Ram Etwareea reacts in an editorial to "hunger riots" in several countries, provoked by the rising price of staples. "At present, speculation and poor harvests are creating the crisis. But, in the long term, it's through a reinvestment in agriculture that the Earth will be able to feed nine billion mouths, of which the majority will be found in cities. ... The poor policies in Asia, Africa and South America are without a doubt responsible for the crisis. For example, Madagascar or Zimbabwe, hitherto the granaries of Africa, are today reduced to begging for food supplies. The food catastrophe is also the result of an American and European agricultural policy that unjustly imposes its interests on the rest of the world. Protectionism and unfair competition have killed farming in poor countries. ... The soaring prices create a new dynamic. Europe and the United States are reducing their agricultural subsidies." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Agriculture, » Africa, » Asia, » Europe, » Global
All available articles from » Ram Etwareea

Bruno Parmentier is the director of ESA in Angers (an agricultural university). He writes that, in terms of agriculture, "we are faced with a real turn of events. The 21st Century has only just begun and everything has changed in the last year. We thought that we were producing too much and European policies encouraged reducing surpluses, ... while debates raged over the ethical and economic foundations of our exports. Today we are entering into a world of shortages! The planet lacks cereals, but also milk and cooking oils... Increased production ability is the only solution. ... Since we know that our countries' and the planet's resources are limited, and that needs are incessantly growing, a new agricultural revolution is necessary. ... We need to learn how to produce ever more, but with much less, and better." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Agriculture, » Global
All available articles from » Bruno Parmentier

The worldwide rise in food prices is in part attributable to the growth of crops for biofuels, the paper maintains, recommending both reducing taxes on bread and bringing WTO talks to a rapid conclusion. "Since 2001 the World Trade Organisation has been negotiating a freer global trade in food and agricultural produce. But the unbearable doggedness of the talks has continued to push back a deal. A quicker and more successful conclusion to WTO negotiations is a vital step towards solving the shock caused by the rise in food prices. Moreover, international agreements should only permit the production of biofuels where it can be guaranteed that good-quality agricultural crops do not end up as fuel." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Danish)
More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Energy, » Agriculture, » Economic Policy, » Denmark, » Global

For the columnist Alain Duhamel, General De Gaulle is still an unavoidable figure in French politics. "Since he left office in 1969, without losing a minute, in a petrified silence, the spirit of the man from Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises has constantly haunted political debate... . We might think that, over the course of the years and administrations, his illustrious shadow would be more discreet. But no, exactly the opposite has come about. After his departure, little by little, the General has been nationalised. Whatever the issues were, interior or exterior, institutional or political, Gaullist principles reigned over the discussion. All the political parties brandished them. Each speaker attempted to portray his adversaries in conflict with the Commandments handed down by the founder of the fifth Republic. Everything happens as if General de Gaulle was sacred." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » France
All available articles from » Alain Duhamel

Spanish columnist Miguel Angel Bastenier deems that "the world has stopped being bipolar, but it has not become unipolar either, dominated by the United States. The US cannot impose their superpower status. But this doesn't signify that the world is moving towards multipolarity. ... The United States now exercise a negative hegemony; they prevent the emergence of a veritable multipolarity, because their material and military forces are superior to those of the other powers put together. But their incapacity to structure the planet according to a recognisable order produces a degeneration, moving towards decay, of the current conflicts. ... It's a hegemony of massive destruction." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » U.S.
All available articles from » Miguel Angel Bastenier

This Monday the 35-year-old Georgi Stoev, author of several novels about the links between the Mafia and politics, was shot on one of Sofia's most popular squares. Just a day earlier, a prominent businessman was also killed in front of his apartment. Georgi Gospodinov is outraged: "It is probably unlikely that we are watching the border between reality and fiction dissolve, as it does in Stoev's books. But one thing is clear: his murder means a line has been crossed. How much longer do we have to put up with people trying to convince us that the mud we are stuck in is a field of flowers? We do not know who the contract killers are. But we recognise the demagogic intent to sell an illusion as normality. And we know who the architects of this illusory normality are, which is shattered every now and then by gunshots and explosions. There are also the set designers who arrange Bulgaria for the Brussels diplomats when they come to Sofia." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Bulgarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Georgi Gospodinov

The United States followed the United Kingdom on April 7th, announcing that expected troop withdrawls from Iraq would be delayed. Simon Jenkins despairs that this strategy is based on flawed logic. "The occupation of Iraq is now officially indefinite. Too many politicians have too much to lose by contemplating retreat. ... The truth is that there will be no peace within the Shia regions, no peace between Sunnis and Shias, and no resolution of the issues dividing Arabs and Kurds until the occupation is over. The occupation freezes politics. All else is tinkering. It is a truism that somewhere between the government, the Mahdists, the Badr brigades, the army, the police and the Sunni warlords an understanding will one day be reached. When that will be depends on the length of the occupation. ... The claim that America and Britain, who created this mess, can best serve it by continuing to hang around, bombing and shooting, is laughable." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » United Kingdom, » U.S., » Middle East
All available articles from » Simon Jenkins

In a speech before Parliament on April 8th, Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero announced that he would be seeking a new four year mandate. The daily predicts that Zapatero will have an easier time winning the parliamentary vote on April 10th than he did in last time, in 2004. "Zapatero will come to power with more force than before because he doesn't need to negotiate with the little parties to win the vote. What's more ... no one questions the legitimacy of the socialist victory, as the principal opposition party [the right-wing People's Party (PP)] did last time. The hand extended by Zapatero to the president of the PP, Mariano Rojoy, leads us to believe that this mandate will not be marked by the same tension between the two parties. Zapatero directly confronted Rajoy and asked him to make a deal on questions of general interest like anti-terrorism strategy, justice reform, the financing of autonomous regions and foreign policy that will prepare Spain for the EU presidency [in the first half of 2010]." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Spain

Brian Cowen is the seventh leader of Fianna Fáil in the party's history and will be, within weeks, the twelfth Taoiseach of this State, writes the Irish daily. "It is no small tribute to him that he will be selected as party leader by the acclaim of his colleagues. But, he has a hard act to follow after Bertie Ahern. He will be a different leader in substance and in style and he needs to be given his own space. ... Mr Cowen has held many high profile ministries over the years where he has demonstrated considerable skills on issues of process and organisation. But, little is known about his vision for Ireland. One clue to his priorities can be gleaned from his keynote address to the Royal Irish Academy last November... . The three priorities which, he believed, we must put more focus on over the next 10 years were productivity, equity and the environment in which we live." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Ireland

In the wake of the coalition crisis in Hungary there are increasing signs of a leftwards turn in the economic policy of the minority government of President Ferenc Gyurcsány, whose reform course suffered a major setback in last month's referendum. But, warns Iván Várkonyi, the pursuit of popularity could have serious consequences: "It was on the cards that the socialist minority government would slow down the pace of reform. The coalition's overzealous pushing through of reforms was seen as its greatest mistake: rather than convincing voters of the necessity of change, it forced change upon them. The economy dictated to the people, or more precisely, wanted to dictate. The worry now is that the change in tactic will not contribute to better preparation and popular approval of the reforms, but to a fear of conflict. If this were the case, it could result in the people dictating economic policy. Even without referenda." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Hungarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Economic Policy, » Hungary
All available articles from » Iván Várkonyi

The Czech capital Prague continues to attract ever more foreigners in search of work, reports Petr Kupec: "While in the provinces, mostly Slovaks, Ukrainians, Poles and foreigners from the Far East are looking for low-paid jobs, Prague is seeing a huge influx of job-seekers from economically strong countries in the west. Over two thousand Germans, one thousand French and several hundred Italians are already employed here. These people are not looking for temporary work but are attracted by the prospect of a new home and career. One reason is the huge number of globally successful firms on the Vltava. In the top positions western Europeans earn the same as they would at home. Add to this the fact that these companies do not demand that they speak Czech, which would be nigh on impossible for the majority of them. ... It is often much more difficult for these foreigners to find work at home." (09/04/2008)

» to the homepage (external link, Pražský deník)
More from the press review on the subject » Czech Republic
All available articles from » Petr Kupec

On March 19 the right-wing nationalist journalist Zsolt Bayer published a libelous attack on "Jewish journalists" in the daily Magyar Hírlap. The once liberal newspaper has pursued a stalwartly right-wing conservative line since it was taken over by the industrialist Gábor Széles in 2005. Countless Hungarian intellectuals have now voiced their protest in a open letter to Széles. György Vári is not optimistic about the success of this action: "The gesture of a petition presupposes a consensus within society, on the basis of which one can object when norms are violated. ... This consensus [against anti-Semitism] does not currently exist in Hungary, which is why the signees are unlikely to achieve their aim. In this case a signature action can accomplish no more than to strenghten a feeling of community. It is not enough to point out a violation of the norm, because it is not obvious to many people: You have to explain it. ... This requires a great deal more intellectual effort than just a signature." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Hungarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Print media, » Minorities, » Hungary
All available articles from » György Vári

Barbara Coudenhove-Kalergi is happy that a solution has been found to the conflict over the mosque in the small spa town of Bad Vöslau, to the approval of all parties. The talks could serve as an example for other Austrian communities. "The new mosque will look very modern, with lots of glass, a small dome, two suggestions of column-like minarettes. It will have an inside courtyard and will be surrounded by a youth club, a coffee house and classrooms. Guests will be welcome. It is very possible that the people of Bad Vöslau will grow to be proud of this example of new sacred architecture in their town. ... If they are well-designed, modern mosques - like modern churches - could certainly be an enrichment to the traditional places of interest. Here, European Islam is being asked to contribute on an aesthetic level, while locals are being challenged to demonstrate a spirit of open-mindedness." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Architecture / Cities, » Religion, » Migration, » Austria
All available articles from » Barbara Coudenhove-Kalergi

A report on the state of the Danish language by a state-commissioned team of experts ("Sprogudvalg") has recommended that Danish should be safeguarded as a scientific language. English is on the rise in academia, the daily writes, however it argues that Danish universities would become less attractive to foreign students if courses were exclusively offered in Danish, naming other areas where the native language should be promoted: "On the other hand, there are many indicators of a real need for investing in language in the Danish education system, on the job market and in the media. The insufficient knowledge of grammar and spelling means that endless mistakes occur. Linguistic poverty is on the rise everywhere, and it would be a great disfavour to our young if we did not demand good Danish. A solid grasp of grammar is essential for learning foreign languages even at tourist level. (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Danish)
More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Cultural Policy, » Denmark

Piotr Kosiewski has visited the 5th Berlin Biennale and was impressed by the sculpture park on a strip of land where the Berlin Wall used to stand. "A number of works have been exhibited on the neglected wasteland with its wild plants, where luxury office blocks are being built. You have to search for some of the artworks between piles of rubble or fight through the bushes to get to them. The exhibition in this special place reminds one of the differences that still exist in Berlin, which no doubt will not be eroded only by pulling down old buildings. ... Outsourcing a part of the exhibition to this location has wrenched visitors from their viewing habits. The curators of the Biennale have taken the art out of the secure rooms of the gallery and the museum and forced the artists to confront the reality around them." (09/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Exhibitions / Museums, » Germany
All available articles from » Piotr Kosiewski

Warsaw's underground station Plac Wilsonia has been nominated as the world's best new underground station at the Metro Awards 2008. Its entrances are like weeping willows, light streams in from a window in the ceiling. In an interview with Izabela Kraj, architect Andrzej Chołdzyński explains: "It is paradoxical that Warsaw has one of the shortest underground lines in the world but the best station. I am very glad, because the award was given by 800 experts from around the world. ... It certainly helps to break the cliche that an underground station doesn't have to look good, and the greyer and cheaper it is the better. " Chołdzyński has now been commissioned to design the first seven stations of the second underground line that is in the planning. "The designs include colourful butterflies at the entrances and a multimedia gallery for contemporary art at every stop." (08/04/2008)

» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Infrastructure / Travel and Transport, » Architecture / Cities, » Poland
All available articles from » Andrzej Chołdzyński, » Izabela Kraj