After the failure of the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, an international commission for climate issues could help matters, writes the left-liberal daily El País: "For the almost 200 countries participating, the Copenhagen summit was the last opportunity to show that they can be part of the solution to global warming. Unfortunately they demonstrated in Copenhagen that they are a large part of the problem. Consequently the time has come to take a qualitative step forward and start thinking about how they can be stripped of their decision-making power. That may sound radical, but have no fear: politics is really only about deciding which powers of decision we want to allocate to which levels to solve problems as they arise." (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Environmental Policy, » Denmark, » Global
All available articles from » José Ignacio Torreblanca

The outcome of the climate protection conference is certainly frustrating, but the post-summit meeting that will take place in Bonn this June could right matters, writes The Independent: "It was disappointing, in part, because expectations were so high, and one reason for the chaos was that so many countries, with such differing requirements and concerns, attended, not to speak of the specialists and NGOs demanding their say from the wings. All is not - yet - lost. ... At least all present understood the importance of what they were trying to do. Everyone has agreed to reconvene in Germany in six weeks' (sic) time, bringing with them specific bids and targets. All effort should now be directed to ensuring that in Bonn, real, quantifiable, progress can be achieved." (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Environmental Policy, » Global

The failure in Copenhagen could have devastating consequences, writes the daily De Standaard: "All we can do is conclude that the world leaders have let the world down. Like Munich before the Second World War, Copenhagen will soon be synonymous with a lack of political courage and an excess of political helplessness. But the failure in Copenhagen could have far more terrible consequences even than the Second World War. … From those who aspire to be leaders of states we demand a much greater sense of responsibility, more visions and more courage. Not a pathetic battle for their own political survival. The 21st century belongs to the people who realise this." (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Global
All available articles from » Peter Vandermeersch

The climate summit in Copenhagen has ushered in a new world order, writes the daily Politiken: "China came across as every bit the superpower. And in contrast to previous meetings the US and the EU were unable to push through their interests. ... The poor nations looked on in approval as China refused to accept the same standards for all countries and rejected binding CO2 reductions and external controls of its climate protection measures. ... Copenhagen will not go down in history for securing consensus or bringing the world together in concerted action. But it will be remembered as a time when the US and the EU underestimated the developing countries' new sense of self-esteem. That alone is no reason to despair. Negotiating future agreements will no doubt be more difficult, nevertheless their contents may well be more soically balanced and sustainable. Copenhagen means a new start to the global power game - with a new set of rules." (20/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Environmental Policy, » Europe, » U.S., » Global

The business paper Hospodářské Noviny writes that while the Western world is the loser of the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, it still has a role to play in the climate agenda: "Countries like India and China have shown that economic growth is more important for them than the repercussions of climate change. ... The West is rich enough that it can face up to climate change. China and India will only get around to doing that once they too have got rich quick. There is no such thing as solidarity in a game like this. ... True, Europe was pushed to the sidelines in Copenhagen, nevertheless it should continue to exert pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Not just because of climate change, but above all to show how the dangers of overdependence on oil and gas may be avoided." (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Environmental Policy, » Global
All available articles from » Petr Honzejk

The culling of around 40,000 sheep and goats starts today in the Netherlands, in a bid to control the spread of Q fever, which is harmful to humans. The mass slaughters again call into question industrial livestock farming methods, writes the liberal daily NRC Handelsblad: "In the last years animals in the Netherlands have been affected by BSE, foot and mouth disease, swine flu, bird flu and now Q-fever. Millions of cows, chickens, pigs, sheep and goats have been slaughtered. ... If we engage in intensive stock-rearing for economic reasons, are these now gradually outweighed by the financial disadvantages? Do the premature killing of animals, the cost of vaccines, business closures and compensation to farmers weigh less heavily than arguments for maintaining mass animal husbandry? Society needs a basic investigation into the reasons for the meat industry in the Netherlands, which is so densly populated by humans and animals." (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Agriculture, » Netherlands

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is exploiting the attack against his person to pursue his undemocratic goal of establishing a single party system in Italy, writes the left-liberal daily La Repubblica: "It all comes down to annexing the political blocks across the entire spectrum by means of gangs and castes. The rest happens automatically. Reforms that come from above, like the constitutions of the 19th century which were designed to give sham parties room for role-playing. A command society like under the Ancien Régime. A company constitution that favours post-democratic decisionism. And on the horizon, together with the state pardon for His Highness the Prime Minister, and thanks to the little laws ad personam or the colossal amount of horse-trading [the opposition seems inclined to relent at the moments, at least as far as the prime minister's immunity is concerned] the scenario that threatens the democratic system is taking shape: a single party endowed with huge popularity ratings and a sense of liberation from the hate prevalent in today's disillusioned democratic Italy." (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Italy
All available articles from » Edmondo Berselli

If only politics could be like the car park at the EU Parliament in Brussels, sighs Annamari Sipilä, Brussels correspondent for the daily Helsingin Sanomat: "The car park at the EU Parliament is clean, warm and well-lit. It is supervised by friendly personnel who make sure everything runs as it should. The atmosphere is calm and secure. ... Nothing bad can happen in the parking lot at the EU Parliament. It's a place where you can stop and rest, and sit back for a few moments' relaxation between a shining Audi and a BMW. The biggest distraction in the car park is when the women parliamentarians from Italy and France clatter over the concrete in their crocodile-covered stiletto heels. ... Europe needs decision makers like those responsible for this underground car park. Then people would feel calm and secure. Everyone would have enough time and space, regardless of whether they travel by Mercedes or Škoda, by bike or on foot." (21/12/2009)

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Twenty years ago Nicolae Ceauşescu's regime fell in Romania, and following an express trial he and his wife were executed on Christmas Day in 1989. The daily Adevărul criticises the fact that most of the dictator's accomplices have still not had to answer for their crimes: "It was not [Ceauşescu] alone who left millions of people to starve and freeze. … Thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of Romanians played a part in this. Far too few had the strength to say 'no'. Where are all the helpers of Ceauşescuism? They return with every generation. … After December 1989 Romania should have assumed responsibility for Ceauşescuism, examined its origins and tried to understand it. The Romanians should have asked themselves how such a political and cultural phenomenon was possible. Romania, too, should have undergone a de-Nazification process just as Germany did, and a trial like the Nuremburg trials would not have been enough. Much more would have been necessary: the public assumption of responsibility for the evils and the continuous education of the younger generation right up to now according to the motto: 'This must never be allowed to happen again!" (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » History, » Remembrance culture, » Romania
All available articles from » Ovidiu Nahoi

Greece's credit rating has been cut by several rating agencies. The Spanish business paper Expansíon writes that Greece highlights the fundamental problems with European economic policy. "The case of Greece exemplifies the contradictory policy of the EU, which has unified the national currencies of 16 countries but not their economic policies and which, before the crisis set in, opted to relax the Stability Pact, thus breaking the guarantee of credibility its members had in the face of incertainties. On the other hand, rescuing Greece wouldn't cost the EU an excessive amount as it would increase the total debt of its members by a mere three percent. But the latter are not obliged to do so, nor have they so far shown any sign of doing so, which has only increased the doubts." (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Greece, » Europe

The Vatican has affirmed that the controversial Pope Pius XII led a model life and has thus freed the way for his beatification. The left-liberal Süddeutsche Zeitung protests at what it says is a false depiction of the pope as a freedom fighter: "Pius XII allowed the almost concluded encyclical against racism and persecution of the Jews to languish in the archives because he was afraid it would do more harm than good. … This pope should be a case for historical research and not the subject of a beatification process. Pope Benedict's determination to push through the process despite all the reservations … is detrimental to a sober assessment of Eugenio Pacelli. Once again we see how little regard Benedict has for the political consequences of his decisions. First there was the Good Friday prayer for the conversion of the Jews, then the rehabilitation of Holocaust denier Williamson, and now the honouring of Pope Pius XII. What John Paul II achieved in terms of establishing good relations with the Jews in this world now threatens to be destroyed." (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Italy
All available articles from » Matthias Drobinski

A Japanese man with the pseudonym SAL9000 has married a virtual figure from a Nintendo computer game. This is an important step for relations between computers and their users, writes the daily Dziennik Gazeta Prawna: "A new era of emotional identification with computer games has dawned. ... What SAL9000 knows about his new bride is that she bears the name 'Nene' and comes from the game Love Plus, which simulates flirtatious encounters. The game has a voice and camera function, so that SAL9000 will also be able to speak with his cherished one. ... The lucky groom has promised he will only play this game in future - and that he won't cheat on his wife." (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Online media, » Poland

So much is easier today with the computer, but is it better? asks the daily Delo, wondering if humans aren't too hooked on their laptops and PCs: "The vast majority of things we do with computers only serve to reproduce themselves. We endlessly collect data until we can no longer keep it all in our heads and have to store it on hard discs. ... And all this voraciousness only breeds produces more voraciousness. Everything you hear about the wonderful future that awaits us with the development of the Internet and broadband Internet is really nothing but idle chatter. All these new developments will bring is just more speed for totally gratuitous processes. ... And even the computer's utility is highly questionable. The computer ultimately paralyses our basic motor functions. Without a keyboard and a mouse we can no longer write, paint, take photographs, compose or plan, because every step can be improved and modified immeasurably with a computer." (21/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Global
All available articles from » Peter Rak

The crisis in the institution of marriage has much to do with Hungary's falling birthrate, writes the conservative daily Magyar Nemzet: "Nowadays married couples in Hungary introduce themselves like this: 'This is my current husband ... And this is my current wife.' And no one is at all shocked by the horrible message. This example speaks volumes about the foul state of the institution of marriage today. ... But in fact no one should be surprised. For years now diligent minds have been hard at work stripping the institution of marriage of its meaning and plunging the family into crisis. Stories of battered women, paedophile fathers and broken families fill the news. But no one talks of intact families. ... Getting a divorce in Hungary today is just as common as drinking a glass of water. ... At the same time not only the number of new marriages is on the decline, but also the birthrate. ... One shudders to think of the consequences that the marriage crisis and the disintegration of the family will have: the dramatic decline of the Hungarian population." (19/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Demographics, » Hungary
All available articles from » Ágnes Seszták

The EU has conferred the northern Finnish city of Rovaniemi the title of "the official home of Santa Claus". The never-ending dispute over the origins of Santa Claus has finally been put to rest, the daily Lapin Kansa comments with delight: "The EU had to put its foot down, because the question of where Santa Claus has his home is still very contentious. The Finnish city of Turku considers itself the Christmas city par excellence and many villages and cities abroad also claim to be Father Christmas's home. Santa Claus and Christmas are a trump card for tourism. Many people visit the Arctic Circle each year and the number of those who ask for mail from Santa Claus is huge. Countless people in far-away countries know little more about Finland than Lapland and Santa Claus. Even if the crisis means that this year somewhat fewer Christmas visitors come than expected, times will change. Even the economic recession can't harm Santa Claus's reputation." (19/12/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Public Culture, » Tourism, » Finland, » Europe