Charitable associations worried about donations

In France, charitable associations are worried about donations. The financial crisis might make donations less important. For the moment, the associations get as well money as before but they're worried about what is going to happen.
The financial crisis makes people less generous because they have to deal with their own problems. The charitable associations recognize that it is more difficult to find donators, now and that the donation's amount goes down.
Another problem to come is a rise of work because of the rise of unemployement. But solidarity can become stronger in difficult times.
Donation is a part of the purshasing power. With the stock market, it's an indicator of the economic wealth of a country.
Asssociations are a bit angry about the rescue plan, where a very important amount of money has been unfrosen for banks. As Mrs Bourgoin, France Générosité's responsible, says "We find billions to help banks more easily than to save little children".





The case evoked here seems to be without ending. More people would need help from charitable associations. These associations would need more donations. Because of the cris, people wouldn't have many purshasing power, so they wouldn't give much money for donations. Ect...
But, this situation might improve. Moreover, it' s just fears for the moment.
However, people needing charitable associations' help is a reality. Because, with the stock market, donation is an indicator of the economic wealth of a country, and that the government helped the stock market, it should help charitable associations too, or help citizens to find a better purshasing power.
Let me know what you think.

Which seems inredible is that even people who don't have a close link with the stock market suffer the consequences of its wealth. The "non marchand" services are dependent, in a certain way of the stock market weath. According to the analysis of K. Polanyi this is called "désencastrement de l'économie" (society is subordinate to the market). But, as nationalisations seem to become more and more used to face the financial crisis, we could come back, still according to the analysis of K. Polanyi, to "un encastrement de l'économie" like in the "Grande transformation" (after the crisis of 1929). State's intervention, which would lead social problems to a better situation. The charitable associations would be more helped and so able to help people in trouble...

EU and UN actions for a less polluted world

EU environment ministers met in Luxembourg to talk about the cut of greenhouse gas emissions. Their aim is to finalise an EU climate change package by December. There is a huge pressure, especially because of the UN climate summit in Poland, in December. The Eu is aimed to cut CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020. But, many countries show doubts about it.
According to Italy's Environment minister "the package as it stands right now is not suitable". One of the main concerns is the proposal to introduce full auctioning of CO2 emission permits. With the economic crisis, countries in Eastern and Central Europe are unhappy at the burden of emission cuts they are expected to bear. Another problem is shown off by Germany. There is a fear that Euopean industries move to countries where they can pollute more, because of the inexistence or slight existence of restrictions over greenhouse gas emissions. As for Italy, it notices that big polluting powers such as China, USA or India, don't even respect the Kyoto Protocol that they backed out. It's unfair that the EU be the only one to take on the burden of pollution of the world.
UN is going to held an international conference in Copenhagen, next year to plan a post Kyoto course to tackle the impact of climate change. It had also urged the EU to continue to provide leadership for climate change.


This article shows a real commitment of the world (UN) and especially the EU for the greenhouse gas emissions and the climate state of the Earth. But there is still work to do. We can wonder if the other countries who didn't signthe Kyoto Protocol are going to make efforts about it. We can also wonder if the economic crisis is not going to curb the efforts because of the burden that the emission permits would put on countries.
States are creating laws and protocols to improve the impact of climate changes, but if they aren't applied by citizens, it won't really work. This need a commitment from the governments and from the citizens. We can notice that both become to be more responsible. There's a hope that together they will manage to improve even slightly, the state of the environment. But everybody has to make an effort individually, which will lead to a collective action, which could work.

The first "green" farm in Italy

To deal with the worsening global warming, a pioneering carbon-neutral farm is set up in Italy. Being carbon neutral, refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset. It takes place at the Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio olive oil farm, north of Rome. What is so special about it is that there is a battery centre, for the first time, which can store solar-sourced electricity for up to three days. So the electricity generated by the sun no longer has to be used immediately. By doing so, the farm can continue to operate through foggy days. Farm workers can take golf carts and electric bikes which run from solar energy. "But we think that we will start getting our investment back after five years or so. From then on, our fossil fuel bills will disappear," says Lorenzo Fasola Bologna, Monte Vibiano's chief executive. What's more, a range of new technologies is being applied at the farm. For example, using miniature tractors that consume a new generation of bio fuels and renewable energy wood chips instead of methane gas.

It is relieving to know that this farm is doing something to cut the effects of climatic change. Thanks to this farm that discovered the unlimited solar energy, we no longer have to rely heavily on fossil fuels. The greenhouse effect is formed by gases include methane and carbon dioxide which is emitted by fossil fuel burning. Economically, the farm owners would gain profit from this ground-breaking technologies. It benefits all of us and protects the planet. It would be great to pass on this great, green enterprise for generations.

Carbon neutral:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_neutral

Apple hasn't taken its promise into account

Last week, there was the rumor that Apple will cut their prices when their new Macbooks and Macbooks Pro will be out. We didn't have other informations, except that their will be build with an other type of aluminum, which I will describe with others new technologies featured in this new generation of laptops. This rumor was seen as a really good news, as Apple's laptops are quite expensive... But, consumers' hopes were betrayed...

In fact, no lower prices were announced, except the old white or black plastic Macbook with a screen of 13 inches and a processor of 2.1 Ghz was reduced by 100€... And we fear that this "betrayal" will reduce Apple's turnovers... In fact, as their prices are still High, maybe consumers will tend to see others laptops manufactures. In term of concurrence, Apple will be badly placed. And a "revers de la medaille" may occur if the company doesn't put their prices lower. But, as consumers confidence in a bit lower now, it might force Apple to review their strategy for Christmas. In fact, it gives a good opportunity to relaunch sales, as customers would buy laptops as gifts. We will see if it will become a reality... 

In terms of new features, Apple did good one more time. At least, even if the prices haven't change, innovation is at rendez-vous. I was talking about a new aluminum. If fact, to build their laptops, Apple used different parts of this metal, and then put them together. It took more time to build, it was heavier and thicker. Now, designers use the "unibody" : a single piece a aluminum witch will be used to remplace the other parts. One part instead of many others. Then, the screen took an other dimension. 13 inches for Macbooks, and 15 inches for Macbooks Pro.  The new screen is entirely recovered by glass and lit by LED, which gives a real good quality in term of graphics. The new Macbooks include two graphic cards instead of one. Here is an other major innovation. In fact, when the "light" card can't afford to restitute very heavy graphics, the other one takes the relay, and they work both together. And a brad new invention, the trackpad used for the iPhone is available. We can now control every thing from the fingers, and it has no button : it is the button. It is recovered by resistant and smooth glass for more comfort and durability.

The new weapons unveiled seem tempting, but once again, the price gives a barrier. We don't know what Apple is playing with, and if the company is playing with consumers, it will be a bad news for it, because, and it is good to recall it, it hasn't the monopoly of computers. It touchs a narrow range of users, and if it comes that they don't trust Apple anymore, it will get dangerous for the company. Hopefully, Steve Jobs might think twice about his strategy, andwe will check at Christmas if he retained his promise.

For more informations, see the website of Apple        

China new reform

These days, in China, a rural reform is taking place. Part of this rural reform is a land reform which is centered around two major changes : allowing peasants to engage in th eunrestricted trade, purchase and sale of land-use contact, and extending those contratcs to 70 years from 30 years.
For the moment, it seems that the leaders are in disgreement on some aspects of this policy. In an official communiqué after the Communist Party's annual four day planning session, they just mentionned that the party was adopting a rural reform policy that would double the per capita disposable income of farmers by 2020. The details of this reform which could take into acount the land reform will be unveiled in two weeks, according to the head of the China research division for the Rural development Institute, or in March after the approval of the National People's Congress.

A village in Anhui Province, has already begun aplying this rural policy from 1978, for an experiment. The farmers of Xiaogang village began cultivating their own plots of land. Nowadays, some families have rented a total of 44 acres of land to a Shangai company. This is hoped to be a model for the accomplishments of the land reform policy.

This could be the biggest economic reform and mark a signifiant turn in Chinese economic policy. It would put an end to the collective ownership and state control that was instaured after the revoluition in 1949.

The causes could be the government worrying about the prospect of a deep recession in leading export market as well as the thousands of riots and protest in rural areas each year, which might be the biggest source of social unrest in China. If a market is developed for farmers, peasants could gain a new source of cash incom that could help to revitalize the economy by pushing peasants to product more. Some economists say that would lead to more efficient land use and allow much larger farms to establish. Moreover, this could help stabilize the inequalities between the cities and the rural zones. China is one of the starkest income gaps in the world.

But this is a delicate issue because private ownership of land is not allowed under the Constitution. Many parti traditionalists are strongly in favor of collective land ownership. They argue the China’s economy is still not robust enough to face this reform. Another point which is discussed is whether land contracts should be extended to 70 years wich would give farmers more security and presumably increase the value of their land-use rights.

We can notice that an big economic reform has already been done in the end of the 70°s, by Deng Xiaoping. The Communist party lost a part of his governmental control over citizens’ personal lives and many peasants received land leases. This led to the mixed economy and the « market socialism ». The actual government of China might want to continue an economic policy which has been beginning 30 years ago.

But the question could be : Is China going to become a capitalist country ? and if doesn’t how could it manage to be in th esame time socialist in politic and capitalist in economy ?

The breakdown of the Giants

Two of the American "Big Three" , General Motors and Chrysler, are looking for a fusion. Indeed, these two giants of the American industry have big problems concerning cash assets.

Cerberus, homeowner of Chrysler, and JPMorgan , the principal creditor of these two companies, press to find an accord. If this project reach, it will enable General Motor to conserve its leadership, whereas Toyota preempt it for the first mid-year.

A fusion between these two giants will allow GM to access to Chrysler's cash assets (more than 11 billiards) and to a big part of the 25 billiards of the governmental help for this sector. The problem of cash assets is, firstly, the consequence of the economic slowdown and the competition with asiatic constructors.

Then, these companies need a lot of money to change their production : indeed, they try to reduce the construction of 4x4, because the demand of it has completely fallen (because of oil's prices).

In the USA, these "Big Three" (General Motors, Chrysler and Ford) who were omnipresent have now "only" 50% of the market ...

This future fusion is a new example of the fall of the American industry of its first place in the world. After banks, it's now cars sector who has got problems and who needs an intervention of the government. These problems come from the fall of American demands: Indeed, these three companies made more than a half of their turnovers in North America, which is now in a period of crisis. However, even if they will never become again what they were, the fight is not finished. GM is still the first seller in emergents countries, and it doesn't want to lose this place, whereas Chrysler and Ford are looking for to progress in these countries (like the "BRIC" Brazil, Russia, India and China). However, after Banks, it's the end of an American dream...

Links :

GM, Ford and Chrysler in the "BRIC"

Risk of disparition of the red thunny fish

I will talk about a subject which is not enough discussed ... It is about the red thunny-fish which is an unknown species. The thunny-fish is a "super predator", like the shark or the tiger. Its disparition could have an irreparable effect on the marine ecosystem.

So, in order to prevent this catastrophe the French government and the governments around the Mediterranean Sea have been voted for protection laws. But, in spite of the reglementations that the governments apply, which are more and more strict, the fisher men continues to fishing it. They goes further than don't apply the decrees, they use none authorized technique, which is "filet de draguage". In fact this is a technique which consists in let a fishing-net goes down the deeper that they can, and they to keep everything and after trilling what they have.

That's where the UICN (union Internationale de conservation de la nature) intervene ... They have voted for a moratory of the fishing activities of the red thunny-fish. What's a moratory ? This is in fact, a kind of agreement which prohibit the fishing of the concerned animal. It was the case for the walles for example...
But this has to be voted by the Iccat (Commission internationale pour la conservation des thonidés) for a total prohibition of the fishing activities of the red thunny in all the oceans, but especially in the Mediterranean sea. And they have the support of an influence group which is "green peace".

In order to alert you about the falling of the red thunny-fish's stock, the maximum quota that the fisher men didn't have to clear was 29.500 tonnes, and they have deducted 61.000 tonnes !!
They did not have to clear this boundary for the perreniality of the species.
One last thing, the most eater of the red thunny-fish are the Japanese... Most of the half of fishing thunny goes to the Japanese market...

There is an other "super predator" which is threatened by the Asian market, this is the shark. But this is an other history...

I have talk about the environmental aspect of the possible disparition of the red thunny-fish, but I did not talk about the economic aspect.

I think it would be non effective, mostly in Asia and particularly in Japan, because they use it for their traditional sushi… The sushi is a symbol, but the Japan would probably suffering of a drop of their food. Because of their food is made with fishes and particularly thunny. Even other fishes would probably suffer the same thing as thunny, because in order to replace the red thunny-fish, they would fishing more one specific species, like sword-fish…