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Fukushima: Tokyo was almost evacuated

Wednesday Feb 29, 2012

 

The government of Naoto Kan had indeed lost control of the situation in Fukushima, in full crisis following the tsunami of March 11, 2011. According to the independent commission of inquiry Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation (RJIF), a copy of a 400-page report was leaked to the press on Tuesday in a few days before its publication, Japanese authorities have considered a time a "worst case scenario "that would have led to an outright removal of Tokyo. Or 35 million people including the town, which lies 220 kilometers southwest of the damaged power plant. This report is based mainly on the testimony of Yukio Edano, spokesman for the government of the day, who says he worked on the assumption of a "chain reaction diabolical" if the nuclear reactor site would have exploded one after the other. "If this had happened, it was quite logical to conclude that we also lost Tokyo," he told investigators, according to The New York Times.

In lack of information on the extent of the disaster Fukushime, but anxious to avoid a general panic, the government has attempted to distill reassuring messages to the population. "We really just brushed against the worst case scenario, but the public did not know at this point," says Yoichi Funabashi, former editor of Asahi Shimbun and founder of the inquiry. This secret project evacuation of the Japanese capital, which Reuters obtained a copy, was presented to Prime Minister Naoto Kan – who resigned last August – by Shunsuke Kondo, Chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission, two weeks after the tsunami. He did not finally been unsheathed. "It was a crucial time during which I was not even sure that Japan could still function as a state," Naoto Kan admitted in an interview with the Japanese agency Kyodo News, last September.

Tepco wants to "abandon the central"

Far from overwhelming the only Japanese government, the pin also RJIF Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the plant in Fukushima, whose lack of transparency during the crisis has already been highlighted in numerous reports. Its leaders have also refused to cooperate with investigators RJIF. According to their study, TEPCO sought, the worst of the crisis, to evacuate the atomic site where employees were trying to control the disaster. This is Naoto Kan himself that would have forced the utility to continue its work maintaining on-site employees. For experts, without the insistence of Prime Minister, the accident would still Fukushima degenerate, causing even more catastrophic consequences. Thus concludes Yoichi Funabashi, "Naoto Kan has had its flaws and moments of absence, but his decision to go into force at Tepco and insist that the company does not abandon the plant has saved Japan." .. ……

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The Germans rebelled against fuel prices

Saturday Feb 25, 2012

 

Andy Adam, by creating the page "No refueling on March 1 in Germany!" Was a huge blip on the canvas, quickly picked up by media across the Rhine. With an average price of 1.70 euro per liter of super (against 1.55 in France), gasoline saw its flaming course in Europe since January 1. Claim of individuals joined those associations, as ADAC, powerful organization that unites over 17 million motorists across the Rhine.

Rising prices is certainly caused primarily by rising oil prices and problems in the Middle East, but the spokesman ADAC also shows the finger of responsibility oil majors: the rising price of a liter "is a matter for enterprises, which make huge profits with. The market is monopolized by five major companies, which are not competitive, "she told the daily Rheinische Post.  

A signal to policy

Calling on Facebook, even if it materializes Thursday, March 1, will not change the policies of the major oil companies: "This will have no effect," says a manager of Esso the region of Ulm in Bavaria, interviewed by Südwest Presse newspaper. "It does not annoy anyone. Right now there are even more and more people are filling up for fear that prices will rise again tomorrow. " The fuel will not be purchased on the first will be taken the next day, betting professionals.

This action and its resonance is still a strong signal to motorists to the German government, in a time when state coffers are full. The German tax authorities because it may alter several devices to reduce the cost of transportation. In addition to VAT and taxes that affect the fuel, the Ministry of Finance has the ability to play on the tax relief enjoyed by motorists. The ADAC claimed that assistance to motorists who use their cars to get to work from 30 to 40 cents per kilometer. The ministry declined for now to make a move. These are the neighboring countries who benefit: the Polish and Czech gas stations are under attack on the eve of the weekend.

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Entrepreneurship, a national cause

Tuesday Feb 21, 2012

 

Youth is condemned to the worst? Some suggest that argue indignation as the value of life. Philippe Hayat, founder of 100,000 Entrepreneurs Association, believes him, that high school and college students can take their future. "Let us turn to young people differently, according to another dynamic, and they say: to indignation or resignation, prefer action, the real, which contradicts the fatality. Since life seems so difficult to track, anticipate it, take it in hand and only count on you, "he writes in the book" Tackle! With indignation, prefer action, "published by Editions de l'Archipel.

Far made ideas that serve as ready-to-think, the treaty of good manners at the new generations is rooted in life to show that anything is possible. Philippe Hayat tells the story of his grandfather, Leon. Born in Tunisia in the late nineteenth century, Leo must make a living from the age of 14 when his parents disappear. Raising only his little sister, as between the adolescent boy to do everything in a bank. He climbs the ladder and managed to pay his three son studying in Paris. He settled in later years in the capital tricolor. "The example of young Leo would have blown that fate is made to be contradicted," says the author.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and his father, Philippe Hayat chose to shape his life. He became an entrepreneur in the early 1990s and decided to share his passion for the business. He founded the association 100,000 Contractors' initiates action contractors volunteers in colleges, high schools and higher education payday loan lenders. " His ambition is just "a few years, one hundred thousand entrepreneurs can restore confidence to a whole generation." His conclusion is simple: "France is a country of entrepreneurs who should no longer ignore." The million responsible associations, the willingness of young people from difficult to get by, employees who invent new projects in the administration or large groups reflect the dynamism of the country.

But the willingness of teachers and business is not enough that attitudes are changing. "The electoral programs generally evoke entrepreneurship lip service – and then only when … social policies seem less eager to support entrepreneurs seeking growth," says Philippe Hayat, which advocates that " Political leaders of youth entrepreneurship a national cause. More optimistic than words of caution and rigor on the one hand, compassion and grant the other hand, such an approach would be an early response to many evils. " This would require that this wish is that the state abandons some of its powers and leaves the field open to individual energies.

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Online advertising: Google gets caught at Apple

Sunday Feb 19, 2012

 

Apple promises to all iPhone users: using its Safari browser, they will escape hyperciblées advertisements on the Internet. The firm at the apple has, indeed, with his navigator, also available on Mac computers, an automatic locking mechanism that prevents the specialists in online advertising to place cookies on websites and thereby to determine an Internet user who accesses a merchant site is also a frequent visitor to a site about golf.

But a computer science researcher at Stanford University, California, has just discovered that Google has bypassed this protection system and collected data on the browsing habits of users who use Safari. The Wall Street Journal, which revealed the findings of this research, the Internet giant has "used a special computer program that leads the Safari browser software to allow tracing of many users."

"The Wall Street Journal distorts what happened, was immediately defended by the voice of Google's director of public affairs, Rachel Whetstone. We used a technical device known Safari to provide functionality that Google users logged into their accounts were activated. "It allows, for example, to store the click of a surfer on the button" 1 "or Google the "Like" Facebook as a Web content. This data is stored within a day on Google's servers payday loan.

Involuntary collection

But by putting a temporary marker to operate the "a" in Safari, Google has also opened a breach through which have slipped a variety of other markers that sought, them, to collect information on what users were on the Internet. These data are valuable to Google then to offer targeted advertising to users. Google defends itself by providing not have intended to collect these data.

From the revelation of the findings of this study, the giant search engine has disabled the technical device that has "opened the door" to the navigation information of Safari users. The group also noted that no personal data (identity of persons in particular) has been captured in this case. Apple, for its part, says "work to end" to this flaw.

But this incident is indicative of two forces that traverse the Web today: on the one hand, the giants of the Web, always seeking to target users more precisely, increasing the risks to the data they handle. The other, players such as Apple took the opportunity to surround their consumers ever higher walls.

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Retirement hardship: criteria often abstruse

Sunday Feb 12, 2012

 

Six applications studied, including two in the presence of the insured. As now regularly in each region, a commission composed of doctors and administration members met Thursday at Rennes, to review applications for "retirement hardship" from persons with a disability rating of 10 professional and 20% following an accident. The examination of each case lasted five to ten minutes.

First case: a nurse, since a car accident in 1993, has a disability rating of 12%. "The changes in schedules and staggered hours are hard to live, pleaded Mrs. C. before the six members of the commission. With the broken pelvis and legs that I had, car travel and care that I practice with dependents are painful. "The question is whether the sequelae to the accident could have been caused by an occupational disease caused through exposure for seventeen years to occupational hazards (heavy lifting, alternating schedules, handling chemicals, extreme temperatures …). "The answer is yes," has in this case ruled that the commission has approved the retirement at 60 years of Mrs. C.

Sleeping pills to sleep

"This is the absurdity of the law, recognizes a member. Two employees who had the same exposure to the same risks will not have the same rights as that one had an accident and the other not. "Besides, to be validated, the effects must be included a "list" of occupational diseases published by decree. A list that does not include … including amputation of fingers and led to "reject administratively" number of requests. "If the finger got caught, it's happening is in the list," quips a medical officer. "It would sew the finger," says Gerard Riviere, President FO Board of CNAV.

Another issue: a maintenance worker in a factory producing poultry meat that has had two accidents left him with "sequels in the left shoulder with residual pain" and a disability rating of 18%. "The hardest work is the 3 × 8, explained MD I started this morning at 4:00 am and afternoon next week. I take sleeping pills to sleep and am embarrassed when I have to intervene in height. "In his case, he also indicated to be exposed to chemical agents. "He has been confronted with all its risks, has recognized a member of the Committee in view of his career profile. He complains primarily of night work but it's exposure to all other risk factors that calls for him. "This opinion.


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The government defends its "employment tax"

Friday Feb 10, 2012

 

The government fiercely defends his proposed "employment tax"-a reduction in labor costs funded by an increase in VAT and the CSG on capital income. Supporting figures, experts Bercy want to show the economic virtues of the device, introduced Wednesday in the Cabinet, on behalf of "competitiveness" of France. Competitiveness that the report of the Court of Auditors, presented Wednesday, deemed necessary to strengthen.

As announced by the Head of State, effective October 1, work will never be the main source of funding for family policy. Reform is to reduce employer costs by 13.2 billion full-year (3.6 billion by 2012). The family contributions paid by employers will be removed for salaries between 1.6 and 2.1 SMIC (2290 euros net), then eased on a sliding scale up to 2.4 SMIC (2620 euros net). This rate was calculated Bercy, a gain of 40 euros per month for a minimum wage, 120 euros to 159 euros and 1.6 SMIC 2.1 for minimum wage. In all, according to the ministry, 14 million employees are affected by the measure.

International competition

This will benefit "to the sectors most exposed to international competition (80% of manufacturing jobs and 97% of jobs in agriculture are concerned)," argues the report of the Cabinet. The Department of Finance estimates that the reform will result in the creation of 100,000 jobs in 3 years. The Executive held Wednesday to register false face of opposition, who had spoken of a "gift to the banks." "This is nonsense! Wages in finance are higher than our target, "argued a ministerial adviser. Which also indicated that the device would benefit "proportionately" more for SMEs than for large groups, since they will reap 47% of its fruit, although they represent 40% of payroll in France.

To offset the cost, the government intends to increase from 19.6% to 21.2% the standard rate of VAT, also on 1 October. This measure will yield € 10.6 billion per year in stride. Given the controversy, the government ensures that it will not make up prices. First, he argues, because 60% of household consumption are exempt from VAT or enjoy a reduced rate will remain unchanged. Of the remaining 40%, three quarters of the products are manufactured in France, their prices will not rise … as long as companies pass on the reduced charges. Only imported products subject to the VAT increase, that is to say 10% of household purchases, could therefore lead to higher prices, ensures Bercy, while betting that "strong competition" will limit the inflation .

To complete the financing of the reform, the general social contribution (CSG) on capital income will be increased by two points, from 8.2% to 10.2%.

Still not convinced, the PS again spoke Wednesday of an economic mistake "that will weaken consumption and will therefore result in growth and employment". Francois Hollande warned that he would cancel the measure if they win.

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Wednesday Nov 30, 2011

Beyoncé is committed to the Telethon. The American singer, very involved in helping victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Ike in the United States, joined this year for 25 years BrandAlley appointment. 2 and 3 December next, dates of the Telethon, the site of private sales balances up to 70% because the clothing brand of the star, House of Deréon. The full benefit of these sales will be donated to the Telethon, said the private sales site.

House of Deréon, brand launched in 2005 by the singer in partnership with her mother Tina Knowles, markets especially its models – sold around the equivalent of 100 euros – the United States and Canada. But France is a market that does not neglect Beyoncé.His latest album, "4", it was number one record sales this summer, thanks to intensive promotion conducted by the singer in the French media no teletrack payday loans.

The operation could also be a carrier for private sales website BrandAlley. With a turnover of 70 million euros in 2010, the site just yet to reach the level of its competitor, vente-privee.com, which dominates the area. Last year, BrandAlley has diversified its business by offering its customers not only of unsold at bargain prices, but also collections in progress. The site, rumored consider a stock market listing, this year is between 40% and 45% growth.

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Tuesday Nov 22, 2011

The Paris Bourse is trying to make a step forward on Tuesday, a day after falling more than 3%. The CAC 40 in advance from 1.6% to 2941.61 points in early trade.

The problems of sovereign debt, however, should still hang over the markets. The pressure rises in the euro zone since Moody's announced that the triple A French was threatened. Spain and Italy are always attacked in the bond markets. Finally, Germany is in the viewfinder of many observers who believe the country could experience a domino effect on the market.

But Europe is not the only one to raise the nervousness of the operators. The market should be affected by the fact that the "super committee" responsible for the debt of the United States do not reach an agreement between left and right, after three months of effort.The twelve members of the joint committee, composed of six Republicans and six Democrats were responsible for the deficit of 1200 billion and had until midnight Wednesday to share their findings. Failing agreement, the law provides for the automatic implementation, from 2013, these spending cuts divided equally between defense and social programs.

Fitch monitors the Americans

President Barack Obama assured that the United States were not at risk of default. He said he was determined to keep the pressure on elected officials and threatened to veto any attempt by Congress to mitigate the budget cuts that are now automatically take effect.

For now, the rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Moody's reported that U.S. credit rating would not be affected by the failure of these discussions.


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Sunday Nov 20, 2011

Released in early 2010, a year and a half of recession caused by the bursting of the housing bubble, Spain could plunge into the red. Supported by the only engine of exports and tourism, the economy will suffer from the international slowdown. And domestic demand – consumption and investment – remains stalled, weighed down by record unemployment. Economists forecast a decline in activity over the next two quarters. For the full 2012, Natixis expects an increase of GDP, limited to 0.2%, even more severe, Bank of America Merrill Lynch expects a fall of 0.7%. Two days before the election, the government had to accept lower growth for 2011 at 0.8% against 1.3%, less than half that expected by Brussels in the euro area.

Occupation: the red lantern of Europe

This is the black point of the Spanish economy guaranteed online payday loans.Toxic assets that are concentrated in the "cajas" (savings banks).

Increased risk for public finances

Spain has embarked on the path of fiscal consolidation since 2009. The great austerity plan dating back to May 2010 combining lower wages of civil servants, cuts in social spending, increase tax and pension reform. After a budget deficit rising to 11.2% of GDP in 2009, the stated objective is to reduce it to 6% this year. It is not clear as far as Madrid to keep, given the downward revision of growth. On the front of the public debt, Madrid pre-crisis low, 40% of GDP. It has since risen sharply, it should peak around 72% in 2013 before declining.


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The display is struggling to make digital

Tuesday Oct 25, 2011

A consensus was quickly found, this weekend in Berlin, to issue in the campaign around the packaging of products Monoprix the thirty-eighth prize in outdoor, which annually recognizes the best advertising campaigns. Although already won several awards in national and international awards, the advertising posters designed by the agency Havas City have once again a hit.

Chaired by Mercedes Erra, Executive President of Euro RSCG Worldwide and co-founder of BETC Euro RSCG, the jury of this new edition has lamented the poor quality of the 217 campaigns submitted for its assessment. But to his credit tightening campaign stand out visually strong, with texts often licked, like the campaign Monoprix, inspired pop art was to "put beauty in the city," as pointed out by several jurors .Slogans like "No daily newspaper" or "milk it can be beautiful" had flourished in the streets in late 2009 to praise the demand for aesthetics of a distributor of consumer products.

Convened by the Union of outdoor advertising (UPE) and in the presence of the main display (JCDecaux, Clear Channel, CBS Outdoor and Insert), professional, creative and business, have this meeting every year to discuss progress outdoor advertising, which includes, in addition to traditional posters, all the displays events and new digital media.Mercedes Erra defended a political vision of the poster, "height of commercial art," she says, both "political" and "cry" as constitutive of the "declaration of a leadership brand."

3000 to 2012 screens

During their deliberations, jurors have widely reported the arrival of the digital display, which should change the ways of working paperless payday loans. None of the award-winning campaigns have used this new technique. The co-founder of the agency Herezie, Andrea Stillacci, regretted that there is not "sharing opportunities between advertising agencies, media agencies and displays, as there are already on the Web ".Digital billboards should represent only about 3,000 screens in 2012, a small percentage of the park, and focus on protected sites (airports, railway stations, subway, shopping centers).

The display, which accounted for 1.2 billion net revenue for the media in 2010 according to the IREP, is the third preferred advertising medium for advertisers, according to the press and television. All operators have plans in digital. But the conversion of all signs to digital is not for now. "2012 will be a year of starting," said Philippe Baudillon, CEO of Clear Channel France. The "business model" current display is not ready for such a switch, which requires huge investments and the total revision of the management of media plans of advertisers.The digital opens up for display, with campaigns more reactive, but new rules of creative play.

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