 Lahr - Alajuela / Südbaden - Costa Rica
New partnership between cities
Already for a long time existing contacts between Lahr and Costa Rica. In the summer 2001 a sculptor exhibition of 25 artists coming from Costa Rica took place in the City Park in Lahr. There, for the first time, was announced the interest in a partnership between Lahr and a city of Costa Rica. The local council of Lahr has thereafter decided to contact a partnership with Alajuela. For mayor Mueller, who speaks even Spanish, is the co-operation with Costa Rica a positive signal for the open attitude of the city of Lahr for international connections.
Rafael Herra, former Ambassador of its country presented a decision of the local council of the city Alajuela at the occasion of its visite with mayor Mueller, whith the goal of a partnership between their city with Lahr.
|
 |
The Near East / Syria - Iraq - Afghanistan - Iran - Pakistan
Geostrategic meaning
The year 2003 was determined particularly by the Iraq war. First the reason for the war was justified with the destroying of mass destructive weapons. After it was clear probably already that they do not exist the further reason for the war against international law by the USA was the removal of the rule of Saddam Hussein. This is now reached. Meanwhile the war reason refers to the fight against the terrorism.
But let us regard the real reasons of the war from the vision of the geostrategic field and let us make a forecast of the coming events.
At the family Bush and their administration already clearly is noticeable the own connection to oil enterprises. With the end of the Warsaw Pact in the 90 remained the USA as exclusive great power. By the extension of the European Union and by the economic growth in China however new centers of power are resulting particularly in economic regard. In this connection stands the geostrategic meaning of the Near East.
The second largest oil reserves of the world stores on Iraqi soil, in addition come still another eighth of the natural gas supplies of the world in Afghanistan. The exploitation of these reserves makes only one sense, if the appropriate supplying ways by pipelines both toward Mediterranean over Syria and toward India over Iran and Pakistan is ensured. An Iraq war represents thus only the beginning of a re-organization of the entire area to US conceptions. A goal is it to receive the control by raw materials for the new market powers Europe and China. The USA itself refers their oil for their energy-hungry population from Venezuela and Mexico.
For the future a re-election of the Bush administration appears inevitable in the year 2004. With regard to foreign policy the administration won the war in the Iraq with the arrest of Hussein also without majority in the Security Council. Relating to domestic affairs was reached a economic growth and a dismantling of unemployment due to interest policy debited to the Euro and the own record budgetary deficit. With the re-election further wars are possible against indignant countries such as Iran and Syria in the name of the fight against the terrorism. A further advantage is the disagreement of the countries of Europe to a common foreign policy and defense policy as well as a new occupation of the UN Security Council because the war opponents Germany and Syria do not longer belongs to the Council in the next year.
|
|
 |
Meissenheim - Kuerzell / Baden
Decisiones of the Local Council
In December 2 important decisions were realized about forthcoming projects like the gravel output in the Riedmatten and the noise protection barrier in Kuerzell.
With a majority of 8 to 7 voices the planned project of gravel output was stopped. The opponents of the project do not see a need for a further dismantling surface and a final loss of field. In addition a complete acquisition of the surface does not seem possible. The proponents fear income losses and the end for a possible ring road to relieve internal-local traffic. Both sides, the local administration and the citizens initiative against the gravel output come to a different economical estimate and cost-use analysis.
However it will be continued with the project of the noise protection barrier along the motorway in Kuerzell. In addition different discussions took place with specialized technical offices to receive guidelines and requirements for the noise protection barrier. Meanwhile can be negotiated now concretely with owners of adjacent area and possible operator companies. A goal will be in next time to determine its appropriate costs and use and then, after a general decision who exists to the noise protection, to realize the execution by a noise protection barrier.
In addition still some numbers. In the year 1982 have been registered in Baden-Wuertemberg 3.08 million passenger car, 2002 scarcely 5.2 million and in the year 2020 presumably 6.4 million. Daily 72,000 vehicles pass the village of Kürzell. In the year 2015 there will be 115,000.
|
|
Germany - World
Welcome at friends
Under this slogan stood the group drawing of the qualification plays for the soccer world championship in Germany in the year 2006. The qualification plays were not only specified but also the distribution of the plays at the different cities. It will be played in Munich (74,500 places), Dortmund (67.000, Berlin (74.500), Gelsenkirchen (70.000) Stuttgart (51.000), Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Nürnberg, Hannover, Leipzig and Kaiserslautern.
|
|
the Journal - December 2003
