 USA - Europe - Belgium
"Green Card" at the International Crime Court
The UN Security Council has certified for the second time the immunity for US citizens at the International Crime Court to June 2004. Only France, Germany and Syria contained of their voice.
The international coalition for an independent crime court (CICC) criticized that this decision creates an "international two-class law". In addition it is shown again a double moral of the US administration. Meanwhile increases the USA the pressure to Belgium to amend its law with the "universelle competence" for the pursuit of war crimes. On this basis complaints were already submitted against US President Bush, Prime Minister Tony Blair and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Belgium gave way meanwhile to the pressure of the USA. 35 states, under it Colombia locked so far no bilateral contracts with the USA. A goal of these contracts is the immunity of US citizens. The military aid is extracted from these states.
|
 |
World-wide defence expenditure
The world-wide defence expenditure rose 2002 strongly. The USA increased their expenditures by ten per cent and have at the world-wide expenditures a portion of 43 %. Accordingly large are the loads for the new record debts household of the US Government. The military expenditure, increased since 11 September, threaten the economic development just like the human rights too.
The military expenditure rose 2002 world-wide by six per cent to 794 billion dollar. These are 2.5 per cent of the gross national product or 128 dollar per earth citizen.
|
|
Europe on the way to a common state
In the common European Union State, prepared since February 2002, the first decisions over the preamble, competence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and majority decisions were specified.
The preamble describes the values of the future union of the citizens and states of Europe in accordance with the cultural, religious and humanistique excessive quantities. The environment and energy policy are determined to a large extent by the individual countries themselves. It will be announced a common Minister of Foreign Affairs. The conditions are to be changed from the right of veto to majority decisions. The foreign policy does not belong to a majority decision.
|
|
Germany - Freiburg - Neuried - Schutterwald
Solar capital
The city of Freiburg reached in a state wide comparison of cities with more than 100.000 inhabitants the first place in concerning the use of solar energy. In relation to beginning of the year 20 per cent more solar electricity plants were built. The announced solar collectors increased by 30 per cent.
2 places from the departement of Ortenau are likewise on the rank list. Neuried with Altenheim, Dundenheim at place 103 as well as Schutterwald at place 107.
|
|
 |
European Parliament - Strasbourg
Marking obligation for genetic engineering products
The European parliament intensified the marking obligation for genetically changed food. In the future consumers must be informed if they have been added more than 0.9 per cent genetically changed portions. So far an import prohibition applied with gene corn products of the USA into the European Union.
The controversy over it is delivered now to the World Trade Organization (WTO). With the marking obligation the consumer has to decide the possibility for or against the purchase of a genetically changed product.
|
|
Lahr - Offenburg - Schuttern - Ortenaukreis
Culture Event - Samba celebration - 1400 anniversary
At the beginning of july numerous meetings in the Ortenaukreis take place. In Lahr the celebration of the cultures on the market place found numerous resemblance. The celebration was organized particularly by Islamic groups. In Offenburg the Samba Festival is located completely in the indication of South America.
Beside different groups of music there is also a South American market. Schuttern celebrates its 1400 years old history with medieval market live around the monastic church.
|
|
Meissenheim - Kuerzell
Local council meeting - citizen decision Riedmatten
The local council expressed itself with 10 to 5 voices against a citizen decision to the gravel quarrying in the area of the Riedmatten. Even if the impression was developed that new force was to be given to this project by new costing use analysis nevertheless everyone was clear that the damaged boot can not be saved. In the next months new resolutions stand to this topic on the agenda of the local council meeting.
Already at the 15.07 the planned noise protection barrier in Kürzell stands on the agenda. Now 5 offers are present. No costs will probably arise thereby for the municipality, since proceeds covers the property purchases.
|
|
the Journal - July 2003
