The Durban Climate Change Conference is doomed to failure due to political short-sightedness and economic alarmism, complains the business paper Les Echos: "If the failure of the last summit in Copenhagen in 2009 weighs heavily on people's minds, there is something even more profound and more worrying amidst this pessimism: the dictatorship of the present moment that leads our politicians to mobilise their energy for short-term priorities while forgetting the equally fundamental challenges of the long term. ... What is the solution? First of all, to put an end to alarmist or regressive discourses such as that calling for economic degrowth, so as to open the way for acceptable perspectives. Then to ask whether a body other than the UN - the G20? - wouldn't be better suited to easing the inflexibility of states that can't see farther than their own interests." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Global
All available articles from » Daniel Fortin

The reduction targets for CO2 emissions won't even come close to being met, but the subject has simply become too "uncool", writes the left-leaning weekly WOZ: "It's uncool to spread a doomsday mood - to dampen the high spirits bolstered by the mild November weather by pointing to rainfall levels that are at a record low. That would only risk making people apathetic, which is no good for anyone. So don't panic. ... Don't rush into things, otherwise people won't cooperate. Meanwhile greenhouse gas emissions are soaring to levels that exceed the worst expectations. Temperatures are expected to rise by six degrees by the end of this century. Southern Europe could become as inhospitable as the Sahara. In the long term the Greenland ice sheet will melt and the sea level will rise by several metres. Without glaciers in the Alps, the Andes and the Himalayas the water supplies of more than a billion people will be at risk. We face wars over resources, famines and the collapse of state structures." (24/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Natural disasters, » Natural disasters, » Global, » South Africa
All available articles from » Marcel Hänggi

The chances of success at the climate summit are slim and the last hope is China, writes the liberal daily La Stampa: "Almost unanimously, scientists view the global warming process as a real and dangerous phenomenon. Nevertheless it seems unlikely, if not impossible, that the summit will reach an agreement on combating climate change. The differences between the old and the new economic powers are too great, their interests too strong and the political leaders too weak due to the international financial and economic crisis. ... All eyes are on China, the country with the highest greenhouse gas emissions in the world. China refuses to accept binding rules for reducing its emissions, nevertheless it seems to have the intention of announcing a unilateral mega-plan for drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions that will apply only to China. That could be a good example for everyone." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Global, » China
All available articles from » Roberto Giovannini

The first ever free parliamentary elections begin today, Monday, in Egypt. Around 40 million citizens will choose the occupants of just under 500 parliamentary seats while the army appoints another ten MPs. This election will shape the entire region, writes the conservative daily Lidové noviny: "Just as the protests in Cairo swept the wave of revolution into other Arab states, this election could also become a model for those countries. Not only the outcome of the election but also whether it goes off relatively smoothly will be of vital importance. The dramatic events of the past few days, with street protests that have resulted in dozens of deaths, give rise to fears of a different scenario. ... If developments move in the wrong direction this would also be a signal for other revolutions. That could be the end of the dream of better conditions in the Arab world." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Crises / War, » Elections, » Middle East, » North Africa, » Egypt
All available articles from » Petr Pešek
Who's saying what » Arabs fight for freedom

Under pressure from the financial markets, Belgium's future government on Saturday agreed on a budget for 2012, so that nothing more stands in the way of forming a cabinet. The US rating agency Standard & Poor's had lowered Belgium's credit rating from the second to the third best category on Friday. The agreement was no masterly feat, writes the left-liberal daily Le Soir: "Too late and in a not exactly glorious every-man-for-himself manner, the negotiating partners have finally managed to reach a compromise that fulfils Europe's most urgent requirements. After 531 days our country will finally have a government. This is a necessary, if not a sufficient condition. ... It is unbelievable how politicians can hole themselves up in their own world, deny the obvious and turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the signals of reality." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » EU neighbourhood policy, » Germany, » Belgium, » Europe

The Danish centre-left government aims to generate 100 percent of its electricity through renewable energies by 2050. To finance this project it plans a gradual increase in energy taxes which would mean that the average household would be paying around 230 euros more per year in electricity bills. The liberal-conservative daily Jyllands-Posten is outraged at the idea: "The Danes are already buckling under the weight of the highest electricity prices in Europe, two thirds of which are taxes. ... The advantage is that the government can point out that Denmark is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. This sounds very noble, but the fact is that Denmark's emissions only make up a couple of thousandths of the total global greenhouse gas emissions anyway. No one with any sense will accept the Danes being buried in another tax nightmare just to make a climate and energy minister look good at the UN Climate summit. Obviously the major economies want to reduce their emissions at their own pace, and under these conditions Denmark would should concentrate on reducing emissions under free market conditions without further increasing the tax burden on its citizens and companies." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Denmark

The Slovakian government is considering announcing a state of emergency in the healthcare sector, forcing doctors who have resigned en masse out of dissatisfaction with their salaries to continue working. That would be a bad solution for everyone concerned, writes the left-leaning daily Pravda: "The state of emergency would not make doctors any better satisfied. Rather it could spread the discontent to other employees in the health sector. ... Doctors can't really go on strike, because of their code of ethics. The more logical move is their mass resignation. No one would gain anything from announcing a state of emergency. Nor would it be a solution to close specific wards, or even entire hospitals, as the government is now considering. The patients would benefit least from such a measure, and just imagine what would happen if a flu epidemic broke out." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Health Policy, » Unions, » Social affairs, » Slovakia
All available articles from » Peter Javurek

With their linguistic blunders the German politicians are behaving like bulls in a china shop in the debt crisis and stoking fears of an over-strong Germany across Europe, Michael Spreng writes in his blog Sprengsatz: "Fear of Germany ... can quickly turn virulent when prescriptions for cutting spending are accompanied by arrogant or insulting words. ... One of the worst remarks, which fortunately also met with an indignant response from his own faction, was that made by the chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group Volker Kauder: 'Now all of a sudden German is being spoken in Europe', which was shortened to 'Europe now speaks German'. ... The nastiest remark, made by provincial demagogue Alexander Dobrindt, secretary general of the CSU, luckily went no further than the German border. Commenting on EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso's euro bond proposals he said: 'Barroso is turning himself into a soldier of the Dolce Vita states'. He could hardly have come up with a more all-embracing insult; Guido Westerwelle's talk of 'late Roman decadence' was almost harmless by comparison." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Germany, » Europe
All available articles from » Michael H. Spreng
Who's saying what » Ways out of the debt crisis

According to reports in the media the governments of Germany and France are working on a stability pact for the Eurozone that would protect thrifty countries that maintain budgetary discipline against the attacks of the financial markets. This division must be prevented in favour of a one-speed Europe, the former Italian ambassador to Germany Antonio Puri Purini urges in an open letter to Angela Merkel published by the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera: "The moment of truth has come. A turn towards unity is necessary. ... Frau Merkel, please explain what Germany's goals are regarding common economic government and the strengthening of the Stability Pact. Add euro bonds and linking the bailout fund to the ECB to the list of stability measures. ... Explain the need for amending the EU treaties as a necessary step towards political unity. ... Limit the exclusive role of the German-French axis and enhance the European profile of your government. ... The chancellor of the country on which Europe's fate depends has the right to demand discipline from others, but she must in turn provide transparency and solidarity." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » EU treaties, » Germany, » Europe
All available articles from » Antonio Puri Purini
Who's saying what » Ways out of the debt crisis, » Europe's speed

The rating agency Moody's lowered Hungary's credit rating to junk status on Thursday. The agency acts in the interests of the speculators, writes the pro-government conservative daily Magyar Nemzet: "This was an attack on Hungary's economic independence. ... Because of no more than the purely personal opinions of a small circle of private investors, the forint weakens drastically, the index at the Budapest Stock Exchange plunges and the interest rates that Hungary must pay skyrocket. But theoretically any country could be downgraded on the same grounds which Moody's named for downgrading Hungary. Moody's has simply acted in the interests of those speculators who have been zeroing in on the forint and Hungarian bonds. ... All this could happen because until today no law covers the rating agencies' activities. They never got a contract to rate countries. And they long ago ceased giving investors an orientation. Much more, they carry out the will of an influential financial elite. At any price." (26/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Financial Markets, » Economy, » Hungary, » Global
All available articles from » Anna Szabó

To avoid future crises the four biggest banks in Sweden must have a capital reserve ratio of 12 percent as of 2015, considerably higher than the seven percent agreed on in the Basel III regulations. Sweden is a model for all of Europe, the liberal daily Göteborgs-Posten commends: "Sweden's public finances are among the most stable in Europe, and we can discuss reforms while others talk about tax rises. ... With the demand that big banks as of 2013 retain a core capital quota of at least ten percent and twelve percent as of 2015, Sweden lies well above the resolutions adopted at Basel III. The stricter regulations lead banks to take fewer risks and the equity owners will be held more accountable than taxpayers. It is not the state, that is the taxpayer, that should be held accountable for careless or negligent lending practices." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Sweden

The Austrian government plans to enshrine a debt limit in the constitution in a bid to defend the country's top credit status with the rating agencies. However for the debt brake to be passed into law at least one opposition faction must vote in its favour. The left-liberal daily Der Standard sees above all the Left under pressure to act: "The left-wingers who are now trying to stir up opposition against the debt brake bill with ostensible 'social arguments' are in reality afraid of the inevitable confrontation. They fear they will be the losers. But why should it be taken for granted that the social conflict over a sensible, efficient and just state without a debt dead-end is a lost cause from the outset? Or in other words: can only getting deeper and deeper into debt guarantee a social state, one that can also implement anti-cyclical growth strategies? If that's the case, then Good Night." (25/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Financial Markets, » Austria
All available articles from » Heinrich Breidenbach
Who's saying what » Ways out of the debt crisis

The Portuguese music style Fado was included on Unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage list on Sunday. A promising decision, writes the daily Diário de Notícias: "It was a long time in coming. ... It took six years after the idea first surfaced: now since Sunday Fado is the first form of Portuguese cultural expression to be recognised as an intangible world heritage. How does that benefit us? The mere fact that with the help of the media expectations were so high shows the interest of the Portuguese in a music form that they have once more come to appreciate, and which they are now giving all the attention it deserves. That is all the more true when you consider that Fado is practically the only Portuguese music that's heard abroad. And one can easily imagine that for the tourism industry Fado isn't just music but can become an important part of our country's image." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Music, » Culture, » Portugal, » Global

The Dutch public prosecutor's office plans to launch ban proceedings against the paedophile association Martijn, which calls for the legalisation of sexual relations between adults and children. The majority of MPs are also in favour of a ban. The right-wing conservative weekly Elsevier, however, points to the dangers of a ban: "This would restrict the freedom of assembly and association, and one should always act with caution when it comes to basic rights. Furthermore a ban would only drive the paedophiles and paedosexuals underground. It's better if these people remain visible for the judicial system and the police. The failure of Martijn members to understand how disturbing their desires are and how terrible the crimes of some of their numbers are indicates that even a ban won't deter them. ... Naturally paedosexuals who molest children must be arrested and punished. But a ban against the paedophile association Martijn is not necessary to combat and punish them." (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Minorities, » Justice, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Wierd Duk

Last Friday was Black Friday in the US, the day after Thanksgiving when businesses traditionally lure customers with extra-low prices. The tents set up in front of stores across the country resembled those of the Occupy movement in New York but reveal another paradox of Western culture, writes Julian Leca on the blog portal Voxpublica: "People who grow up in the West are the product of a consumer society that satisfies every mood. How, from this starting point, can you revolt against a system that has made luxury available to the general public? ... There is not much left that would prompt a citizen of the West to start a revolution. The weltschmerz has passed, the injustices are a thing of the past, freedom has been won, but ideals they no longer have. Only the frustrations remain - but they are short-lived and depend on the context. The Occupy movement was an expression of those frustrations. But the movement perfectly exposes the hypocrisy: Down with the banks and big companies, but secretly we race to the supermarkets to snap up the bargains!" (28/11/2011)

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More from the press review on the subject » Trade, » Consumers, » Financial Markets, » North America, » U.S., » Western Europe
All available articles from » Iulian Leca
Who's saying what » The world protests