Up to 20 families moved by police after rally in support of eastern Europeans targeted by youths throwing bottlesMore than 100 Romanians fleeing racist attacks in Belfast have been moved to a council-run leisure centre after taking refuge overnight in a church.The 115 Romanians were transferred to the O-Zone complex this morning.The sports centre in the city's Ormeau Park has become a temporary home for the Romanians, many of whom have said they want to leave Northern Ireland.Belfast's lord mayor, Naomi Long, said the repeated attacks on the Roma families close to the university district had brought shame on the city.
More than 100 Romanians fleeing racist attacks in Belfast have been moved to a council-run leisure centre after taking refuge overnight in a church.
The 115 Romanians were transferred to the O-Zone complex this morning.
The sports centre in the city's Ormeau Park has become a temporary home for the Romanians, many of whom have said they want to leave Northern Ireland.
Belfast's lord mayor, Naomi Long, said the repeated attacks on the Roma families close to the university district had brought shame on the city.
Hundreds of survivors of April's devastating earthquake in L'Aquila have protested in Rome, accusing the Italian government of taking too long with reconstruction efforts. Tuesday's protest coincided with a parliamentary session, where lawmakers were debating a government bill containing earthquake relief measures. The earthquake in the central Italian region of Abruzzo killed almost 300 people and left 60,000 homeless. In recent weeks, many residents in L'Aquila have become frustrated with reconstruction efforts, and have accused Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of not keeping the promises he made following the disaster. Most of L'Aquila remains uninhabitable and protestors say that damaged buildings in the town's historic center are getting worse.
Tuesday's protest coincided with a parliamentary session, where lawmakers were debating a government bill containing earthquake relief measures.
The earthquake in the central Italian region of Abruzzo killed almost 300 people and left 60,000 homeless. In recent weeks, many residents in L'Aquila have become frustrated with reconstruction efforts, and have accused Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of not keeping the promises he made following the disaster.
Most of L'Aquila remains uninhabitable and protestors say that damaged buildings in the town's historic center are getting worse.
Close the parenthesis. The center of Rome was blocked by angry earthquake victims. It was worse than Gheddafi. Yet all that Minzolini has to transmit is a service on the rebuilding of the student's House in Aquila. It is only in the evening that the news transmits a service on the chaos in Rome.
Today B went back to Aquila to put together more photo-opportunity services. Reporters and unsympathetic onlookers were strictly forbidden to approach the areas where il Gran Fava was filming his propaganda shorts.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission's new 10-year vision for transport policy contains almost no climate change-related measures, disappointing Brussels' own environment department officials, who worry that soaring transport emissions could wipe out reductions in energy and manufacturing. The commission communication, which aims to set the bloc's transport agenda from 2010 to 2020, is to be published Wednesday (17 June). The text - seen by EUobserver - focuses on solving problems within the sector, such as upgrading infrastructure and improving safety. "The most immediate priorities appear to be the better integration of the different modes of transport as a way to improve the overall efficiency of the system and the acceleration of the development and deployment of innovative technologies," it says. It notes that with "still over 39,000 deaths in the EU in 2008, transport by road remains far too costly in terms of human lives," adding that "the reduction of accidents and of health hazards, the protection of passengers' rights and the accessibility of remote regions must remain a high priority."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission's new 10-year vision for transport policy contains almost no climate change-related measures, disappointing Brussels' own environment department officials, who worry that soaring transport emissions could wipe out reductions in energy and manufacturing.
The commission communication, which aims to set the bloc's transport agenda from 2010 to 2020, is to be published Wednesday (17 June). The text - seen by EUobserver - focuses on solving problems within the sector, such as upgrading infrastructure and improving safety.
"The most immediate priorities appear to be the better integration of the different modes of transport as a way to improve the overall efficiency of the system and the acceleration of the development and deployment of innovative technologies," it says.
It notes that with "still over 39,000 deaths in the EU in 2008, transport by road remains far too costly in terms of human lives," adding that "the reduction of accidents and of health hazards, the protection of passengers' rights and the accessibility of remote regions must remain a high priority."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Tuesday decided to take legal action against Germany after the southern region of Bavaria refused to disclose the names of EU farm aid beneficiaries, as required by the bloc's regulations. Germany already missed a deadline on 30 April, when all member states were required to publish online the details of those receiving EU farm subsidies. While the federal government did publish the data available to them on Tuesday, the state of Bavaria - home to a number of important farm and agricultural industries - refused to disclose the information, citing privacy issues. Bavarian farmers receiving EU money are reluctant follow the bloc's transparency rules "Bavaria's decision is incomprehensible and I will now take steps to begin an infringement procedure," EU commissioner for agriculture Mariann Fischer Boel said in a statement. The so-called infringement procedure, opened whenever a member state is in breach of EU law, can take several years and be dropped whenever the country remedies the situation. If it doesn't, the case is referred to European Court of Justice, which can apply sanctions to the country in question.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Tuesday decided to take legal action against Germany after the southern region of Bavaria refused to disclose the names of EU farm aid beneficiaries, as required by the bloc's regulations.
Germany already missed a deadline on 30 April, when all member states were required to publish online the details of those receiving EU farm subsidies. While the federal government did publish the data available to them on Tuesday, the state of Bavaria - home to a number of important farm and agricultural industries - refused to disclose the information, citing privacy issues.
Bavarian farmers receiving EU money are reluctant follow the bloc's transparency rules
"Bavaria's decision is incomprehensible and I will now take steps to begin an infringement procedure," EU commissioner for agriculture Mariann Fischer Boel said in a statement.
The so-called infringement procedure, opened whenever a member state is in breach of EU law, can take several years and be dropped whenever the country remedies the situation. If it doesn't, the case is referred to European Court of Justice, which can apply sanctions to the country in question.
Russia has vetoed the extension of a UN mission in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, in place since 1993. Russia says the proposal to extend the mission would be "denying the existence of Abkhazia as a state." The US and several European countries, including Germany, had proposed a two week extension for the mandate, hoping to allow Russia and Western countries to come to an agreement on a long-term plan for the UN mission. The deadline for the extension of the mission passed on Monday night. Ten UN Security Council members voted in favor of the extension, four abstained, and only Russia - which has veto power - opposed the proposal.
The US and several European countries, including Germany, had proposed a two week extension for the mandate, hoping to allow Russia and Western countries to come to an agreement on a long-term plan for the UN mission.
The deadline for the extension of the mission passed on Monday night. Ten UN Security Council members voted in favor of the extension, four abstained, and only Russia - which has veto power - opposed the proposal.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Sweden's tradition of support for underdog newspapers is being targeted by the European Commission, which views the country's public funding of a town's second-biggest newspaper as running counter to EU competition rules. Stockholm has long provided the second-biggest paper in a city or town with state subsidies as a countervailing measure against the tendency for advertisers to flock towards the top-selling paper. An old copy of the Stockholms Dagblad In this way, left-wing newspapers in right-wing areas are protected from the depredations of the market, and vice versa, with the aim of assuring political and media pluralism. However, the commission on Wednesday (17 June) called on Sweden to reduce the funding it provides to papers in large towns, claiming that they breach EU rules on state aid.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Sweden's tradition of support for underdog newspapers is being targeted by the European Commission, which views the country's public funding of a town's second-biggest newspaper as running counter to EU competition rules.
Stockholm has long provided the second-biggest paper in a city or town with state subsidies as a countervailing measure against the tendency for advertisers to flock towards the top-selling paper.
An old copy of the Stockholms Dagblad
In this way, left-wing newspapers in right-wing areas are protected from the depredations of the market, and vice versa, with the aim of assuring political and media pluralism.
However, the commission on Wednesday (17 June) called on Sweden to reduce the funding it provides to papers in large towns, claiming that they breach EU rules on state aid.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - European gas companies may end up buying excess volumes of Russian gas to help prevent a fresh EU supply crisis, in plans to be discussed at the EU summit on Thursday (18 June). Russian supplier Gazprom is facing financial and technical difficulties after having contracted to buy set volumes of gas from central Asian producers while facing a sharp drop in demand in the EU and Ukraine. A gas storage tank: Ukraine seems to be hoarding supplies in aniticipation of a fresh Russian cut-off At the same time, Ukraine gas distributor, Naftogaz, is running out of money to pay the Russian firm. But Ukraine has hoarded gas in its vast underground tanks to help see it through the winter in case Gazprom cuts off supplies. The last Russian cut-off, in January, caused massive disruption in the EU, which receives 25 percent of its gas from Russia via Ukraine.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - European gas companies may end up buying excess volumes of Russian gas to help prevent a fresh EU supply crisis, in plans to be discussed at the EU summit on Thursday (18 June).
Russian supplier Gazprom is facing financial and technical difficulties after having contracted to buy set volumes of gas from central Asian producers while facing a sharp drop in demand in the EU and Ukraine.
A gas storage tank: Ukraine seems to be hoarding supplies in aniticipation of a fresh Russian cut-off
At the same time, Ukraine gas distributor, Naftogaz, is running out of money to pay the Russian firm. But Ukraine has hoarded gas in its vast underground tanks to help see it through the winter in case Gazprom cuts off supplies.
The last Russian cut-off, in January, caused massive disruption in the EU, which receives 25 percent of its gas from Russia via Ukraine.
And it's hopefully confused. What's the crisis? Gazprom is in trouble because demand is too low, so that threatens their ability to make deliveries (which are not asked for by consumers)?? Ukrainian gas storage is being filled up during summer to build up reserves during winter (which is their sole purpose)?
Ignorant, stupid, fearmongering article. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
The European elections didn't turn out well for Germany's Social Democrats. SPIEGEL spoke with Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück about the SPD's chances in German elections this autumn, his party's chancellor candidate and Chancellor Merkel's leadership. SPIEGEL: Mr. Steinbrück, we would like to talk to you in your capacity as one of the deputy leaders of the Social Democrats (SPD). Steinbrück: That's what I thought. SPIEGEL: If the SPD were a department store, where would it be now? On the verge of bankruptcy or would it already have filed? German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück says that the Social Democrats still have a chance in September general elections. Steinbrück: I think the comparison between the SPD and department store is grotesque. SPIEGEL: We don't think so. In the European parliamentary election, the SPD captured a meager 20.8 percent of the vote. Your party's business model seems to be out of date, not unlike the situation at Karstadt. Steinbrück: Department stores on the whole, my friends, aren't out of fashion, and neither is the SPD. There are some very successful department stores, such as Galeries Lafayettes in France or Harrods in England. Much of what went wrong at Karstadt was the result of management errors.
The European elections didn't turn out well for Germany's Social Democrats. SPIEGEL spoke with Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück about the SPD's chances in German elections this autumn, his party's chancellor candidate and Chancellor Merkel's leadership.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Steinbrück, we would like to talk to you in your capacity as one of the deputy leaders of the Social Democrats (SPD).
Steinbrück: That's what I thought.
SPIEGEL: If the SPD were a department store, where would it be now? On the verge of bankruptcy or would it already have filed?
German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück says that the Social Democrats still have a chance in September general elections. Steinbrück: I think the comparison between the SPD and department store is grotesque.
SPIEGEL: We don't think so. In the European parliamentary election, the SPD captured a meager 20.8 percent of the vote. Your party's business model seems to be out of date, not unlike the situation at Karstadt.
Steinbrück: Department stores on the whole, my friends, aren't out of fashion, and neither is the SPD. There are some very successful department stores, such as Galeries Lafayettes in France or Harrods in England. Much of what went wrong at Karstadt was the result of management errors.
As Germany's center-left Social Democrats lose footing in the run-up to national elections, the Greens are profiting from the party's crisis. In many major cities, it has already risen to become the second-biggest political party. Last week, Germany's Green Party became the first political party in Berlin to send out its messages out to the capital city over Internet radio, broadcasting around the clock. It seems party officials never run out of things to say. German member of parliament Hans-Christian Ströbele: The country's Green Party has succeeded in recent years in attracting both alternative and well as affluent voters. During the day, Green politicians from the city's many districts and from Berlin's government can have their say through various programs, interviews and reports. At night, the station is devoted to music, in a mix of styles that says a lot about the party's urban constituents. Jazz and country music get airtime, as do classic left-wing German singers such as Hannes Wader and Ernst Busch and protest songs from all different eras. "We do a program around green issues and a green attitude to life," says local politician Frank Dittrich, who oversees the radio project. These green radio waves are the party's most recent attempt to bridge the gap between different segments of its electorate. On the one hand are the party's long-time constituents, such as granola-eating peaceniks in Kreuzberg, a district of Berlin long known for its counterculture. On the other are more newly arrived Berliners -- social climbers who have spread into up and coming neighborhoods like Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg, bringing a good deal of money but a bad conscience.
As Germany's center-left Social Democrats lose footing in the run-up to national elections, the Greens are profiting from the party's crisis. In many major cities, it has already risen to become the second-biggest political party.
Last week, Germany's Green Party became the first political party in Berlin to send out its messages out to the capital city over Internet radio, broadcasting around the clock. It seems party officials never run out of things to say.
German member of parliament Hans-Christian Ströbele: The country's Green Party has succeeded in recent years in attracting both alternative and well as affluent voters. During the day, Green politicians from the city's many districts and from Berlin's government can have their say through various programs, interviews and reports. At night, the station is devoted to music, in a mix of styles that says a lot about the party's urban constituents. Jazz and country music get airtime, as do classic left-wing German singers such as Hannes Wader and Ernst Busch and protest songs from all different eras. "We do a program around green issues and a green attitude to life," says local politician Frank Dittrich, who oversees the radio project.
These green radio waves are the party's most recent attempt to bridge the gap between different segments of its electorate. On the one hand are the party's long-time constituents, such as granola-eating peaceniks in Kreuzberg, a district of Berlin long known for its counterculture. On the other are more newly arrived Berliners -- social climbers who have spread into up and coming neighborhoods like Mitte and Prenzlauer Berg, bringing a good deal of money but a bad conscience.
Today's youngsters could be trapped into a "work to live" cycle into their twilight years Today's children could become what Aviva has dubbed "the forever generation". They are the generation who will be retiring later, paying their mortgage for longer and having children live with them well into their twilight years Lifestyle changes mean that people are now taking up to seven years longer to reach various milestones - leaving home, marrying, buying a house and starting a family - than they did 30 years ago. Aviva is therefore warning that people need to start planning for their retirement sooner rather than later. <...> Darren Dicks, head of annuity propositions for Aviva UK Life, said: "There is a risk that without forward planning, today's young adults could end up in a work-to-live cycle for what feels like `forever'. Without suitable pension provision and a means to pay off their mortgage before retirement, people could find themselves having to work for much longer than they do now. <...> "On a more positive note, life expectancy is also increasing steadily, rising from 82.8 and 86.8 respectively for men and women born 30 years ago, to 88.5 and 91.8 for people born now(4). So even though people are working longer, they are also living longer in retirement. This underlines the importance of planning ahead and preparing for a long life." Event Average age 30 years ago Average age now Shift in yrs compared to 30 years ago Expected age in 30 years time First marriage (men)(6) 25.1 years 31.9 years 6.8 years 38.7 years First marriage (women)(6) 22.8 years 29.8 years 7 years 36.8 years Birth of first child (women)(6) 26.6 years 29.3 years 2.7 years 32 years Purchase of first home(7) 27 years 34 years 7 years 41 years
Today's children could become what Aviva has dubbed "the forever generation". They are the generation who will be retiring later, paying their mortgage for longer and having children live with them well into their twilight years
Lifestyle changes mean that people are now taking up to seven years longer to reach various milestones - leaving home, marrying, buying a house and starting a family - than they did 30 years ago. Aviva is therefore warning that people need to start planning for their retirement sooner rather than later. <...>
Darren Dicks, head of annuity propositions for Aviva UK Life, said: "There is a risk that without forward planning, today's young adults could end up in a work-to-live cycle for what feels like `forever'. Without suitable pension provision and a means to pay off their mortgage before retirement, people could find themselves having to work for much longer than they do now. <...>
"On a more positive note, life expectancy is also increasing steadily, rising from 82.8 and 86.8 respectively for men and women born 30 years ago, to 88.5 and 91.8 for people born now(4). So even though people are working longer, they are also living longer in retirement. This underlines the importance of planning ahead and preparing for a long life."
Event
Average age 30 years ago
Average age now
Shift in yrs compared to 30 years ago
Expected age in 30 years time
First marriage (men)(6)
25.1 years
31.9 years
6.8 years
38.7 years
First marriage (women)(6)
22.8 years
29.8 years
7 years
36.8 years
Birth of first child (women)(6)
26.6 years
29.3 years
2.7 years
32 years
Purchase of first home(7)
27 years
34 years
41 years
and even if everything is done properly, the govt then comes along and says, you have money that we need, so we're gonna have a windfall tax.
Meanwhile public employees and company directors have entirely different arrangements that we pay for that ensure they're free and easy from age 50 onward.
So the forever generation is now, people like me. I'm 50 and I have no pension worth squit. I will work forever or live in utter poverty. keep to the Fen Causeway
As to the fact that people are now simply enjoying life as young adults without the social obligation (especially for women) to get married and have babies does not mean that such a trend will continue linearly forever - there are physiological limits to that. Marriage is increasingly unrelated to whether one lives in a couple or has a family...
And as to housing, extrapolating the past 30 years, which were essentially one bubble followed by one larger bubble, into the next 30 is rather ... daring.
But whatever, this is just about trying to grab people's money for insurance funds. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
this is just about trying to grab people's money for insurance funds
marco:
Aviva is therefore warning that people need to start planning for their retirement sooner rather than later. <...> Darren Dicks, head of annuity propositions for Aviva UK Life, said: "There is a risk that without forward planning, today's young adults could end up in a work-to-live cycle for what feels like `forever'.
Aviva is therefore warning that people need to start planning for their retirement sooner rather than later. <...>
Darren Dicks, head of annuity propositions for Aviva UK Life, said: "There is a risk that without forward planning, today's young adults could end up in a work-to-live cycle for what feels like `forever'.
Raising a family, you say? On a lifetime earned wage of 15 years? The brainless should not be in banking. — Willem Buiter
Today's youngsters could be trapped into a "work to live" cycle into their twilight years
The UK and Germany made very ambitious promises and have made great strides towards meeting those promises. Though they are both currently a bit behind in their progress, both Gordon Brown of Labour and David Cameron of the Conservatives in the UK have said they are committed to meeting this promise and have budgeted for the committed aid increases. This in a time of domestic hardship is politically brave and indeed honorable but it is also good, sound political sense. Germany has made budget provisions for continued significant and laudable increases, but will unfortunately probably just fall short of their target. Despite some key investments from France in global health programs, France has made little progress towards its ambitious promise. This is pathetic given France's economic, cultural and historic links with Africa. Indeed it is so pathetic Germany has overtaken France in its economic co-operation with Africa for the first time ever. And then there's Italy, this year's G8 host. Last year's host kept their promise; next year's host has kept theirs. But Italy has only done 3% of what Prime Minister Berlusconi personally and nationally promised in 2005. I'll repeat that figure of craven dishonesty -- 3%! So it is quite proper to ask -- what legitimacy does Italy have to run the G8 this year? How can you possibly trust a government that promises something, does nothing and expects to the lead the world's biggest economies? Especially when this promise was a solemn one between the rich and the poor. Between the powerful and the weak. Surely a test of power is how it cares for the frail. A measure of strength is how it safeguards the weak. In these tests Italy has failed. On debt cancellation, the G8 are largely making good, thus enabling 34 million children to go to school for the first time ever. That's 34 million new brains actively engaged with our world. However the current financial crisis may give rise to a newer debt problem. This needs to be avoided.
The UK and Germany made very ambitious promises and have made great strides towards meeting those promises. Though they are both currently a bit behind in their progress, both Gordon Brown of Labour and David Cameron of the Conservatives in the UK have said they are committed to meeting this promise and have budgeted for the committed aid increases. This in a time of domestic hardship is politically brave and indeed honorable but it is also good, sound political sense. Germany has made budget provisions for continued significant and laudable increases, but will unfortunately probably just fall short of their target.
Despite some key investments from France in global health programs, France has made little progress towards its ambitious promise. This is pathetic given France's economic, cultural and historic links with Africa. Indeed it is so pathetic Germany has overtaken France in its economic co-operation with Africa for the first time ever.
And then there's Italy, this year's G8 host. Last year's host kept their promise; next year's host has kept theirs. But Italy has only done 3% of what Prime Minister Berlusconi personally and nationally promised in 2005. I'll repeat that figure of craven dishonesty -- 3%! So it is quite proper to ask -- what legitimacy does Italy have to run the G8 this year? How can you possibly trust a government that promises something, does nothing and expects to the lead the world's biggest economies? Especially when this promise was a solemn one between the rich and the poor. Between the powerful and the weak. Surely a test of power is how it cares for the frail. A measure of strength is how it safeguards the weak. In these tests Italy has failed.
On debt cancellation, the G8 are largely making good, thus enabling 34 million children to go to school for the first time ever. That's 34 million new brains actively engaged with our world. However the current financial crisis may give rise to a newer debt problem. This needs to be avoided.
Feminist politician equates Pirate Party supporters with rapists A blog post comparing file sharing advocates to rapists has caused a backlash for the feminist member of the Riksdag who authored the entry. Last Sunday, Annika Qarlsson, who also heads the board of the Centre Party's women's organization Centerkvinnorna, reflected on her blog about the success of the Pirate Party in recent European Parliament elections. "[H]ere's a thought and a reflection connected to the Pirate Party's success with many young men, who voted for them in order to protect their personal privacy. [I'm] thinking about the statistics which came out the other day that show there are innumerable young women who are raped by young men who they barely know or don't know at all," wrote Qarlsson. "And I can't make sense of it - do young men think that privacy is important or don't they?"
A blog post comparing file sharing advocates to rapists has caused a backlash for the feminist member of the Riksdag who authored the entry.
Last Sunday, Annika Qarlsson, who also heads the board of the Centre Party's women's organization Centerkvinnorna, reflected on her blog about the success of the Pirate Party in recent European Parliament elections.
"[H]ere's a thought and a reflection connected to the Pirate Party's success with many young men, who voted for them in order to protect their personal privacy. [I'm] thinking about the statistics which came out the other day that show there are innumerable young women who are raped by young men who they barely know or don't know at all," wrote Qarlsson.
"And I can't make sense of it - do young men think that privacy is important or don't they?"
The number of seats should be cut from 349 to 99.
Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
statistics which came out the other day that show there are innumerable young women
Reading what is there, I suspect there's probably a good point screaming to be revealed. Sadly I doubt it's within this MP's capability to do so. keep to the Fen Causeway
