parties offered Cowen a standing ovation. Outside parliament, Cowen was mobbed by cheering, singing well-wishers as police escorted him to his prime ministerial Mercedes. Cowen, 48, immediately reshuffled the Cabinet, appointing new ministers of finance, justice, foreign affairs and several other posts. During his acceptance speech, Cowen's voice quivered with emotion as he noted that his political career began amid tragedy in 1984 when his lawmaker father, Ber, died of a heart attack. His wife, mother, two brothers and two daughters were watching from the public gallery above.
DUBLIN, Ireland: Finance Minister Brian Cowen was elected Ireland's new prime minister Wednesday, and he pledged to keep the country on its pro-European course through choppy economic waters.
Cowen won in an 88-76 vote in Dail Eireann, Ireland's parliament. He received support from all three parties in the government of his predecessor, Bertie Ahern, who stepped down Tuesday after 11 years in power.
A downcast-looking Ahern and lawmakers from all parties offered Cowen a standing ovation. Outside parliament, Cowen was mobbed by cheering, singing well-wishers as police escorted him to his prime ministerial Mercedes.
Cowen, 48, immediately reshuffled the Cabinet, appointing new ministers of finance, justice, foreign affairs and several other posts.
During his acceptance speech, Cowen's voice quivered with emotion as he noted that his political career began amid tragedy in 1984 when his lawmaker father, Ber, died of a heart attack. His wife, mother, two brothers and two daughters were watching from the public gallery above.
Report unveiled by the European Parliament says there is one marital breakdown and one abortion in Europe every 30 seconds BRUSSELS There is one marital breakdown and one abortion in Europe almost every 30 seconds, a report that claims to chart the collapse of family life said yesterday. In a survey of life in the 27 European Union countries, the Institute for Family Policy said that pensioners now outnumbered teenagers, and more people were living alone. The report, The Evolution of the Family in Europe 2008, which was unveiled in the European Parliament in Brussels, described the European birth rate as "critical". It said that almost one million fewer babies were born in the 27 EU countries last year than in 1980. There were six million more over65s than under14s in Europe last year, against 36 million more children than pensioners in 1980.
BRUSSELS There is one marital breakdown and one abortion in Europe almost every 30 seconds, a report that claims to chart the collapse of family life said yesterday.
In a survey of life in the 27 European Union countries, the Institute for Family Policy said that pensioners now outnumbered teenagers, and more people were living alone.
The report, The Evolution of the Family in Europe 2008, which was unveiled in the European Parliament in Brussels, described the European birth rate as "critical".
It said that almost one million fewer babies were born in the 27 EU countries last year than in 1980. There were six million more over65s than under14s in Europe last year, against 36 million more children than pensioners in 1980.
Sigh... In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Catholic leader: Secularist currents in Latin America come from Spain
Catholic leader: Secularist currents in Latin America come from Spain A prominent lay Catholic in Spain who was recently named to the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Lola Velarde, said this week that Spain's President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's secularist agenda is the launching pad for efforts to promote secularism in Europe and Latin America, reports Catholic News Agency. Velarde told the Spanish weekly Alba that Spain has become "in part" a trial ground, because "if this secularist agenda can be implemented in a traditionally Catholic country, it will be much easier to `export' it to other countries like those of Latin America." Velarde, who is also president of the European Network of the Institute for Family Policy, said she wasn't inferring there was a "worldwide conspiracy" or a "worldwide secularist agenda with headquarters in Spain," but rather that there exists a "secularist, relativist, gender ideology-based current that has many protagonists and in which Spain plays a key role." She said her work as member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity would be to unveil this agenda, provide analysis and point to "solutions and avenues" to combat it, as well as "to be a voice for the laity of the Church, especially the laity that work in public life." Velarde thanked Pope Benedict XVI for naming her to the new post and said that as president of the European Network of the Institute for Family Policy, she hoped to offer solutions and analysis about the problems families face in Spain and the European Union.
A prominent lay Catholic in Spain who was recently named to the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Lola Velarde, said this week that Spain's President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's secularist agenda is the launching pad for efforts to promote secularism in Europe and Latin America, reports Catholic News Agency.
Velarde told the Spanish weekly Alba that Spain has become "in part" a trial ground, because "if this secularist agenda can be implemented in a traditionally Catholic country, it will be much easier to `export' it to other countries like those of Latin America."
Velarde, who is also president of the European Network of the Institute for Family Policy, said she wasn't inferring there was a "worldwide conspiracy" or a "worldwide secularist agenda with headquarters in Spain," but rather that there exists a "secularist, relativist, gender ideology-based current that has many protagonists and in which Spain plays a key role."
She said her work as member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity would be to unveil this agenda, provide analysis and point to "solutions and avenues" to combat it, as well as "to be a voice for the laity of the Church, especially the laity that work in public life."
Velarde thanked Pope Benedict XVI for naming her to the new post and said that as president of the European Network of the Institute for Family Policy, she hoped to offer solutions and analysis about the problems families face in Spain and the European Union.
I reported earlier how government plans to close 38 railway branchlines even led to strikes, despite a last-minute announcement of a delay of a few months.
Now, after the break-up of the governing coalition, the first decision of the new transport minister in the new Socialist-only minority government was to delay the final decision over the 12 most threatened lines until the end of the year. (Ostensibly, to "have more time for negotiations with local governments".) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Pourquoi Sarkozy ? Et le pro-américanisme... Sarkozy was elected because the French needed and still need to do some domestic housecleaning. Chirac was conservative in the sense that after some feeble attempts he didn't dare to reform France's labour and business laws. The basic problems in France are due, on the one hand, to a cosy élite whose career path consists of moving between the upper echelons of government and business (a meritocracy, they are anciens éléves of the grandes écoles, similar to the old Chinese civil service) and, on the other hand, to labour leaders, who have managed to gain very advantageous labour contracts over the years. Ultimately, as a solution to the unmeployment problem, the French government enacted a thirty-five hour workweek. This reform resulted in even more problems for the French economy. Sarkozy never made it into the meritocracy, while Chirac did. He had to scramble to get ahead. So he has a hard side. Sarkozy doesn't speak English, while Chirac does (he spent time in the US). Perhaps the need to experience Americans second-hand has helped him to be pro-American. Ultimately, whether a leader is pro- or anti- a country is a question of interests, not of love or admiration. Merkel for all her desire to be pro-American has continued the close economic ties between Germany and Russia (partly cemented by Putin's charm and excellent German). Now, she will be speaking Russian with the new leader, Dmitry Medvedev. Albert Albertde May 7, 2008 - 3:30pm
Sarkozy was elected because the French needed and still need to do some domestic housecleaning. Chirac was conservative in the sense that after some feeble attempts he didn't dare to reform France's labour and business laws.
The basic problems in France are due, on the one hand, to a cosy élite whose career path consists of moving between the upper echelons of government and business (a meritocracy, they are anciens éléves of the grandes écoles, similar to the old Chinese civil service) and, on the other hand, to labour leaders, who have managed to gain very advantageous labour contracts over the years. Ultimately, as a solution to the unmeployment problem, the French government enacted a thirty-five hour workweek. This reform resulted in even more problems for the French economy.
Sarkozy never made it into the meritocracy, while Chirac did. He had to scramble to get ahead. So he has a hard side.
Sarkozy doesn't speak English, while Chirac does (he spent time in the US). Perhaps the need to experience Americans second-hand has helped him to be pro-American.
Ultimately, whether a leader is pro- or anti- a country is a question of interests, not of love or admiration. Merkel for all her desire to be pro-American has continued the close economic ties between Germany and Russia (partly cemented by Putin's charm and excellent German). Now, she will be speaking Russian with the new leader, Dmitry Medvedev.
Albert Albertde May 7, 2008 - 3:30pm
Sarkozy's Presidential Anniversary: Sarkozy l'Américain? | The Agonist
Problèmes de la France The French are facing numerous problems: economic, demographic, fiscal and social for a start. As part of the Euro bloc, they are affected by inflation (3.2% currently) caused in part by the oil crisis (le choc pétrolier). They benefit by being part of that bloc but are hurt by the largest trade deficit ever (€40 billion in 2007) while the Germans are enjoying a record trade surplus (€160.5 billion). Consequently, Germany has no interest in devaluing the Euro, whereas France would. France has a budget deficit of €63.2 billion (31 July 2007) as well. Another problem is the low rate of employment (under 70% of the population between 15 and 64). Finally, the demographic situation is not so much related to the growth of the population (about 2%) but to the inability of French society to deal with African immigrants from the largely Moslem Maghreb and Black Africa (e.g., Senegal). Albert Albertde May 7, 2008 - 7:19pm
The French are facing numerous problems: economic, demographic, fiscal and social for a start. As part of the Euro bloc, they are affected by inflation (3.2% currently) caused in part by the oil crisis (le choc pétrolier). They benefit by being part of that bloc but are hurt by the largest trade deficit ever (€40 billion in 2007) while the Germans are enjoying a record trade surplus (€160.5 billion). Consequently, Germany has no interest in devaluing the Euro, whereas France would. France has a budget deficit of €63.2 billion (31 July 2007) as well. Another problem is the low rate of employment (under 70% of the population between 15 and 64). Finally, the demographic situation is not so much related to the growth of the population (about 2%) but to the inability of French society to deal with African immigrants from the largely Moslem Maghreb and Black Africa (e.g., Senegal).
Albert Albertde May 7, 2008 - 7:19pm
comments? ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
Or this is all part of a long term campaign to bring "reform" to those unreconstructed Frenchies? In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
what will they think of next? full employment with a 3 day-a-week schedule? ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul has reported a 70% increase in requests for help, as a direct result of the rising cost of living. Since Christmas, almost 5,000 requests for assistance have been made to the charity in the Dublin area. Between January and March almost 4,000 callers contacted the SVP in the Dublin area. Advertisement That is twice as many as the same time last year. Most people who called wanted help with paying rising food bills or higher fuel costs. But critically many had not needed help for 10 years or more and many in employment were also seeking financial assistance. The price of food is 9.3% higher than one year ago, bread is up 23% and milk is up 33%, electricity and gas bills have also risen by 12.3%. [RTÉ]
Since Christmas, almost 5,000 requests for assistance have been made to the charity in the Dublin area.
Between January and March almost 4,000 callers contacted the SVP in the Dublin area.
Advertisement That is twice as many as the same time last year.
Most people who called wanted help with paying rising food bills or higher fuel costs.
But critically many had not needed help for 10 years or more and many in employment were also seeking financial assistance.
The price of food is 9.3% higher than one year ago, bread is up 23% and milk is up 33%, electricity and gas bills have also risen by 12.3%. [RTÉ]
Further evidence of my increasing disconnect from reality: I had no idea milk or bread had got more expensive - and I'm the one that does the food shopping.
The price of food is 9.3% higher than one year ago, bread is up 23% and milk is up 33%, electricity and gas bills have also risen by 12.3%. [RTÉ] Further evidence of my increasing disconnect from reality: I had no idea milk or bread had got more expensive - and I'm the one that does the food shopping.
I hear the Ennio Morricone music in the background, but I can't figure out which part of the movie we are in. If I remember, it goes all triumphal, then goes nearly quiet and low tempo, leaving us with a slow shot backing up from the dust of the flurry, dead people on the ground and a face with a smirk so cool that he doesn't even smirk...and we wonder how it is that one whom we don't identify with easily got to be the hero.
I shop too. Things are falling off my list of necessities week by week. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
I shop too. Things are falling off my list of necessities week by week.
