In contrast to Haiti, Chile was not plunged into chaos after being hit by a major earthquake, writes the daily De Morgen, commenting that the credit goes to the country's stable democracy and orderly administration: "Haiti has got rid of the hated Docs [dictators Jean-Claude and François Duvalier] and their macabre Tonton Macoutes [Militia of National Security Volunteers], but despite that democracy was never really able to take root there, to say nothing of a politically stable regime or an economic system favourable to growth and prosperity. The same is not true of Chile. So it is not the case that the so-called 'poor' continents are condemned to poverty in their entirety. Chile proves that some countries can put their years of tears and poverty behind them faster than others. ... Haiti is the paradigm of a failed state. Not so Chile. Chile has a parliamentary democracy, a regulative state apparatus and a market economy. Chile is no land of milk and honey, but Chilean society can bear the brunt of a shock, even one measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale." (01/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Latin Amerika
All available articles from » Walter Pauli

Chile's reaction to the severe earthquake shows that people are not entirely defenceless against the power of nature, writes the left-liberal daily Berliner Zeitung, comparing the first measures taken with those in Haiti: "Chile is often hit by earthquakes and from quake to quake the country has tightened building regulations. New experiences were taken account of in construction details, and buildings were made more stable. And when they do collapse, they do it in such a way that cavities are left open. The castrophe protection authorities organise drills, and every child knows what to do in an emergency. Soon after the quake it was clear that Chile is a well-governed country. By the looks of it the first measures have been coordinated and well-planned. In two weeks a new government will enter office, and in this hour of need the incoming president is acting with integrity and lending his full support to [current President] Michelle Bachelet. Many can learn from Chile's example, above all those now planning Haiti's reconstruction. If they do this quake will not be just another catastrophe." (01/03/2010)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Latin Amerika
All available articles from » Maritta Tkalec

The heavy earthquake in Chile could also represent an opportunity for the government under its newly elected president Sebastián Piñera, who takes office in two weeks, writes the left-liberal daily El País: "This is also the time for Piñera to begin his term in office overcoming adversity. It is a time for him to show strong leadership by uniting the efforts for reconstruction. And the democratic institutions that after 20 years took away the power from the centre-left Concertación alliance in January to give it to the Right now have the chance to prove that they are the more efficient, the more just and the more compassionate and can quickly get the country back on its feet, just as the Chilean people deserve." (01/03/2010)

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

Commenting on the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti and the Atlantic storm Xynthia currently battering Western Europe, the daily Correio da Manhã reminds us that mankind is often helpless against the forces of nature: "Earthquakes and tsunamis. Thunderstorms and storms. Researchers are looking for scientific explanations for all types of natural disasters, and these explanations no doubt exist. Modern man has grown used to a controlled and benign nature; natural disasters are perceived as exceptions in a more or less perfect and harmonious world. But this is not reality. Our relationship with nature is tragic and hostile. In the past we accepted this tragic and brutal dialogue as part of our fate - storms and floods were common and passed mostly without comment. ... We thought that Earth was a peaceful place. But the Earth lives and is rising up in protest; it threatens and torments us. It takes the unwary by surprise - and the defenceless." (01/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Portuguese)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Environmental Policy, » Portugal, » Latin Amerika, » Global
All available articles from » Francisco José Viegas

The alleged new leader of the Basque underground organisation Eta was arrested this weekend. This is the fifth time the terrorist group has lost a leader in the space of two years. The conservative daily ABC sees the arrest as proof of efficient police work: "With this latest arrest of Eta members, including Ibón Gogeaskoetxea, considered the terrorist group's current number one, the destruction of this criminal organisation draws closer. The series of arrests of 'comandos', the uncovering of arms caches and the breaking up of centres of operations like that in Portugal could be the epitaph on Eta's gravestone. ... Once again we see that political consensus [among the parties] on the police measures aimed at defeating Eta is the most efficient formula for achieving peace." (01/03/2010)

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

Last week the British daily The Times reported that eight EU states, including Lithuania, have founded an organisation for the disposal of nuclear waste. The daily Respublika says the Lithuanian public has been ignored: "The Times already knows where this nuclear waste from all over Europe is to come to rest: in Eastern Europe, perhaps even in Lithuania. The little-known Rata agency is already active in this area in our country, and its director Dainius Janėnas has now come out with the truth: Yes, Lithuania could also become a place for the final storage of Europe's nuclear waste - despite the fact that our laws ban the import of radioactive waste. Janėnas had a ready answer to that: Laws can be changed. But they don't even have to be. Under an EU directive Lithuania could officially be declared Europe's nuclear waste repository. Do citizens have no say whatsoever in the decision on whether their children should grow up surrounded by radioactive waste?" (01/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Lithunian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Health Policy, » Environmental Policy, » Energy, » Lithuania, » Europe
All available articles from » Sergejus Tichomirovas

Publicist József Debreczeni praises Hungary's departing Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai in left-wing daily Népszava: "What he did was a selfless sacrifice for the Hungarian nation. As head of government Gordon Bajnai was not driven by political ambition, a will for power or the like. Instead he acted out of a sense of duty to his homeland. There can be no doubt that Bajnai, who has been leading the country at the head of a 'caretaker government', has steadfastly fulfilled his duties to the Hungarian people amidst immense difficulties and a hailstorm of ignoble attacks from the right-wing conservative opposition. And his impressive conduct has led to the best-possible result. Bajnai has pulled the country out of economic misery. All economists worthy of the name, whether at home or abroad, all agree on that point. Hats off to Gordon Bajnai!" (01/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Hungarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Hungary
All available articles from » József Debreczeni

A summit of Latin American states in the Mexican city of Cancún decided last week to establish a new organisation of American and Caribbean states in which Canada and the US will not participate. The daily Helsingen Sanomat comments on the evolution of north-south relations in the Americas: "It only makes sense for the countries in the South [sic] of the American continent to work together to bolster their common interests, for example in global negotiations. The Organisation of American States will continue to deal with questions affecting all American states, including the rich countries to the north. ... Latin America is inextricably bound up with the US by extensive trade, oil and drug trafficking, migration and a shared history. Nevertheless relations between the north and the south will inevitably evolve, and the US must adjust to the new circumstances. As opposed to just a few decades ago, almost all of the Latin American countries are now self-confident democracies and attractive trading partners for many major economies, not just their neighbours to the north." (01/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Finnish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Economic Policy, » Latin Amerika, » U.S.

With an ironic letter to the Germans Giannis Kibouropoulos responds in the weekly O Kosmos tou Ependiti to the "Letter to the Greeks" published in Germany's weekly magazine Stern last week. Kibouropoulos believes the Germans are partly to blame for the Greek financial crisis: "Dear Hans, Dear Peter, Dear Ulla, Dear Hanna. Let me tell you something about the fundamental myth that has made you distrustful, not to say hostile, towards Greek society. ... It is true that my country has received almost 46 billion euros from the EU in the past 30 years. It would be truly scandalous if the favour wasn't returned. Greece has done so - and more than generously. A glance at the Greek-German balance-of-trade deficit will suffice to see that it is twice as high as the EU funding [the country was granted]. ... For your country to continue making a profit and remain the world's largest exporter certain other countries had to put up with deficits. This is what happened to us. We became a supermarket for German products: helicopters, airplanes, tanks, submarines, cars, ovens, refrigerators, washing machines." (28/02/2010)

» full article (external link, Greek)
More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Germany, » Greece
All available articles from » Giannis Kibouropoulos

The attempts of Polish parties to influence state media prompt Wojciech Maziarski to reflect in the online edition of Polish news magazine Newsweek Polska on ways to prevent this: "Perhaps by advertising for candidates to fill the top positions? Ok, but how can we ensure that it's not those who have the support of the political parties who win the job? Perhaps ... by putting the fate of the media in the hands of institution milieus that are theoretically unpolitical: like artists' associations or university managements. ... By all means we could give this a go, but I'm convinced that it won't lead to the media becoming depoliticised but rather to these associations and universities becoming politicised. I can already see the headlines in the newspapers. ... This way the plague of total politicisation would spread even further." (01/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Media policy, » Poland
All available articles from » Wojciech Maziarski

Last week Romania received the third instalment of a loan disbursed by the IMF which had been deferred by months of government crises. The daily Gândul takes a dim view of the debt burden incurred by the 20 billion-euro loan financed jointly by the IMF, World Bank and EU: "On a pessimistic scenario economic growth won't bring enough money into the budget to pay off either the interest or the loan itself. At that time whatever government is in power will have to announce that pensions and salaries will cut, people will be laid off, and Romanians must cinch their belts as best they can as there isn't enough money in the coffers. It remains to be seen what those in power will say when Romania's economy is growing and we are out of the crisis, but living standards are no better, if not worse, than during the crisis." (01/03/2010)

» to the homepage (external link, Gândul)
More from the press review on the subject » Economic Policy, » Romania
All available articles from » Victor Rotariu

The conflict between gays and the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands is escalating. Dozens of gay believers gathered on Sunday at the Cathedral in the Dutch city of 's-Hertogenbosch to protest at being refused Holy Communion. The liberal NRC Handelsblad accuses the Catholic Church of hypocrisy: "The priest's refusal to give the gay carnival prince the consecrated wafer stands in stark contradiction to the fact that in Latin America dictators like Videla [Argentina] and Pinochet [Chile], who had many people's lives on their consciences, were able to stretch out their tongues nonchalantly [to receive the wafer from] the priests standing before them. Just like the many other faithful who have sins on their consciences. ... The Church places highly unjustified demands on how its followers behave in private. So why do gay people still stretch out their tongues in such a church ...? They could just as well turn their backs on it." (01/03/2010)

» more information (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Gender equality, » Netherlands

Margot Käßmann, the head of Germany's Evangelical church and Bishop of Hanover, last week stepped down from both offices after her driving license was confiscated when she was caught drunk-driving. The left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: "For the time being the model of a church that can have a divorced woman at its head has failed; a church that can reach out beyond its dwindling congregation of followers and that is attractive to people who otherwise perceive churches as grey and dusty places. … With [Käßmann's provisional replacement] Nikolaus Schneider, the chairman from the Rhine, comes a stronger divide between office and person once more. Schneider is clever, respectable and congenial, but he lacks Margot Käßmann's charisma, just as he lacks her combination of spirituality and commitment. But perhaps this quiet team player is the best thing that can happen to the Evangelical Church at present." (01/03/2010)

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Germany

The daily Delo writes on the close of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver that despite higher revenues the International Olympic Committee has failed to give adequate financial support to athletes: "For the IOC the Games are primarily a great business yielding fantastic profits ... regardless of their result. ... Bearing this in mind it's absurd that major professional athletes participate for no money, and that finance ministers put their countries in the red by financing, in times of recession, the preparations - and even the athletes' prize money - for the biggest and most lucrative spectacle in the world with taxpayers' money." (01/03/2010)

» full article (external link, Slovenian)
More from the press review on the subject » Sport, » Global
All available articles from » Franci Božič

On Friday the highly indebted FC Portsmouth became the first British Premier-League football club to seek bankruptcy protection. Other clubs are also struggling with huge debts. Managers must return to the roots of the British national sport, the Sunday newspaper The Observer writes: "Football clubs fill a peculiar hole in British emotional life. Many people get ritual and community chiefly from football. For some, their club's stadium is more a home than the house they live in. Football, once 'the working man's ballet', has become the joy of all classes and ages, of women as well as men. It exists to serve fans. That's why for decades the Football Association forbade club owners from profiting from their clubs. Directors couldn't get paid, and dividends were capped. The aim was to ensure that clubs were run by 'the right class of men who love football for its own sake'." (01/03/2010)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » Sport, » United Kingdom
All available articles from » Simon Kuper