“ After years of negotiations, the Kyoto Protocol on climate change becomes a reality in the absence of the world’s main polluter: the USA” is one of subtitles chosen by the French Catholic daily La Croix (15/2) for a series of special features dedicated to the international treaty to reduce the level of gas emissions that are causing the greenhouse effect. The overall title is “ Kyoto enters into force in arrears“. In a comment entrusted to Dominique Quinio (“ First victory“), the paper recalls that the reductions agreed on in the Protocol include “less 6% for Japan and Canada, less 8% for the European Union, with different efforts allocated according to country (less 21% for Germany, stability for France ..). All this awaits the entry onto the scene of the major developing countries such as China and India”. The commentator analyses the overall effectiveness of the provision, pointing out not only the absence of the USA, but also the problems of the developing countries: “… why should they show themselves to be virtuous, when their predecessors in growth were not?”. Yet, the commentator concludes, “ in spite of these reservations, the fact remains that 141 countries have come to an agreement to find the means to combat together a phenomenon that is already weighing heavily on the planet, and burdening future generations“. The Kyoto Protocol is also extensively treated in the German press. “ From many points of view, the Kyoto Protocol represents a gigantic experiment with an uncertain outcome from a political and scientific point of view“, writes Joachim Müller-Jung in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (16/2). “ Finally, as many hope, an answer will be given to the question whether there really does exist a world community capable of deciding and more especially capable of a future. […] It is to be hoped that the plans for climate protection also contemplate preventive measures able to protect as many people as possible from the consequences of inevitable climate changes“. Writing in Die Welt, Norbert Lossau declares: “ If the blackest predictions of our climatic future should turn out to be true, the Kyoto process will be unable to change anything the most it will do is delay the effects by a few years. On the other hand, the billion-dollar costs paid by the economies due to Kyoto are real. The investment of these funds for measures of short-term protection against possible climatic consequences would be more useful for the people of this planet. Kyoto is therefore wasted effort and in any case a costly symbol: of the hope that the nations of the world may tackle together the global questions“. “ Blessed are the poor, for they are happier” is the title chosen by the Italian Catholic daily Avvenire (17/2) to present a survey conducted by the journal of the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions. “ Today – writes Avvenire the main problems in the developed world are for the first time in history no longer linked to scarcity but to abundance“, adding that “ the Nobel Prize Winners say so: the growth of income produces a reduction and not an increase in ‘well-being’. And it is the Africans who turn out to be the happiest of all”. The proof comes from the so-called “levels of happiness” declared by the various countries. Curiously the countries that top the list are: Nigeria 3.58, Tanzania 3.50, Mexico 3.49, Puerto Rico 3.47 and El Salvador 3.47. “ Why does your son not become a priest?” is the question posed on the front page of the UK weekly The Catholic Herald (11/2) with a feature that examines “ the scandal of empty seminaries“. In his article Mark Minihane stresses that “ pain, anguish and anger are some of the emotions that people feel when their own church is closed down“. Yet, he continues, “ the reasons adduced by many mothers who do not want their sons to become priests include living in large houses alone, having a low income and not being able to marry. Yet, it has to be pointed out that there are no priests who go hungry among us, and moreover some of the loneliest people I have met are married …”. The question, according to the commentator, is that “ instead of protests, marches and sit-ins, we ought to ask ourselves how to tackle the future together as believers in Jesus. Why not expend our energies in a more positive way?“. The Spanish press comments on the forthcoming referendum for the ratification of the Constitutional Treaty. “Does it interest us or not whether the European Union remains paralysed?” is the question posed by Xavier Vidal-Folch in a comment with the title “Against the paralysis of Europe” published by the Spanish daily El Paìs on 15/02. Spain in fact is due vote in a referendum for the ratification of the European Constitutional Treaty on 20 February. According to the commentator, “the new Constitution finally establishes a reform, not as perfect as one might have imagined, but at least viable for a Europe that has quadrupled in size since its origins”. “There are those who maintain that this treaty will ‘set in stone’, that it will immobilize, the European Constitution”, observes Vidal-Folch but, in his view, “all these arguments are contradicted by the fact that future amendments will be easier than they were in the past”. ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1364 N.ro relativo : 13 Data pubblicazione : 19/02/2005
