RE: The

>>
>It very much suits the interests of the Blair-Aznar axis to
>try and pin something on Gib and I hope people will not be
>fooled by this. Please remember that a loose coalition of
>Blair-Aznar-Berlusconi was seriously mooted as a weapon to
>fight the Chirac-Schroeder axis within the EU.

Well, I don´t who is responsible. I suppose this doesn´t help. I am not sure if the Gib authorities would follow Blair advises, and if Blair dares to make laws to be fulfilled. In any case, I have to admit that the Spanish Authorities are just using Gibraltar as a rod to hit Gibraltar and as squid with its ink to divert their own responsabilities in the caothic rescue. Today it has been confirmed, by the Letvian authorities that this “junk” was specially prepared to serve as refueling tanker, and as an old ship, wasn´t able to sail in high seas any more. She had the duty to refuel all river barges at St Petersburg. The Latvian authorities said she wasn´t equiped for sea sailing. And this upset quite a lot, taking into account that they were awared of that, and allowed it to operate in their habours…..too late.

RE: Some thoughts

>Unfortunately the world of today is dominated by a country
>which projects itself on the world without debating anything
>or using an open mind.
>
>Okay, so the British were exactly the same a hundred years
>ago. I’m not criticising the US, just making the point that
>their culture is perceived as the “right” culture and
>non-conformance as regarded as akin to poor human rights.
>The only accepted exception seems to be Japan.

Oppps dear Mongu…..watch out. You are bringing a controversial point to the thread. 🙂

RE: The

>.
>
>2. The EU transport commissioner (Loyola de Palacio?)
>claimed the boat had docked in Gibraltar and should have
>been impounded there. The UK government denies that it was
>in Gibraltar any time in the last 5 years.
>
>

The documents of the ship has been seized by the Spanish authorities and has been showed, and clearly indicates that it was heeding to Gibraltar. The captain and owner have also clarify this issue,as well as the French maritime authorities. The real issue, is not her going to Gibraltar but why she going for. I went to Gibraltar once and it was surprising to see dozens of rickety tankers on the bay at two hundred meters from where I was. What were they doing?. It´s not unknown that one of the main business on the rock, is ilegal fuel traffic and that hundreds of “dustbins” come to Gibraltar either to leave fuel or refuel. So appart from uncontrolled cheap traffic (thats why they use unsafe and old ships, in order to keep fuel´s price low), it´s a big petrol station. What this bring it that, being Gibraltar a keypoint in the tankers traffic, it seems that´s the only place for old tankers to refuel in the route from Northern Europe to Asia or others. Any other european port allow these ships to enter. However I think the Spanish authories and media are using Gibraltar as a distraction, for the Spaniards not asking them for responsabilities. I feel that in this tragical thing, there´s a wide net of responsibles. Direct and indirect. I think that the British goverment, due to the current political Gib rigmarole, is not really fond of imposing Gib sanctions or controling this activity. But I feel that´s really harmful for everyone, since the next tanker could explode in front of the British coasts.

RE: The “Prestige” sank

Well guys¡, Bad day for us. Last monday, as a Greenpeace colaborator I had gone to help (just an hour drive), and after almost breaking my back, I returned really depressed and helpless. You don´t know how fastastic is this natural coasline. Away from tourism it´s a paradise. We absolutely upset and some responsabilities should be claimed:
-The crew and owner as direct responsible, for having turned the engines off and abandoned the ship in a storm and letting it to get close to the coast.
-The local authorities for lacking means and having acted such in a foolish way.
-The statal goverment for not showing sensibility and not getting concerned….and allowing tankers to travel so close the coast in such a rough waters.
-The EU for not having stablished the double compartment tankers…..compulsary.
Now several natural parks damaged, the fishing industry almost destroyed and a time bomb in my homeland.

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RE: Some thoughts

Totally agree. There´s a rude tendency Mongu, in some minds in the west to think that “the west” is superior, when the world is diversity and as diverse we have to get into other countries minds to understand their ideosincrasy and respect them.

RE: Some thoughts

>It is surely impossible to prove who invented “human rights”
>Geforce.
>
>

I feel that, the concept of human rights is a quite subjective matter, which changes from time to time, and varies according to different cultures, countries and civilizations. I find this quite obvious. What´s considered honest, decent and fair in one culture and time, changes as time passes and varies according to different cultures. We have a set of values, and consider that humans have a list of minimum rights, but as you point out in muslim countries, at least in the most extreme and integrist ones, the conception of human rights is different, and as you mention in India is different too. Same happened in time. Wars, colonizations and violations of human rights are worse and more cruel if one goes back in time. The level of attrocities in the 13th century is more intense than in the 17th or than today. Fortunately humans are learning as the time goes by, and are aware of importance of “human beings”. I suppose there´s a long way to go, for us to learn to be respectful and tolerant with others.

RE: Euromanx competes with BA

Hard to compete with BA, in terms of fares and planes. We have to admit that passengers don´t like small planes, and specially this funny flying closet (1900D). The good positive thing is as in all parts of the world, competition and at least one thing which I consider important: Connections to Scotland vía IOM?. Travelling from LPL to Scotland is almost imposible, so LPL-IOM-GLA seems to me a feasible alternative.