In The News

Belgium Bans Gum, Tablets and Drops with Fluoride

Anon. July 31, 2002
In a move thought absurd by the Belgian Dentists Federation, the Belgium government will ban the sale of all products containing fluoride except for toothpaste. While this ban is the first of its kind for the EU, Belgian Health Minister Magda Aelvoet, a member of the Flemish Green Party, plans to discuss this move with other members of the union. The reason for the proposed ban is that a study...

Europe Must Now Defend Itself

Quentin Peel July 7, 2002
The U.S. and the European Union (EU) still have not reached an agreement on the International Criminal Court (ICC), mainly due to the American fear that its own soldiers may face trials in a non-American court in accordance with the statutes of the ICC. In this article, the author argues that if the U.S. wants to block the renewal of the mission mandates of the ICC, it can either cut its...

In Europe, Going Global Means, Alas, English

John Tagliabue May 19, 2002
En inglés, auf Englisch, en anglaise, en inglese, in English, please. The number of schools and academies that teach English has increased dramatically in Europe. Indeed, as companies increasingly seek transnational markets and employees, English has become the 'lingua franca' of board meetings and cross-border communications. Company workers, especially high-ranking ones, are polishing...

EU Insists on Discussion of Environment Rules

Michael Mann October 7, 2001
The EU farm commissioner, Franz Fischler, wants environmental rules included in the trade talks of the WTO. Fishcler believes that including these rules is a fair trade for the EU’s acceptance of reduced farm subsidies which the WTO hopes to enact. The lower farm subsidies will help developing nations compete in the global market place with the agricultural goods produced by developed nations....

Guggenheim, Bilbao, and the ‘hot banana’

Leslie Crawford September 4, 2001
Since building the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao has witnessed extraordinary growth in tourism. Now, many policy makers see Bilbao and the Guggenheim as a model for urban renewal. But not all are in agreement. Tourism is an uncertain industry, and museums are attractive as long as they are unique. Furthermore, the novelty of attractions wears off; and without a plan to keep the momentum of economic...

Globalization: You Can't Stop Life

Nayan Chanda July 5, 2001