open Democracy News Analysis - europe - Comments

mario corti on "Silvio Berlusconi: ten more questions "

mario corti — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:08:14 +0100

Dear Editor

I sent a letter a while ago concerning the new draft law limiting wiretapping in Italy. If I remember correctly it had a title. Something like: "Italians equate wiretapping with democracy and media freedom". It was pertinent to the subjects discussed in this forum. It did not contain insults, and it was published. Now I do not find it in the forum anymore. Is there any particular reason why my letter,, published under #500, was removed?

spamgreg on "Torture: America's policy, Europe's shame"

spamgreg — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:23:39 +0100

Not *all* europeans are guilty, far from that. It is only the stupid leaders of those countries who participated in the shameful attack on Iraq. The evil leaders of those countries who fell into shame : Australia, Bulgaria, South Corea, Denmark, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Lituania, Netherland, Philippinia, PolandPortugal, Romania, UK, Tchzchekia (or something, excuse me I can't spell it), Slovaquia, Turquey, Ukrainia. These leaders all knew the reasons for war were fake, and they often acted against the will of their own people who demonstrated by the millions.

Their main evil leaders are : of course the evil Briton Tony Blair first, then José Manuel Durão Barroso (yes, the fat UE unelected chief, he organized meetings of the other warpigs). Also the horrible Rupert Murdoch put all his power for the war. And too, Israel, who was extremely happy that their friend the USA attacks Iraq.

My country France has been so much spat upon for being against this crime, so I'm pityless with these bastards warpigs : let them all die. But also, I don't want innocents be blamed for crimes of others. So no, not *all* of europe.

SpamGreg

The Cornish Democrat on "Localism: the new politics of old"

The Cornish Democrat — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:13:52 +0100

Very interesting.

In the county/duchy/celtic nation (you choose) of Cornwall where 50,000 people signed a petition calling for a devolved assembly and where the nationalists, Mebyon Kernow, recently beat Labour in both the EP and Unitary council elections perhaps the 'localism' advocated by the LGA would go some way to giving Cornish communities what they want.

Perhaps this document from a Cornish MP Andrew George and the Cornish Constitutional Convention would interest (opens pdf):

http://www.cornishassembly.org/CornwallANewBeginning5iii09.pdf

The Cornish Democrat

Michael Fuchs on "Which language for Europe?"

Michael Fuchs — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:44:45 +0100

The writer draws a hilarious conclusion:

People did not go to the polls because, in the European Parliament, their MEPs must use their own language and they can't use English. You can't be serious! Why, then, did many British and Irish voters stay at home? Are they bored with using good old English all the time?

There is no rule that anyone has to use any particular language in the European Parliament. Some MEPs regularly or occasionally speak a foreign language instead of their mother tongue, even some British MEPs. The writer's claim that a "lingua franca is desperately needed" and even that it should be made compulsory is rather thinly veiled chauvinism. Go ask people in, say, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Poland or France whether they really are desperate to get rid of their national language(s), cultures and identities when communicating and working together in Europe. Listen to any one of the busloads of visitors to the European Parliament every week and you will be told that they are happy to witness the fact that their language is officially used and, thanks to highly trained and experienced interpreters and translators, understood.

I agree that when the Irish insisted on having Gaelic recognised in the EU it was an "instrument of identity rather than communication". Don't you think the same applies to every nation, language and cultural heritage currently represented in the EU? One of the outstanding achievements of the EU is that there is no contradiction of instruments of identity and communication in Europe.

Not logged in on "Michael Martin, former MP, disgraced ex-Speaker...Peer?!"

Not logged in — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:58:40 +0100

I think the words "disgraced" and "disastrous" are rather hyperbolic don't you? He resigned because he didn't have MPs' confidence and the expenses affair was a convenient opportunity to get rid of him.

roberto esposito on "Silvio Berlusconi: ten more questions "

roberto esposito — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:16:03 +0100

Ask question to Mr. Berlusconi seemed useless effort since he had no intention (so far) to answer and/or explain.

As long as we have a gleam of democracy in Italy, it is supposed that decision power is in the hands of Italian voters, therefore, instead of loosing time waiting for answers that will never come, I prefer to ask 10 question to Italian voters because I am interested indeed to know their deep intention:

Ten question to the Italians

1) Are you willing to observe all law and regulation? (Pay all due taxes, observe highway code, abandon sheer bad manners, build together a civilized community)

2) Are you willing to open your mind and listen your politic opponents without considering them as enemy?

3) Are you ready and prepeared to fight in order to give them the opportunity to expose their ideas?

4) Are you ready and prepeared to accept the results of political elections and consider any elected member as a representative of all Italians?

5) Are you willing to spend the same enthusiasm in political discussion as you spend on football discussion?

6) Are you ready and prepeared to stop struggle against the Establishments?

7) Are you willing to democratically discuss the changes of Democratic Enstablishment and Italian Constitution?

8) Are you ready and prepeared to work hard to have them changed democratically?

9) Are you ready and prepeared to work hard to improve the bad Italian reputation at international level (Mafia, corruption, spaghetti and mandolino, tifosi, good-for-nothing ....... )

10) Do you feel yourself an Italian citizen, an European citizen, a World citizen?

Papi on "Silvio Berlusconi: answers, please"

Papi — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:38:33 +0100

Papi, Papi....

Last night the car of Barbara Montereale, who accompained Patrizia D'Addario at Palazzo Grazioli on the evening of November 4th last year, was burnt. The car was parked under her home, in Modugno. Young woman was questioned by Finance Police whether about her travel in Rome and meetings with Berlusconi or on parties organized by Tarantini brothers.
(25th of june 2009)

Not logged in on "Silvio Berlusconi: ten more questions "

Not logged in — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:37:57 +0100

I'd like to invite all the first ladies who are going to come to Italy with their husbands for G8 to change their mind. Don't come to Italy.
Berlusconi is a monster, against democracy and he has no respect for women. For him they are only sexual toys. Besides he permitted to their stupid newspaper to insult his wife when she ask divorce.
DON'T COME TO ITALY PLEASE. This will be a bad trick to play to our small small Napoleon

incontri on "Silvio Berlusconi: ten more questions "

incontri — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:46:22 +0100

Siete rimasti un po' indietro. Il caso Noemi è ormai vecchio, non ne parla più nessuno, ora dopo i voli di stato archiviati, dopo Noemi c'è la nuova escort Patrizia D'Addario. Chi sa quale sarà la prossima vicenda che coinvolgerà Berlusconi?

Nel frattempo intanto la sinistra non è riuscita nel suo intento ed ha perso le elezioni. Visto che parlate tanto di Repubblica c'è da sottolineare che lo stesso giornale si rifiuta di pubblicare un intervento di Bondi e personalmente il nuovo caso appare strano: come mai una escort si reca a villa Certosa con il registratore? voleva forse incastrare qualcuno? ed è stata pagata da qualcuno per farlo? penso proprio di si. Strano che ancora non ci sia un avviso di garanzia.

Incontri Bologna

Papi on "Silvio Berlusconi: answers, please"

Papi — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:19:20 +0100

Minister Bondi attacks “Repubblica”: a danger for democracy

Repubblica’s reply: only two remarks about Minister Bondi’s shabby invective. Only in Italy Culture’s Minister may define a newspaper “a danger for democracy”. Press freedom represents clearly, in his idea of democracy which doesn’t foresee counterpowers and public opinion, but only liegemen, a danger. Citizens are warned. About Bondi’s charge that we ignore replies, we’d like to remember him that Law, at moment, doesn’t force us to publish any Minister’s letter

GGabriel on "A neo-liberal nihilism?"

GGabriel — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:15:13 +0100

Dear Tony,

I never meant to imply you were a Randian! My most sincere apologies. I meant that the means ends conception of rationality you talked of looked like the one Rand analyses in vain for an end. As you rightly point out such a reason is not directional, hence I deemed its deification nothing more than the Will to Power.

Nobiscum Deus on "Silvio Berlusconi: answers, please"

Nobiscum Deus — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:00:37 +0100

EMPIRE’S END
Politician Romano La Russa (brother of Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa and, like as his brother, coming from former post-fascist party AN), says to policemen: “guys, they are 4 tatterdemalions (referring to protesters against Berlusconi), exert yourselves or we do it”

watch the video

The Cornish Democrat on "What's left after New Labour?"

The Cornish Democrat — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:22:25 +0100

Couldn't agree more. A new left that works with the democratic nationalists from the Celtic countries as opposed to against them. A democatic left that takes the English question by the horns and gives the choice to the people of England.

Why don't we add 'republican' while we are at it.

The Cornish Democrat

Toque on "How government begins its electoral reform "debate""

Toque — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:22:18 +0100

"the Federal Parliament would have to have equal representation of the four national entities don't you agree<"

No, but there would need to be qualified majority voting on things like tax (or an absolute majority for things like war or the Lisbon Treaty).

George J.Tauchman on "Which language for Europe?"

George J.Tauchman — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:30:10 +0100

English is be the common language worldwide (70% if all contents of the internet, pop music, sports, business, international schools, international churches and so on) Europeans should accept it and stop the noncence with XY oficiall languages. Otherwise the English speaking countries and English speaking China and India will overtake faster then nowardays. After Europeans accepted English as a common SECOND LANGUAGE, they will be more chances to progress their economy through the knowledges of different THIRD LANGUAGES. Those communities who are speaking a SECOND and a THIRD LANGUAGE, will be more successful then those who are speaking ENGLISH ONLY. Success is MULTILINGUAL. Therefore: join En101 movement. Learn languages ONLINE - visit: www.1world1voice@en101.com
PS: We are offering an business opportunity as a En101 representatives / directors ; more informations:www.1vorld1voice.en101.biz // or contact us: 1world1voice@en101.com // Sincerely, George J.Tauchman, En101 Director, Czech Republic, EU (English, German, Czech, Slovak speaking) and Aileen Olegario-Tauchmanova, En101 representative (English, Tagalog, Portughese, Spanish speaking)