Why German Nuclear Worries Are Both Wrong and Harmful

Finally someone who knows how to sum up the advantages and dangers of nuclear energy in a logical way. Robert Peter Gale writes in Der Spiegel: ” An increasing number of Germans are convinced that nuclear energy is more dangerous than the alternatives. Their fears are understandable — but wrong. What’s worse, their emotional and over-politicized reaction at home is sowing more fear and distrust in Japan. “

 

Head of U.N. Panel Regrets Saying Israel Intentionally Killed Gazans

It took a long time, but the ludicrous accusation of Richard Goldstone that Israel intentionally killed Palestinian civilians is off the table now. Hamas had not conducted any internal investigations of its own but Israel had devoted considerable resources in looking into more than 400 accusations of misconduct, and in several cases lashed out severe punishments for misbehavior. “If I had known then what I know now,” he wrote, “the Goldstone Report would have been a different document.” Further reading here.

Update: Melanie Phillips goes  a step further. Apparently Goldstone thought Hamas would investigate it’s own war crimes, the same as Israel has done. He writes: “It was my hope, even if unrealistic, that Hamas would do so, especially if Israel conducted its own investigations. At minimum I hoped that in the face of a clear finding that its members were committing serious war crimes, Hamas would curtail its attacks. Sadly, that has not been the case. Hundreds more rockets and mortar rounds have been directed at civilian targets in southern Israel….”

Beyond the EU Policy Makers’ Dream

IRWIN STELZER of the Wall Street Journal does a thought experiment: assume that all goes as planned by euro-zone policy makers. Even under such a benign scenario it is likely that some euro-zone member will default on its sovereign debt. Worse still, the fundamental economic problems that produced the current difficulties remain untouched.

What follows is a pretty scary outlook for Europe’s future.

 

Humpty in Toytown and the Arab Boomerang

The enthusiasm with which the Arab unrest is welcomed by the Western media is not completely shared by me, to put it mildly. Melanie Phillips blogs here in her villainous style and condemns the “leaders” making this world a safer place.

From: The Spectator

 

Hideaki Akaiwa, Badass of the Week.

One of the most moving and courageous stories told. This man single-handedly rescued his wife and mother from the disaster, and keeps on going rescuing others. Also some incredible footage on this page.

Why Fukushima made me stop worrying and love nuclear power.

George Monbiot in The Guardian: Yes, I still loathe the liars who run the nuclear industry. Yes, I would prefer to see the entire sector shut down, if there were harmless alternatives. But there are no ideal solutions. Every energy technology carries a cost; so does the absence of energy technologies. Atomic energy has just been subjected to one of the harshest of possible tests, and the impact on people and the planet has been small. The crisis at Fukushima has converted me to the cause of nuclear power.

 

Islamist Group Is Rising Force in a New Egypt

As I quoted before: The West celebrates democracy. It should be careful what it hopes for: It might get it.

The New York Times reports.

Update: Here some revelations on the rebels in Libya.

Is Environmentalism Really Working?

In this sometimes hilarious article Der Spiegel goes into the consequences of environmentalist behavior. We all know it is better to be economical with our resources, but a very green attitude can produce results contrary to what one hopes to achieve.

 

Europe’s Banks Are in Far Greater Danger Than People Realize

The European Union is hoping that aid to Greece and Ireland combined with closer economic policy coordination will be enough to put an end to the euro crisis. But that’s not likely, warns US economist Barry Eichengreen. First and foremost, he says in an interview with SPIEGEL, Europe needs to help out its ailing banks.

From: Der Spiegel

Revolution and the Muslim World

The Muslim world, from North Africa to Iran, has experienced a wave of instability in the last few weeks. No regimes have been overthrown yet, although as of this writing, Libya was teetering on the brink. I suspect some regimes will fall, mostly reducing the country in question to chaos. The problem, as we are seeing in Tunisia, is that frequently there is no one on the revolutionaries’ side equipped to take power. In the meantime, as you watch the region, remember not to watch the demonstrators. Watch the men with the guns. If they stand their ground for the state, the demonstrators have failed. If some come over, there is some chance of victory. And if victory comes, and democracy is declared, do not assume that what follows will in any way please the West — democracy and pro-Western political culture do not mean the same thing. The West celebrates democracy. It should be careful what it hopes for: It might get it.

By George Friedman from Stratfor.