The leaders of the Greek and Turkish parts of Cyprus will begin reunification talks on Wednesday. While many doubt they will be successful, some say it's the island's best chance in a generation. Leaders from Cyprus' Turkish and Greek sides are meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 3, to try and iron out a decade's long dispute. Observers are hoping that Greek Cypriot Demetris Christofias, the president of Cyprus, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will be able to settle a feud which has long defied international efforts and threatens to undermine Turkey's European Union aspirations. A diplomat close to the negotiations, speaking on conditions of anonymity, told Reuters news agency that this is the best chance Cyprus has had in a generation. "Both leaders are genuinely committed for a deal, and that is what was lacking before," he said.
Leaders from Cyprus' Turkish and Greek sides are meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 3, to try and iron out a decade's long dispute. Observers are hoping that Greek Cypriot Demetris Christofias, the president of Cyprus, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will be able to settle a feud which has long defied international efforts and threatens to undermine Turkey's European Union aspirations.
A diplomat close to the negotiations, speaking on conditions of anonymity, told Reuters news agency that this is the best chance Cyprus has had in a generation.
"Both leaders are genuinely committed for a deal, and that is what was lacking before," he said.
For decades, the island of Cyprus has been divided between the Turkish north and the Greek south. Now, leaders of the two sides are optimistic that reunification can be achieved. Talks began on Wednesday. The conflict has been deadlocked for decades. But this week, talks between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to reunite their Mediterranean island have begun again in earnest. This time, say observers, there is a very real chance that an agreement will be reached. People on Ledra Street in the divided Cypriot capital of Nicosia. "It is time to end the long-lingering Cyprus problem and to give the Cypriot people the better future they deserve," said Cypriot President Demetris Christofias, who is representing the Greek Cypriot community in the talks. "We have a common will and a common desire." Christofias' comments came just after 90 minutes of talks with Mehmet Ali Talat, president of Turkish northern Cyprus, a region recognized as an independent nation by only one government -- Turkey's. The two met in a building that once belonged to the country's main airport, but now sits in no-man's land, in the east-west scar that divides the island. Their talks, in the presence of former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who was appointed the UN special envoy for Cyprus in July, were meant to set the stage for further talks set to begin next week.
For decades, the island of Cyprus has been divided between the Turkish north and the Greek south. Now, leaders of the two sides are optimistic that reunification can be achieved. Talks began on Wednesday.
The conflict has been deadlocked for decades. But this week, talks between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to reunite their Mediterranean island have begun again in earnest. This time, say observers, there is a very real chance that an agreement will be reached.
People on Ledra Street in the divided Cypriot capital of Nicosia. "It is time to end the long-lingering Cyprus problem and to give the Cypriot people the better future they deserve," said Cypriot President Demetris Christofias, who is representing the Greek Cypriot community in the talks. "We have a common will and a common desire."
Christofias' comments came just after 90 minutes of talks with Mehmet Ali Talat, president of Turkish northern Cyprus, a region recognized as an independent nation by only one government -- Turkey's. The two met in a building that once belonged to the country's main airport, but now sits in no-man's land, in the east-west scar that divides the island. Their talks, in the presence of former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who was appointed the UN special envoy for Cyprus in July, were meant to set the stage for further talks set to begin next week.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
Things were pointing this way by small measures for the last few years. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Now you have two sides on the island who are both working open-mindedly for a solution. I I hope good things come from this quickly. keep to the Fen Causeway
Turkey is AGAINST a resolution, and the Cypriots (both sides are for it).
And for that reason these talks are going absolutely nowhere.
Everyone on the island and in diplomatic circles knows it.
Furtehrmore, even the UN does because they appointed a noted rabble rouser to oversee the talks.
The Turkish military nearly overthrew their own gov't recently. They could snap their fingers instantly and the current gov't in North Cyprus would collapse overnight.
Just last week there was a controversy in which the north's PM had promised pilgrims they could visit a church in the north. Much to his embarrassment and chagrin, the military prevented the visit, this despite the fact the border crossings had been open for months.
The Cyprus problem won't be solved until Turkey is on the doorstep of the EU. I read the Turkish papers everyday, and everyone considers Cyprus a great card for Turkey to play in negotiations with the EU.
Finally, the events in Kosovo and Georgia give the TRNC hope.
Regardless, what they're asking for now goes way beyond even the last Annan Plan which was rejected. Having two states in a confederation was not in the cards.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The leader of the Irish No campaign, Daclan Ganley, has renewed calls for an EU-wide referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, as Irish media reported parts of the pact may be ratified by the Irish parliament instead. "I can tell you as a citizen having read the Treaty and campaigned on it, it is undemocratic and unacceptable to the majority of my country. Nor do I believe it is acceptable to the majority of the citizens in other countries", Mr Ganley said at a public debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday (2 September). The only chance for a Lisbon Treaty revival would be to hold a pan-European referendum, says Declan Ganley In the view of Mr Ganley - who dislikes being labelled as "anti-European" - the Lisbon Treaty has no future, but if it were to be revived, the only option would be to hold a pan-European referendum. Recognizing the need for a new treaty that responds to the current international situation, Ganley said that the only viable formula would be a text "that is short, readable and that everyone gets to vote on."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The leader of the Irish No campaign, Daclan Ganley, has renewed calls for an EU-wide referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, as Irish media reported parts of the pact may be ratified by the Irish parliament instead.
"I can tell you as a citizen having read the Treaty and campaigned on it, it is undemocratic and unacceptable to the majority of my country. Nor do I believe it is acceptable to the majority of the citizens in other countries", Mr Ganley said at a public debate in the European Parliament on Tuesday (2 September).
The only chance for a Lisbon Treaty revival would be to hold a pan-European referendum, says Declan Ganley
In the view of Mr Ganley - who dislikes being labelled as "anti-European" - the Lisbon Treaty has no future, but if it were to be revived, the only option would be to hold a pan-European referendum.
Recognizing the need for a new treaty that responds to the current international situation, Ganley said that the only viable formula would be a text "that is short, readable and that everyone gets to vote on."
It's not the first time Treaty provisions don't apply to all member states, so that can be managed. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU enlargement, particularly to the Western Balkan countries, is set to feature high on the agenda of the bloc's two presidencies in 2009, with Croatia seen as likely to conclude its EU membership talks next year, said the Czech Republic and Sweden - the next two member states to hold the EU's six-month rotating chairmanship after France. Croatia hopes to become the EU's 28th member by 2011 at the latest. The Balkans seem to have been somehow "forgotten in the light of the current [Georgia] crisis," Czech deputy prime minister Alexandr Vondra, whose country will assume the EU's presidency in the first half of 2009, said at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday (2 September). "We expect to move talks to the final stage with at least Croatia [during the Czech EU presidency]," he added. EU-Croatia accession talks were launched in 2005. The country is hoping to finalise them next year and become the EU's 28th member by 2011 at the latest.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - EU enlargement, particularly to the Western Balkan countries, is set to feature high on the agenda of the bloc's two presidencies in 2009, with Croatia seen as likely to conclude its EU membership talks next year, said the Czech Republic and Sweden - the next two member states to hold the EU's six-month rotating chairmanship after France.
Croatia hopes to become the EU's 28th member by 2011 at the latest.
The Balkans seem to have been somehow "forgotten in the light of the current [Georgia] crisis," Czech deputy prime minister Alexandr Vondra, whose country will assume the EU's presidency in the first half of 2009, said at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday (2 September).
"We expect to move talks to the final stage with at least Croatia [during the Czech EU presidency]," he added.
EU-Croatia accession talks were launched in 2005. The country is hoping to finalise them next year and become the EU's 28th member by 2011 at the latest.
NATO should show Russia it would defend the Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - in the event of attack, the US has said, as Russia's recent invasion of Georgia continues to send ripples through European security arrangements. "They are feeling a little rattled by seeing Russia use military force to invade a sovereign, small neighbouring country. We need to send signals to shore them up a little bit," US ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker, told the Financial Times in an interview on Tuesday (2 September). Latvia and Estonia have large ethnic-Russian minorities The "signals" could come in the form of military "planning and exercising" and "not in a provocative way," he explained. "We will have to make sure ... that the Article 5 commitment is realisable not just as a political matter but as a military matter too," Mr Volker added. "NATO being credible is what's important."
NATO should show Russia it would defend the Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - in the event of attack, the US has said, as Russia's recent invasion of Georgia continues to send ripples through European security arrangements.
"They are feeling a little rattled by seeing Russia use military force to invade a sovereign, small neighbouring country. We need to send signals to shore them up a little bit," US ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker, told the Financial Times in an interview on Tuesday (2 September).
Latvia and Estonia have large ethnic-Russian minorities
The "signals" could come in the form of military "planning and exercising" and "not in a provocative way," he explained.
"We will have to make sure ... that the Article 5 commitment is realisable not just as a political matter but as a military matter too," Mr Volker added. "NATO being credible is what's important."
So the US statement is a statement of reality, but is unhelpful in the same way that a lot of US actions and statements of the post-Soviet era are now unhelpful. Not so much butt out, but STFU would be nice. keep to the Fen Causeway
And the reference to Article 5 from a US Ambassador is rather ironic, given that the US is the only country of the Alliance in favor of which that article was ever invoked, IIRC... and they declined the help. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
France and Britain have seen the biggest cut in 2008 growth forecast by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Paris-based think-tank linking the 30 richest countries in the world, published on Tuesday (2 September). Europe's two largest economies - Germany and France - will barely grow at all this year, according to OECD experts, with Germany's prediction for 2008 average growth down from 1.9 percent to 1.5 percent and France's down from 1.8 percent to 1.0 percent. The UK economy is facing it's worst state in 60 years, according to the country's chancellor Britain's GDP for this year is expected to be 1.2 percent rather than the 1.8 percent predicted earlier, while the Italian economy is facing the poorest performance, with average 2008 growth predicted to be 0.1 percent, down from 0.5 percent. The OECD suspects that all 15 member states of the euro area will avoid a technical recession - regarded as two consequent quarters of contraction - although altogether, the eurozone will only grow by 1.3 percent, not 1.7 percent as said earlier.
France and Britain have seen the biggest cut in 2008 growth forecast by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Paris-based think-tank linking the 30 richest countries in the world, published on Tuesday (2 September).
Europe's two largest economies - Germany and France - will barely grow at all this year, according to OECD experts, with Germany's prediction for 2008 average growth down from 1.9 percent to 1.5 percent and France's down from 1.8 percent to 1.0 percent.
The UK economy is facing it's worst state in 60 years, according to the country's chancellor
Britain's GDP for this year is expected to be 1.2 percent rather than the 1.8 percent predicted earlier, while the Italian economy is facing the poorest performance, with average 2008 growth predicted to be 0.1 percent, down from 0.5 percent.
The OECD suspects that all 15 member states of the euro area will avoid a technical recession - regarded as two consequent quarters of contraction - although altogether, the eurozone will only grow by 1.3 percent, not 1.7 percent as said earlier.
Please make sure to use the comments link
http://www.eurotrib.com/comments/2008/8/26/11412/9446/62
rather than the story link
http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2008/8/26/11412/9446#62
... A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
Read Comment from the recent comments page also sort of works...
(SCOOP is crap...) A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
Serbia wants EU candidacy status next year, but needs to hand over more war criminals to the UN tribunal first, the bloc said. Other differences between Brussels and Belgrade run from trade to Kosovo. Belgrade stressed the need to ratify a trade agreement with the EU, but disagrees with EU on Kosovo. Serbia could get EU candidate status in 2009, said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso at a Brussels news briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 3, with Serbian President Boris Tadic in attendance. "It would be possible to give candidate status to Serbia, but this is not a commitment," Barroso said. "It depends on conditions being fulfilled."
Belgrade stressed the need to ratify a trade agreement with the EU, but disagrees with EU on Kosovo.
Serbia could get EU candidate status in 2009, said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso at a Brussels news briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 3, with Serbian President Boris Tadic in attendance.
"It would be possible to give candidate status to Serbia, but this is not a commitment," Barroso said. "It depends on conditions being fulfilled."
This week's EU summit declaration on Georgia was kept markedly short when it came to energy. But the two sentences contain an important message for European leaders on diversifying energy suppliers. Section 9 of the EU summit declaration on Georgia was a mere two sentences. The first said, "Recent events illustrate the need for Europe to intensify its efforts with regard to the security of energy supplies." The Council of Ministers and the European Commission should examine ways to diversify energy sources and supply routes, it added. EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs told journalists on Tuesday, Sept. 2, that the summit's decision will strengthen and accelerate the policy we have launched. Piebalgs said he plans to present his revised strategy for Europe's energy policy by early November.
Section 9 of the EU summit declaration on Georgia was a mere two sentences. The first said, "Recent events illustrate the need for Europe to intensify its efforts with regard to the security of energy supplies."
The Council of Ministers and the European Commission should examine ways to diversify energy sources and supply routes, it added.
EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs told journalists on Tuesday, Sept. 2, that the summit's decision will strengthen and accelerate the policy we have launched. Piebalgs said he plans to present his revised strategy for Europe's energy policy by early November.
If liberalisation were a means to improve energy policy, it could be debated whether it is the best means to achieve that end. If liberalisation is the goal, there's no debate on it.
And, if you think about it, the Commission's job is to further the single market.
This is beginning to read like Stiglitz's critique of the IMF. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith
But I guess they're serious people so we DFHs should just shut up keep to the Fen Causeway
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament has called on the EU's executive to introduce measures to support the roll-out of a Europe-wide filling-station network for hydrogen-powered cars and develop common standards for the vehicles across all member states. MEPs almost unanimously adopted a report on Wednesday (3 September) drafted by members of the centre-right European Peoples' Party grouping in the parliament on hydrogen-powered vehicles. Hydrogen-powered cars are not zero-emission vehicles at all, warn green groups. The legislative report was adopted with 644 votes in favour, two against and 11 abstentions. MEPs believe a key support measure would be the development of common EU standards for the experimental transport concept.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament has called on the EU's executive to introduce measures to support the roll-out of a Europe-wide filling-station network for hydrogen-powered cars and develop common standards for the vehicles across all member states.
MEPs almost unanimously adopted a report on Wednesday (3 September) drafted by members of the centre-right European Peoples' Party grouping in the parliament on hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Hydrogen-powered cars are not zero-emission vehicles at all, warn green groups.
The legislative report was adopted with 644 votes in favour, two against and 11 abstentions.
MEPs believe a key support measure would be the development of common EU standards for the experimental transport concept.
the rest can walk, or fix up their old banger to run off wood gas, like they cobbled together during ww2.
until you burned up all the wood...
they're obviously going to try anything and everything before actually facing the music.
they're made that way... still conning most of the people, most of the time.
we have much work to do to turn this around, but reality is on our side, and will keep painting 'them' into ever tighter a corner, counting ever more on people not to inform and empower each other, 180° opposite direction from lying, ignorant government stooges. ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
A £5bn solar power plan, backed by a Jordanian prince, could provide the EU with a sixth of its electricity needs - and cut carbon emissions ... Europe is considering plans to spend more than £5bn on a string of giant solar power stations along the Mediterranean desert shores of northern Africa and the Middle East. ... Last week Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan presented details of the scheme - named Desertec - to the European Parliament. 'Countries with deserts, countries with high energy demand, and countries with technology competence must co-operate,' he told MEPs.
...
Europe is considering plans to spend more than £5bn on a string of giant solar power stations along the Mediterranean desert shores of northern Africa and the Middle East.
Last week Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan presented details of the scheme - named Desertec - to the European Parliament. 'Countries with deserts, countries with high energy demand, and countries with technology competence must co-operate,' he told MEPs.
we could make hydrogen from wind also. ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
This is a dimension different. Der Amerikaner ist die Orchidee unter den MenschenVolker Pispers
Its handling is similar to LPG and it can be stored as a liquid in low pressure tanks. Big difference with methane (very high pressures or cryo).
don't the cars run off some kind of hydrogen pellets? ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has threatened to dissolve parliament and call elections after the collapse of the country's ruling coalition. Mr Yushchenko's supporters walked out in protest following new laws trimming the president's powers. The laws were introduced by the pro-Russian opposition and backed by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's party. Former allies, the prime minister and president are now at odds despite sharing pro-Western political goals.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has threatened to dissolve parliament and call elections after the collapse of the country's ruling coalition.
Mr Yushchenko's supporters walked out in protest following new laws trimming the president's powers.
The laws were introduced by the pro-Russian opposition and backed by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's party.
Former allies, the prime minister and president are now at odds despite sharing pro-Western political goals.
The shock waves from the war in Georgia sparked a new crisis in Ukraine today as the pro-Western Orange coalition fell apart in acrimony. President Viktor Yushchenko accused his former ally, Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko, of forging a pro-Russian alliance to curtail his powers. He claimed that a "coup" was under way, just a day before Dick Cheney, the US Vice-President, is due to visit the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Mrs Tymoshenko fired back that the President had destroyed the pro-Western Government after deputies from Mr Yushchenko's party quit her ruling coalition. Mr Yushchenko threatened to call a snap election unless a new coalition was formed within 30 days. The crisis erupted after parliament passed new laws restricting the powers of the President and making it easier to impeach him. The Tymoshenko Bloc voted with the Party of Regions, the pro-Moscow opposition led by the former Prime Minister, Viktor Yanokovych, to pass the legislation.
The shock waves from the war in Georgia sparked a new crisis in Ukraine today as the pro-Western Orange coalition fell apart in acrimony.
President Viktor Yushchenko accused his former ally, Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko, of forging a pro-Russian alliance to curtail his powers. He claimed that a "coup" was under way, just a day before Dick Cheney, the US Vice-President, is due to visit the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
Mrs Tymoshenko fired back that the President had destroyed the pro-Western Government after deputies from Mr Yushchenko's party quit her ruling coalition. Mr Yushchenko threatened to call a snap election unless a new coalition was formed within 30 days.
The crisis erupted after parliament passed new laws restricting the powers of the President and making it easier to impeach him. The Tymoshenko Bloc voted with the Party of Regions, the pro-Moscow opposition led by the former Prime Minister, Viktor Yanokovych, to pass the legislation.
He made so much money for his buddies in so little time. He saw the millions the gave to the Gipper when he was put to pasture, he must be expecting an exponential amount more. No books, no signings, just hunting with his buddies and million dollar bills fall from their pockets.
Yuliya is an oil billionaire. He probably thinks that he can talk some sense into her. Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
President Nicolas Sarkozy's key electoral promise to allow the French to "work more to earn more" has hit a major snag: most have no desire to put in extra hours to raise their wages, a poll has found. With the economy floundering and the French consistently complaining that falling purchasing power is their main worry, only a quarter are prepared to work more to raise their standard of living. Almost six out of ten have no desire to increase their working hours, according to a CSA poll published in the Le Parisien newspaper.Some 13 per cent would like to work less, even if that means seeing living standards drop.The figures were published as new legislation diluting the 35-hour working week comes into force this month. Companies can now negotiate with unions or directly with employees wishing to work longer hours - up to 48 per week. In theory, workers receive 25 per cent more for overtime, but the polls suggests that not many intend to take it.
With the economy floundering and the French consistently complaining that falling purchasing power is their main worry, only a quarter are prepared to work more to raise their standard of living.
Almost six out of ten have no desire to increase their working hours, according to a CSA poll published in the Le Parisien newspaper.
Some 13 per cent would like to work less, even if that means seeing living standards drop.
The figures were published as new legislation diluting the 35-hour working week comes into force this month.
Companies can now negotiate with unions or directly with employees wishing to work longer hours - up to 48 per week. In theory, workers receive 25 per cent more for overtime, but the polls suggests that not many intend to take it.
only a quarter are prepared to work more to raise their standard of living quantity of lifestyle.
Oh, UMP has been addressing that all along, with their 'let's emulate USA strategy': make the wages low enough and the prices high enough that they will have no choice. Works a treat in the end. "Few can believe that suffering, especially by others, is in vain. - Galbraith"
Companies can now negotiate with unions or directly with employees wishing to work longer hours
Longer hours are not a choice that belongs to the employee but to the employer... Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères
But why let the cliché get in the way of a good story. Read an interview of M.Rollier (Michelin CEO) recently: he said that foreigners visiting their HQ in Clermont-Ferrand were always surprised to see how many hours their French colleagues were putting at work...
Same old, same old... Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.
TBILISI, Georgia: Just weeks after Georgia's military collapsed in panic in the face of the Russian Army, its leaders hope to rebuild and train its armed forces as if another war with Russia is almost inevitable. Georgia is already drawing up lists of options, including restoring the military to its prewar strength or making it a much larger force with more modern equipment, like air-defense systems, modern antiarmor rockets and night-vision devices. Officials at the Pentagon, State Department and White House confirmed that the Bush administration was examining what would be required to rebuild Georgia's military, but stressed that no decisions had been made. The choices each pose difficult foreign policy questions. Georgia's decision to attack Russian and South Ossetian forces raises questions about the wisdom of further United States investment in the Georgian military, which in any case would further alienate Russia. Not doing so could lead to charges of abandoning Georgia in the face of Russian threats.
TBILISI, Georgia: Just weeks after Georgia's military collapsed in panic in the face of the Russian Army, its leaders hope to rebuild and train its armed forces as if another war with Russia is almost inevitable.
Georgia is already drawing up lists of options, including restoring the military to its prewar strength or making it a much larger force with more modern equipment, like air-defense systems, modern antiarmor rockets and night-vision devices.
Officials at the Pentagon, State Department and White House confirmed that the Bush administration was examining what would be required to rebuild Georgia's military, but stressed that no decisions had been made. The choices each pose difficult foreign policy questions.
Georgia's decision to attack Russian and South Ossetian forces raises questions about the wisdom of further United States investment in the Georgian military, which in any case would further alienate Russia. Not doing so could lead to charges of abandoning Georgia in the face of Russian threats.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands: The Netherlands needs a massive new building program to strengthen the low-lying country's water defenses against the anticipated effects of global warming for the next 190 years, an important panel advised Wednesday. The plan by the Delta Commission includes more than €100 billion, or $144 billion, in new spending through the year 2100 to take measures such as broadening coastal dunes and strengthening sea and river dikes. It is expected to be the central reference point for policymakers for decades to come. "We're not trying to scare people, because there's still time to act," said the panel chairman Cees Veerman, handing the report to Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende in a nationally televised news conference. Balkenende promised to immediately begin drafting its recommendations into law. "Whatever social or economic hardship this country faces, water runs through it," he said.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands: The Netherlands needs a massive new building program to strengthen the low-lying country's water defenses against the anticipated effects of global warming for the next 190 years, an important panel advised Wednesday.
The plan by the Delta Commission includes more than €100 billion, or $144 billion, in new spending through the year 2100 to take measures such as broadening coastal dunes and strengthening sea and river dikes. It is expected to be the central reference point for policymakers for decades to come.
"We're not trying to scare people, because there's still time to act," said the panel chairman Cees Veerman, handing the report to Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende in a nationally televised news conference. Balkenende promised to immediately begin drafting its recommendations into law.
"Whatever social or economic hardship this country faces, water runs through it," he said.
Right now we have finally gotten to the point where people are willing/able to say things like this in public, without fear of being shot down.
But, similar to the Maginot Line being built, if the pressure is taken off, for whatever reason, there will be failures that get a lot of people killed.
In the case of the Maginot Line, France completed its bits, and it was impregnable. But construction was halted in the north for political and financial reasons. We all know what happened then.
In a few years it could be that the trend is noticed - that the earth has entered a cold spell. It will appear to neutralize the warming trend and take off the pressure. It is predicted to only last for a decade.
If pressure is allowed to fail on transportation and energy infrastructure, the history books will say ""We all know what happened then." Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
That's assuming there will be any history books.
I would bet on it of course -because if there are none (which I fear is highly possible), it will mean there will be no way to collect the money. But that's not exactly a rousing endorsement of the likelihood of it. "Few can believe that suffering, especially by others, is in vain. - Galbraith"
From: http://home.tiscali.nl/~wr2777/NAP-niveau.htm
Nature Reserves - Holme Fen
Holme Fen NNR is the lowest point in Britain, lying at the most westerly end of the East Anglian fens on the shore of the former Whittlesey Mere. Over many years drainage of the surrounding farm land has caused the peat to shrink. This shrinkage has been recorded by the Holme Fen Post, a cast-iron column that was sunk into the fen in 1852. The column was sunk till its top was level with the peat surface, but it now stands some 4 m above ground level.
Holme Fen NNR is the lowest point in Britain, lying at the most westerly end of the East Anglian fens on the shore of the former Whittlesey Mere.
Over many years drainage of the surrounding farm land has caused the peat to shrink. This shrinkage has been recorded by the Holme Fen Post, a cast-iron column that was sunk into the fen in 1852. The column was sunk till its top was level with the peat surface, but it now stands some 4 m above ground level.
Are they proposing to put up sea walls that are an additional 5 meters high?
Women are losing the battle for gender equality in Britain's workplaces after years of progress, a report shows today. The Equality and Human Rights Commission's annual study, which looks at the number of women given top positions in business, politics and the public sector, found women's representation had fallen in almost half the industries surveyed. It is the biggest backward step for workplace gender equality in the five years the study has been carried out. Nicola Brewer, chief executive of the commission, said the report exposed the "clear trend" that gender equality in Britain's workplaces across the board had either hit the buffers or was in reverse. She described the findings as a "powerful symptom of a wider failure" to challenge the long-held assumption that child care was a woman's responsibility.The commission's assessment found that the proportion of women holding key positions in British life had fallen in 12 out of the 25 categories surveyed in 2006. In politics, fewer women now hold positions of power in Parliament, the Cabinet and in the UK's regional assemblies. It would take two centuries, or another 40 elections, for women to reach parity with men on the benches of the House of Commons, the report says.
Women are losing the battle for gender equality in Britain's workplaces after years of progress, a report shows today.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission's annual study, which looks at the number of women given top positions in business, politics and the public sector, found women's representation had fallen in almost half the industries surveyed. It is the biggest backward step for workplace gender equality in the five years the study has been carried out.
Nicola Brewer, chief executive of the commission, said the report exposed the "clear trend" that gender equality in Britain's workplaces across the board had either hit the buffers or was in reverse. She described the findings as a "powerful symptom of a wider failure" to challenge the long-held assumption that child care was a woman's responsibility.
The commission's assessment found that the proportion of women holding key positions in British life had fallen in 12 out of the 25 categories surveyed in 2006. In politics, fewer women now hold positions of power in Parliament, the Cabinet and in the UK's regional assemblies. It would take two centuries, or another 40 elections, for women to reach parity with men on the benches of the House of Commons, the report says.
i think the problem with the transition phase between pre- and post feminism is that women have made the step towards the middle more than men have, so instead of changing the work environment in order to better accomodate womens' needs, while women have learned to modulate towards a male workplace, men have not done enough in return.
we need more home time for men after childbirth, as already happens in some other countries.
it's rough being a kid in the UK. there's more affection for dogs, generally. ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
BERLIN: As a signal to Russia that NATO will not be intimidated, its ambassadors will travel to Georgia this month. They want to see the aftermath of a war in which Russian troops last month occupied parts of Georgia, gained control of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and then recognized them as independent states. The envoys also want to assess whether Georgia is ready to be offered, in December, a road map to join the alliance. Russia is furious with NATO's refusal to back down from its commitment to admit - one day - Georgia and Ukraine into the U.S.-led military alliance, a pledge made during its summit meeting last April in Bucharest and repeated since Russia rolled into Georgia after the Georgians attacked South Ossetia. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, told students of Moscow's diplomatic academy Monday that "there is a feeling that NATO again needs front-line states to justify its existence." NATO diplomats dismiss such charges. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO's secretary general, has repeatedly said that democratic countries flanking Russia should be an asset, not a threat, to the Kremlin. But Russia does not trust NATO. In Moscow's view, NATO, and the EU, have become more anti-Russian since the former Communist countries of Eastern Europe and the Baltic states joined both organizations. It also sees the alliance as encroaching on regions Russia considers within its sphere of influence. But inside NATO, despite the show of unity over the Russia-Georgia crisis, there is no consensus as to whether the alliance should expand deep into the Caucasus, or admit Ukraine, birthplace of Russian Orthodoxy. Indeed, Georgia is just the latest challenge to the alliance's identity: since the end of the Cold War, NATO has been trying to reinvent itself.
BERLIN: As a signal to Russia that NATO will not be intimidated, its ambassadors will travel to Georgia this month. They want to see the aftermath of a war in which Russian troops last month occupied parts of Georgia, gained control of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and then recognized them as independent states. The envoys also want to assess whether Georgia is ready to be offered, in December, a road map to join the alliance.
Russia is furious with NATO's refusal to back down from its commitment to admit - one day - Georgia and Ukraine into the U.S.-led military alliance, a pledge made during its summit meeting last April in Bucharest and repeated since Russia rolled into Georgia after the Georgians attacked South Ossetia. Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, told students of Moscow's diplomatic academy Monday that "there is a feeling that NATO again needs front-line states to justify its existence."
NATO diplomats dismiss such charges. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO's secretary general, has repeatedly said that democratic countries flanking Russia should be an asset, not a threat, to the Kremlin. But Russia does not trust NATO. In Moscow's view, NATO, and the EU, have become more anti-Russian since the former Communist countries of Eastern Europe and the Baltic states joined both organizations. It also sees the alliance as encroaching on regions Russia considers within its sphere of influence.
But inside NATO, despite the show of unity over the Russia-Georgia crisis, there is no consensus as to whether the alliance should expand deep into the Caucasus, or admit Ukraine, birthplace of Russian Orthodoxy. Indeed, Georgia is just the latest challenge to the alliance's identity: since the end of the Cold War, NATO has been trying to reinvent itself.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO's secretary general, has repeatedly said that democratic countries flanking Russia should be an asset, not a threat, to the Kremlin
Democratic countries are nice things. But just having a vote every now and again doesn't make you democratic. Suppressing opposition doesn't make you democratic. Jeez, bulgaria is in NATO as well as the EU and you should ask its people what they think of their democracy.
And what has that got to do with NATO anyway ? Should all democratic countries be in NATO ? New zealand perhaps ? Venezuala ? If the USA has a "back-yard" where it insists on retaining a controlling military interest, why is Russia not allowed the same ?
At least if NATO is to make any sense, all countries should have useful supply lines that make its borders sensibly defensible. Ukraine and Georgia don't. I'm not really sure the Baltic states do either, but what's done is done regarding them.
Right now we have an alliance that makes no strategic sense and seems to be evolving into some sort of American Foreign Legion. It then justifies its existence by starting fires all over the place in order to be able to go out and fight them (if not necessarily put them out). Which allows it to expand endlessly into areas where it has no possible legitimate interest except that of furthering American hegemonic control.
Europe is sleepwalking into bankrolling American militarism, allowing our political institutions to be sequestered in the name of defending another coutry's interests. Interests that are increasingly contrary to our own. keep to the Fen Causeway
The CIA on Wednesday denied White was working for the U.S. intelligence agency.
"While we do not as a rule confirm or deny employment with the agency, in this case, any suggestion that Michael Lee White is a CIA officer is wrong," said Marie Harf, a CIA spokeswoman.
AP via Google: Source: Madrid crash probe focuses on wing flaps
The pilots of a Spanair SA plane that crashed last month in Madrid, killing 154 people, failed to extend wing flaps that are needed to give the aircraft enough lift for takeoff, according to a person familiar with the investigation. ... Flaps are moveable panels on the trailing edge of a plane's wings and provide extra lift during takeoff. The Spanair pilots should have received a warning -- a loud horn in the cockpit -- alerting them that the flaps were not extended before takeoff. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the investigation, reported on its Web site Wednesday that investigators have focused on the theory that an electrical problem prevented the horn from sounding.
Flaps are moveable panels on the trailing edge of a plane's wings and provide extra lift during takeoff. The Spanair pilots should have received a warning -- a loud horn in the cockpit -- alerting them that the flaps were not extended before takeoff.
The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the investigation, reported on its Web site Wednesday that investigators have focused on the theory that an electrical problem prevented the horn from sounding.
