One more week, and we will be at the Paris Meetup. Tought I put up another diary for final touches and for communication between participants. Off course spectators are also welcome to comment. :-)

Also for those who will be still present in Paris on Sunday - maybe we can start collecting ideas.

The date for the meetup is coming nearer. Thus I thought many of you would like to get started planning on what to do outside of the official meeting. This diary should help you to plan and organize get-togethers with others, during your stay in Paris.

The other day there was an article about the Diverging paths on gender equality in Italy and Spain. In other countries like France and the UK, this has been a topic of discussion too. Thus, I thought it would be interesting to look at the situation in Switzerland. Most people seem to remember that Swiss women got the voting rights only in 1972, but few seem to know what has happened to women equality in Switzerland since then. This diary will focus on Swiss women in politics, especially the counsillors in government.

Thought I start a new Paris Meet-up diary. So far, if I looked correctly the following people will be at the lunch on Saturday 16th.

Jérôme
afew
Colman + Sam
Nanne
Someone + husband
Lupin + wife
Metatone
Melanchton
dvx
LEP
In Wales
Helen
bruno-ken + sister (to be confirmed)
Fran
linca
Laurent Guerby
Migeru
whataboutbob + Liliana
geezer + Ivonne
metavision

(Bumped by afew, whataboutbob & Fran)

This will be only a short diary, as I don't have the time for more right now. However, I think this is great and fun news. Moritz Leuenberger who is one of the seven members of the Swiss Federal Council has started on March 14. his own BLOG. Leuenberger is head of Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication.

Leuenberger is one of the two Socialdemocratic (SP) Counselors, besides Micheline Calmy Rey the Foreign Minister. In 2001 and 2006 he was President of the Swiss Confederation He has always been somewhat unconventional and so it is not very surprising that he should be the first to start a blog.

Leuenberger is already being teased and called Bundesrat "Blogger", which he said at first was confusing as it sounds similar to Bundesrat Blocher who is the right-wing counselor.

If you want to know more about him there is a short English bio wiki and to my amazement a longer one in Swiss German also on wiki. :-)

The name Victoria Hale is new to me, but I am impressed by what I read about her. Because of Hale, I would like to start the New Year with a positive story. For many the first day of the year is one of hopeful outlook. Maybe this story can also enhance the motivation and endurance to see some of the new priorities of this year through.

I came across the name of Victoria Hale shortly before Christmas, when I received my Yoga Magazine, the only magazine I still like to read in the paper version. Luckily, I also found the story online. What intrigued me was the first paragraph, so I'm not quite sure why. But it is the story of a woman who shows that despite all the problems and negativity in this world, it is still possible to make a difference.

Poverty's Diseases - and the Scientist Who Stopped Looking the Other Way

Riding in a New York City taxi on the way from the airport is where Victoria Hale determined that she would turn her dream into reality. In a time of Big Pharma and its focus on big profits, Hale had long had a vision of bringing life-saving medicines to the world's poorest people, but her plan was drifting in limbo. Making conversation, her West African cab driver asked her what she did. She answered that she was a pharmaceutical scientist. At the time, she worked for a successful biotechnology firm. By her account: "He said, `You guys make all the money.' And then he laughed deep and heartily. His honest laughter was suddenly painful, like a knife in my soul." Hale said she knew at that moment that she would find a way to launch a nonprofit drug firm. No one had ever done that. Certainly not anyone that the IRS had heard of.

From the diaries - afew

Just couldn't believe my eyes. Is this really possible that someone would say something like this. This is so revolting.

AFP: Lebanon civilian deaths morally not same as terror victims -- Bolton

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - US Ambassador John Bolton said there was no moral equivalence between the civilian casualties from the Israeli raids in Lebanon and those killed in Israel from "malicious terrorist acts".

Asked to comment on the deaths in an Israeli air strike of eight Canadian citizens in southern Lebanon Sunday, he said: "it is a matter of great concern to us ...that these civilian deaths are occurring. It's a tragedy."

"I think it would be a mistake to ascribe moral equivalence to civilians who die as the direct result of malicious terrorist acts," he added, while defending as "self-defense" Israel's military action, which has had "the tragic and unfortunate consequence of civilian deaths".

The eight dead Canadians were a Lebanese-Canadian couple, their four children, his mother and an uncle, said relatives in Montreal.

....
"It's simply not the same thing to say that it's the same act to deliberately target innocent civilians, to desire their deaths, to fire rockets and use explosive devices or kidnapping versus the sad and highly unfortunate consequences of self-defense," Bolton noted.

I thought I could not be surprised anymore about peoples shallowness, but this is beyond for me, it touches evil. Even for Bolton that seems to be a step up.

This is how the Fasnacht, here in Basel, will start tomorrow morning - with the Morgenstraich. For some the three most beautiful days of the year begin.

The three-day event traditionally kicks off with an early morning procession, the Morgenstreich, which starts at 4 a.m. on Monday morning. This is a procession of about 200 illuminated canvass lanterns decorated with paintings and rhymes that make fun of a particular "subject" - a local event from the past year. After the city's streetlights are switched off, these lanterns are paraded through the darkened streets, accompanied by the cliques with their drummers and piccolo players. The bars and restaurants serve the three dishes traditionally associated with Fasnacht: Mehlsuppe (a hearty broth made from flour and onion), and onion and cheese pies.

As I love plants and am very interested in herbology, I decided to do a trial post for some non-technical, non-energy (you know bridge, train and windmill, though I enjoy reading them) blogging. Little did I know what vast topic I was picking, despite this post being about the rose only. It is only scratching on the surface. But let me give you an overview and then hopefully you all can fill in more on the rose.

From the diaries ~ whataboutbob

For a change there is good news on the environment. More than is obvious to the eyes is happening. It can be considered a good sign that cities according to BBC are sharing their experience and expertise.

The leaders of more than 20 world cities are meeting in London to swap ideas on combating climate change.

Berlin's investment in solar cells, Mexico City's taxi fleet upgrade, and Toronto's use of lake water cooling for its buildings are all on the agenda.

I find it a comfort to know that there are many people who care about the environment and that they come from all over the world. Lately we have been hearing mainly about the problems. However, at times it can be more encouraging and inspiring to hear about the other side too.

The World Cities Leadership Climate Change Summit brings together representatives from a diverse range of cities, including Beijing, Delhi, Sao Paulo, Stockholm and Kingston.

Gail Thomas is using a very good comparition for what is currently happening in the US - see her fullarticle. See writes it in the form of a very moving letter:

Dear America,

As a friend of the family I can't sit back and watch you do this to yourself without saying something. Consider this a long distance intervention.

our man is no good. He treats you like crap, lies to you, abuses you, bullies you, exploits you, takes your money. As a friend I want to tell you that you deserve better. You deserve a person that treats you with respect, cares about your welfare, and your children's welfare, but that's not George and it never will be.

Important commentary - from the diaries ~ whataboutbob

I have seen discussions about this topic on the internet before. However, I think this UN report is a good opportunity to look at the topic of poverty and how to deal with it again. The American dream seems to be evaporating - as its reality becomes more visible. I hope that here in Europe the admiration for the US and the desire to copy it, by many people, will be reduced. I hope that this will be a lesson for Europeans to search for other ways of dealing with current problems.

So lets look at some of the points from the UN report via an article from The Independent:   UN hits back at US in report saying parts of America are as poor as Third World

promoted by Jerome. I have added some maps showing the advance of the "epidemic" in the US just below the fold

This week I saw the following BBC feature repeatedly and every time it catched my attention.

US people getting fatter, fast

Americans are getting fatter at a rate never seen before, a report shows.

In the past year, the adult obesity rate rose in 48 of America's states, and nationally from 23.7% to 24.5%, Trust for America's Health found.

In 10 states, over a quarter of adults are now obese, despite campaigns alerting people to the dangers of over-eating.

Mississippi, famous for its calorific mud pie, ranked the highest, followed by Alabama and West Virginia.

I am the apprentice front pager on this site and been told by my masters to front page this - Fran

The Italian Red Cross treated four Iraqi insurgents to secure the release of two Italian women held hostage last year, a Red Cross official has said.

This is an article from BBC. What fascinated me most and had me shake my head was the following (bold mine).

Maurizio Scelli, the outgoing head of the Italian Red Cross, said the deal had been kept secret from the US.

promoted from the diaries by Jerome, on the occasion of the Swiss National Holiday. Please also see the story provided by whataboutbob on this same topic, which I have inserted as the first comment below. Edited slightly to put more of the text below the fold.

The 1st of August is the Swiss National Holiday and is connected to the story of Willhelm Tell who has become a legend and I am sure you all have heard of the apple shot.

Promoted by Colman: I take the view that unless you're ill you shouldn't need supplements, but I know other people will be interested.

Why are our governments restricting our access to nutritional supplements to such an extreme? I hoped that the European Court of Justice would reject this limitation. But, alas he did not listen. I used to be sceptical about the use of supplements, however, it seems that the soil our food is growing on is more and more depleted through industrialized agriculture, especially trace minerals seem to be more and more missing. Furthermore, most processed food is mostly empty food. For a healthy functioning the body needs more than just carbohydrates and proteins. Minerals and vitamins are, for example, needed in the body to build enzymes. Thus I find it frustrating that the access to these nutritional supplements will be almost entirely taken away. Besides I do feel it is a restriction of my personal freedom of choice. As long as cigarettes and alcohol are freely accessible, I also want to have free access to nutritional supplements, which are far less damaging to health, if at all.

I am glad that the EU still has enough spine to say no and not submit to US pressure.

EU votes to continue ban on GM crops - Britain warns ministers of threat of trade war with US

The UK failed to persuade the rest of Europe to give in to American pressure and lift the ban on genetically modified crops and food yesterday.
Britain's Elliott Morley warned fellow environment ministers in Brussels that they were going against scientific advice and faced the threat of a trade war with the United States over the issue if the ban remained in place, but ministers voted overwhelmingly to continue with it.

The decision was also a blow for the European commission, which told ministers that there was no evidence on health or environmental grounds allowing a legal ban on the crops. The politicians clearly disagreed.
The bans on GM varieties of oil seed rape and maize, imposed on public safety and environmental grounds by Austria, Luxembourg, Germany, France and Greece, should have been backed by scientific evidence but none was produced before yesterday's meeting.

One of the most contentious issues at the meeting was a variety of Bt Maize produced by Monsanto called MON 863, which caused unexplained kidney damage to rats, according to research conducted by the manufacturer.

Monsanto has refused to release all the results of its own tests on the maize, although it has now been ordered to do so by a German court.

 

I am posting here a diary I wrote for Booman and hope it will give you some insight into the Swiss System.

Following is an excerpt from a paper I had to write a couple of years ago, just the basics how the Swiss political system is structured: