Archive for the ‘money’ Category

The "outraged," Anatomy of an unstructured movement

October 15, 2011 - 5:48 pm Comments Off

On May 15 the "outraged" Spaniards camped in the square of Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Borrowing their name to the pamphlet by Stephen Hessel, they said they were inspired by the Arab Spring to shout their rebellion against the explosion of unemployment and austerity policies implemented by the government … Since then, the challenge has been extended in the rest of Europe but also overseas. Five months after the birth of the movement in Spain, in 82 countries is that these "outraged" will show this Saturday, October 15. Zurich to New York, to Rome, Tijuana, Hong Kong and Johannesburg, calls have been launched in 951 cities worldwide.

Their message to politicians and financial elites, as can be read on the site 15october, is: "The powers that be working for the benefit of some ignoring both the will of the majority that the price human and environmental we pay. This intolerable situation has to stop. "On the site of the movement Occupy Wall Street, the tone is the same:" The thing we all have in common is that we are the 99% who will not tolerate any longer the greed and the corruption of the remaining 1%. "In Italy, the program is summarized as follows: "Occupation of public places by millions of people who do not want to pay the enormous economic and social crisis in the place of those who have caused: political power industrial, economic and financial" .

No central authority

This day of action is to cross an important milestone in the movement, which now acquires an international dimension. "It was needed to make weight against the power of financial markets that operate on a global scale," says Sophie Banasiak, "indignant" Paris.

However, there is no central body to coordinate the different actions. "If the collective Democracia Real Ya played a leading role in the initial mobilization in Spain, he does not prevail, either in the capital of the country or world, Heloise said Nez, a sociologist at the University Paris 13.Many groups are working together, but none have hegemony over the movement horizontal and egalitarian aims. There is no visible head and outraged caregivers to regularly change the voice online pay day loans. "

"If someone asks you 'who is behind it', they reply: 'I'" retorted on those who seek the organizers. The spread of a city or country to another must be spontaneous, for emulation. A process greatly facilitated by social networks, where multiple keywords are emerging, such as "yeswecamp", "# yosoy15O", "# event15oct" or "# Globalrevolution" … "I do not even know exactly who launched the idea of ​​the October 15, recognizes Spyros, OccupyLSX supporter of the movement in London.We have seen that call for Saturday and it was inspired by the movement Occupy wall street to do the same thing here. "

Specific demands of each country

If dissatisfied with the world found common denominators, claims and complaints are divided again according to national issues. In Spain, Real Democracia Ya accent has been on the reform of the electoral law to end the two-party system as well as stopping the evictions of indebted owners. In Anglo-Saxon countries, it is mainly finance, pointed as responsible for the crisis, which is targeted. Witness the names of the movements that develop, "Occupy Wall Street" and "Occupy London Stock Exchange (OccupyLSX)." In Israel, the mobilization is the expensive housing while in Italy, the outraged refuse to pay "a debt they have incurred."But all these central issues do not prevent each protester to express other concerns. In Spain some point impunity surrounding crimes of Francoism and the United States is denounced police brutality or the death penalty …

Above all, each city retains its autonomy: information flows globally, but "decisions, they, are taken at meetings in every city, Banasiak said Sophie. Each city chooses its own way of decision. In Paris and Madrid for example, is the consensus. The international dimension does not change the fact that the essence of the movement is local: it is in the physical encounter and dialogue in the streets. "

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Germany admired the French

October 11, 2011 - 5:08 am Comments Off

To tout its cars to French consumers, Renault has found nothing better than to tell them all the good we think of the Rhine: "The Germans had never worn if the colors of the Renault group," proclaims a full-page advertisement inserted recently in several major newspapers. And a huge flag Germanic, where the yolk was replaced by the orange Renault, is quoted the testimony of three magazines giving high marks to the products of the firm to diamond.

In a completely different note, our brother Le Monde has published a major survey of its specialist art entitled "The German art is greater" (sic).Dealing with three exhibitions held this fall in Paris (Baselitz, Lüpertz and Richter), journalist and university Philippe Dagen highlights the quality of their training, the dynamism of their collectors and regionalization of their art centers, ensuring competition . After having watered three centuries of sublime music, will they outdo us again?

The admiration of Germany has become the national sport on the left bank of the Rhine. "It will take time to go to a joint work, we must move towards a common retirement age, it will move towards convergence of economic and social organization of our two countries," recommended last month François Fillon, in a speech at Matignon.The Prime Minister handed "the price of creative audacity!" The finger of suspicion towards the merger, given the respective performances, 150 billion trade surplus with them, 75 billion deficit at home, 6.9% unemployment there, by 9.2%. And then this terrible figure, which summarizes and explains its own precedents: from Munich to Hamburg, we continue to manufacture 5.3 million cars, with no change in recent years, while French car production fell by 3.2 2 million in five years.

Our guide would rather "fear of the police"

For their part, manufacturers are Germanic full of praise that they braid.Witness the latest ad Opel France on the radio on the bottom of a thundering speech in the language of Goethe, this comment means voice-over: "No need to understand German to know that Opel is German quality. "

Narcissism which the Germans, like all people, are tempted to succumb long history. Just remember the famous phrase of Richard Wagner: "To be German means to do something for herself." Taste for work well done. The composer of Bayreuth, revered by the French intellectual circles of the second half of the nineteenth century despite the defeat of 1870, speaking at a time when industrialization took off in all Europe bad credit personal loan lenders. Wagner wanted to stigmatize the mercantile spirit and the Anglo-Saxon capitalism. The industrial Germanic still close artisans described in his opera The Maîtrbaes Singers, the contrary does not care that the quality of its products.National competition of capitalism was raging. So much so that London had mandated in 1887 to register the trademark "Made in Germany" on products from Berlin. It was a way to deter British consumers to buy them. In vain, because they had quickly perceived the letters as a synonym for excellence.

Reforms "imposed" in Brussels

Our current debates on the tropism of both industrial and financial capital of others have nothing new. It is tempting to attribute the course to specific national cultural roots. The philosopher and sociologist Theodor Adorno, hardly suspected of complacency vis-à-vis the countries that had pushed him into exile, invoked "the great German ideas that celebrate independence with excitement, the purity of the things that the we only for themselves. "

The French seem all the more admirable that such principles are totally foreign. Our guide would rather "fear of the police" that the search for autonomy. Our drivers are less concerned about road safety control radars. Our governments are concerned with reducing budget deficits to meet the rating agencies and the "Maastricht criteria". The reforms we are "imposed" in Brussels, says it for ages. The euro was sold to the public as a "shield" and not as an instrument of independence, etc..

Renault advertisers are part of a powerful ideological trend in France when they refer to the standards of the Rhine. That Germany is a reference-ministerial in Paris, it is called "benchmark" – is obvious, considering its size and its results.That we should draw on the successes of others is also clear. But can we trace our tax on Germany not adjust the level of public spending (over 10% of GDP at home)? Lack of guiding principles, we simply stack the remedies indiscriminately. "Against unemployment, we tried everything!" Claimed pathos with François Mitterrand. One wonders if Wagner had not just right when he treated the French as "monkey people" (1864).

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Banks: tensions before the meeting Merkel-Sarkozy

October 9, 2011 - 10:00 am Comments Off

Faced with the fear of a general banking collapse, the Franco-German couple is once again under the spotlight. And once again, things are not simple. Nicolas Sarkozy will be tomorrow in the German capital to "speed up" with Angela Merkel the implementation of the bailout of a Euro still full turbulence. The urgent need for the French president and German chancellor, is to flatten their differences on the use of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) and reach a tentative agreement on the thorny issue of the recapitalization of banks.

Angela Merkel ruled Thursday that "there was a need to recapitalize, it would be reasonable to invest money" in terms of what could cost an emergency rescue industry.But she insists on the fact that the Fund will be used to bail out financial institutions on the condition that states can not themselves "to support the recapitalization of their banks' and it puts" endangered the euro area as a whole. "

In fact, Paris Berlin suspected of wanting to directly use the emergency fund to recapitalize banks weakened by the prospect of a debt reduction Greek. "The French have misunderstood the EFSF, decrypts it does in Berlin. Our position is that banks must first seek funding markets, and the side of the national public authorities. Only when there is no money available comes the European level. The EFSF is a tool for countries like Greece or Portugal.If a country like France – among the strongest financially of the euro area – wants to appeal, then this is the door open for all members of the area had ro dig into the fund. "

Berlin suspects Paris

An over-interpretation, says it does on the French side. "We have not yet begun to discuss that!" Do we wonder at the Elysee. At Bercy, it ensures not see fundamental differences with Berlin. "We agree with Germany, said the entourage of the Minister of Economy, Baroin, the fact that more capital into banks, including French," even if only to meet new international standards of Basel III in 2013.Whenever possible, the French banks also plan to comply with without recourse to the capital, let alone the U.S. – by separating certain activities if necessary, by distributing fewer profits to build equity .

But if there had to be re-capitalization, especially to reassure investors, "the sources must first be private," insists one at Bercy. "Ultimately, this should be to rely on injections of public capital." According to Paris, "a European coordination is essential to determine the amount of capital to meet the deadline by which this capital is to be achieved, and the tools for that. " It is on these criteria that France and Germany could agree this weekend.For its part, Brussels will make proposals for a coordinated recapitalization "in the coming days."

Moreover, given the deepening crisis, Angela Merkel has gradually accepted the idea of ​​economic governance of the European Union, defended by Nicolas Sarkozy. Expanding the powers of EFSF part of this process. However, the Chancellor – who imposed hard fought his troops to ratify the Bundestag building – is faced with a majority crossed by a strong current Eurosceptic.

Markets would also like to know more about the technical means to leverage the clout of EFSF. These contain the spread of the crisis heavyweight like Italy, Spain, and Portugal, while the levees are still weak.Should we go further and erase a more substantial part of the Greek debt? Should we consider that the Fund provides guarantees? The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, at least possible that Germany spends more money than EFSF the 211 billion passed by the Bundestag.

These tensions, it is now the standard mode of operation between Paris and Berlin. Pressure mounts on both sides of the Rhine, until a compromise emerges in a head-to-head at the highest level. Given their respective domestic political weakness or Merkel or Sarkozy can not afford a failure.

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The diesel may be more expensive from 2013

October 2, 2011 - 3:12 am Comments Off

The automotive sector is on the alert. As shown in Le Parisien on Saturday, Brussels would consider tax per liter of diesel in Europe from 8 to 15% more than gasoline. A directive to this effect must be examined by the European Parliament in November for an application expected in 2013. Objective: To fight against this highly polluting energy, used by nearly 7 million cars in Europe.

The European Commission highlights the paradox between a cleaner gasoline and cheaper duty-sold more expensive at the pump, and diesel more expensive duty free, massive source of emissions of fine particles hazardous to health, and less expensive for motorists. She said outside the UK, the tax treatment of petrol and diesel in Europe is "flawed" and needs the overhaul.

Concern

For manufacturers, the news comes at the worst time.These are already working on the application in 2014 of Euro 6, which calls for reducing carbon emissions and fine particles. This standard requires them to implement expensive technology on diesel vehicles that will increase the price of these cars from 1500 to 2000 euros pay day loans. What scare away customers. If in addition the price of a liter of diesel fuel were to increase significantly, the diesel car market could collapse.

The Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers believes that the introduction of this directive in France could lose 20 points of market share on the sale of diesel cars. In the columns of Paris, its president, Patrick Blain, worried: "The decline in production in French factories (on the cutting edge in the field of diesel, ie) would inevitably have social consequences," he warns.

Professionals and individuals may also choose to get rid of their cars too expensive, which could lead to plummeting prices of diesel cars. "It may be possible to adopt transitional measures that will leave everyone time to adjust," said he.

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Android: Samsung will have to pay microsoft

September 29, 2011 - 7:08 pm Comments Off

"Android is not free." Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, had reiterated in an interview with CNN. The computer giant, who believes that this platform violates several of its patents, asking all manufacturers of devices using it to pay him royalties. After the Taiwan-based Acer and HTC, so it's Samsung's turn to bend. The Korean giant has signed an agreement to this effect Wednesday requiring him to pay royalties to Microsoft on sales of each of its smartphones governed by the system Android.

The terms of this agreement shall remain confidential. Note that Samsung should pay, however, could be as salty as that of HTC, which would pay about $ 5 a smartphone. The success of the Samsung Galaxy SII should fully make the computer giant.

In addition to this financial agreement, Samsung is committed to supporting the development and marketing of Windows Home Phone System. The Korean giant has also announced the launch of the Omnia W under the new version of the operating system.

Google angry

While Microsoft enjoys this new victory, Google outcry. The system designer Android is supposed to be free, denounced a "tactic for many times," close to extortion. "Failing to succeed in the market for smartphones, Microsoft relies on legal measures to extract profits from the success of others and may impede the pace of innovation," protested one voice. "We remain focused on the development of new technologies and partner support of Android," he said.

Terminal manufacturers using this operating system are in a very uncomfortable situation. First, Android is very expensive. On the other hand, the surprise takeover of Motorola's mobile division by Google places them under direct threat of seeing the search engine to give priority access to innovations in its new line of mobile phones.

The parade is perhaps the signing of new partnerships. Samsung is well to conclude an agreement with Intel to develop another operating system called Tizen.

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SNCF TGV celebrates 30 years and looks to the future

September 25, 2011 - 4:12 pm Comments Off

SNCF never ceases to celebrate 30 years of its TGV. After the launch last May of a train specially decorated, a new celebration takes place Saturday night in the Gare de Lyon in Paris. The President of the SNCF Guillaume Pepy, and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development, will attend a particular video show projected on the facade of the Gare de Lyon which left the first TGV, the September 22, 1981.

A few figures summarize the tremendous success of the first high-speed train developed by Alstom to accommodate all age groups, mobile executives, young, old … In all, nearly two billion passengers have taken in 30 years. 83% of French people have traveled at least once on board the TGV, which now serves 230 stations.

But the station pulled the alarm a few years ago commercial success, the TGV is not an economic powerhouse.The accounts of the industry are deteriorating, the fault, including the tolls the operator must pay to Réseau Ferré de France, the operator of the system for the use of high-speed lines. Today, nearly 30% of high-speed lines in circulation are not profitable. Guillaume Pepy regularly reminded that the company can no longer afford to invest in next-generation trains business cards.

The future railway landscape

Several projects of new lines are under way: the Rhine-Rhone, just opened, the Tours-Bordeaux, Brittany or the Loire region, not to mention the circumvention of Nimes and Montpellier. But others are virtual as the Paris-Caen. The success of the TGV has indeed given to the regions want to have "their" TGV.But the question of funding problem and use increasingly common in public-private partnership, a financing involving the state and communities in building a private group, is not a panacea.

After the festivities, Focus on the rail, a kind of rail Grenelle oragnisé by the Department, will again bring together industry players at round tables austere. Objective: To shape the future landscape railway … and give the French the prospect of other celebrations in the coming decades.

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Debt: the note of Italy in the sights of agencies

September 20, 2011 - 11:44 am Comments Off

The risk of contagion from a crisis of debt grow even further. After Greece, Ireland, Portugal and most recently the United States is now the turn of Italy to see their credit ratings damaged by Standard & Poor's. The rating agency lowered a notch credit ratings long and short term attributed to the third European economy A/A-1 against A + / A-1 + before. S & P also maintains a negative outlook on the evolution of economic activity in Italy. In other words, it does not degrade once the debt rating of the country.

The degradation of S & P is all the more unexpected it had been no warning from the agency, in contrast to Moody's.The latter had announced Friday that it would complete in October, with a month lag, the examination of the Italian credit note for a possible cut, citing a difficult economic environment.

Standard & Poor's, the downgrade of the debt is directly related to the low economic growth and a fragile political situation. In fact, the ruling coalition of Silvio Berlusconi has only a slim majority. Thus, the rating agency believes that the differences in the Parliament will continue to restrict government's ability to respond decisively to a macroeconomic environment inside and outside tricky.In addition, many escapades of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi also helps to weaken the ruling coalition.

The difficulties of the incumbent government to impose measures were illustrated by the recent childbirth painful austerity plan. This program changed multiple times is not convincing and suggests that S & P "will undoubtedly contribute little to boost economic performance of Italy, especially in a context of tighter financial conditions and because of the program fiscal retrenchment of government. " Facing a debt of 1900 billion euros, equivalent to 120% of annual GDP, the Berlusconi government has pushed through last week by parliament an austerity plan providing for 59.8 billion euros in savings with the aim bring the budget back to balance in 2013.

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Jérôme Kerviel would be considered on appeal in June 2012

September 16, 2011 - 1:32 pm Comments Off

For Jérôme Kerviel, the horizon is not entirely clear. His appeal is expected in June 2012. At trial, the former Societe Generale trader was sentenced Oct. 5, 2010 for fraud, breach of trust, forgery and uttering forged documents and five years in prison, three farm, and 4.9 billion euros in damages. The stakes are huge for him, if his conviction was upheld, he could not escape from the prison, having been detained one month and ten days in custody.

Olivier Metzner, remained the only lawyer after a parade of big names in Paris, he prepares the deadline today and this time decided to stay quiet.When the scandal broke, there was much media-presentation, signing, even before his trial, a book, The Gear, memoirs of a trader (Flammarion), in which he denounced "the reality of banking practices."

"Someone basically nice"

Today, thirty years working for a computer consulting firm located in Levallois, near Paris. The boss of this company, expert in court and knowledge of his brother and his first attorney, had befriended the young Breton and had welcomed home after the blast caused by the scandal. "All the people who approached basically found someone nice. He tries to do well in his way. And it's someone you can trust, "assured RTL in 2010 Jean-Raymond Lemaire, his employer.

The scandal January 24, 2008 when Societe Generale announced a record loss of 4.9 billion. Suspicion immediately converge on the trading Delta One desk model that would have concealed astronomical risk positions taken on the markets. At trial, Jerome Kerviel ensures that the bank had encouraged him to take such risks and had then "unwound" these positions in spite of common sense.

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Obama announces plan to 447 billion to boost employment

September 9, 2011 - 7:12 pm Comments Off

Barack Obama knew last night that he should seize the last opportunity to pass stimulus measures. For 32 minutes he has compiled the list of measures characterized as "urgent", intended to support consumption and encourage the hiring in 2012. With a little luck and cooperation from the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, some of these measures will be adopted in early 2012.

In fact, the time is right. The presidential campaign in full swing as early as January. Common ground between Democrats and Republicans are thus virtually impossible to find in March.

To appeal to conservatives, Barack Obama is wearing more than half of its plan to 447 billion dollars of reductions in charges paid by employees and businesses.By halving the payroll tax that finances the retirement program, Social Security, the President went even further than previously thought.

The issue of funding on hold

In the minutes after the speech, John Boehner and Eric Cantor, the two leading House Republicans, said they wanted to do that such measures are discussed. They do not want to obstruct all types of measures: their constituents are just as concerned about the risk of relapse into recession as the Democratic voters low rates payday advance. Other reaching out to Republicans: the promise to submit to Congress on free trade agreements negotiated for a long time with Korea, Colombia and Panama.

Finally, the issue of infrastructure spending, Republicans should also be attracted, even if the chances that they align themselves to finance projects rail transit are slim. Moreover, the proposed transfer of funds to States to preserve the jobs of civil servants might not pass Congress.

Then there is the crucial issue of financing of these measures. Barack Obama has stated repeatedly that they would all be funded. But he did not say how.

It should not provide details until next week, when finally published its plan for debt reduction over the medium term. The White House makes plans to finance these stimulus measures need to be involved in 2012, by savings in the longer term.Republicans, eager to reduce public debt now, will try to find savings elsewhere in 2012, to finance what they will accept the plan Obama.

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Pflimlin "France Televisions needs stability"

September 4, 2011 - 4:00 am Comments Off

After one was missed, France Televisions has returned an offensive with hundreds of new programs. Taking risks assumed by Rémy Pflimlin, the CEO of the past year. It provides time to install new brands and develop its digital strategy.

The FIGARO. – What are your ambitions in terms of audiences for the group?

Remy PFLIMLIN. – The introduction of DTT has weakened the historic three channels and we have two. But France Television is not only judged on the hearings, as specified in the law. However, we must be the first French broadcasting group with our channel France 2, France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô. All must remain above the 30% audience share.

How do you explain the hearings erratic France 2?

For economic reasons, summer programs in France two were very different from those of the season. We have spent reruns and a program, "Five tourists" who have gone wrong. We dropped during the day and have paid cash. But with the return, the big appointment with Sophie Davant, Laurent and Stephane Bern Ruquier back.

France Televisions will invest 420 million euros in creation. Where do you get the money?

This amount represents an increase of twenty million euros a year. This is affordable in a cost grid for all channels 2 billion. To finance it, we will make arbitration on purchases and program flow.

You run one hundred new programs.Is it ambitious?

We offer 50 new programs on our five channels and 50 new regional programs of France 3. It is necessary to take risks because we absolutely need to innovate to install in the new period of strong brands as are a French village and more beautiful life.

Where's the advertising revenue?

We have budgeted 425 million euros in advertising revenue for the year 2011 against 440 million last year. In late August, we are still OK and I think we will hold the budget for the year.

You signed a contract with the State and sustain the revenue for five years. All can be challenged after the presidential elections?

We signed a contract objectives and resources with state ownership for five years on the basis of the strategic plan that we presented.For five years, the resources paid by the state are sustained and grow by 2 no teletrack payday loan.2% per year. In addition, our commercial revenues, advertising and diversification, we will be acquired. France Televisions thus acquires the necessary stability to build the company unique and long-term work with the world of creation. The company, the creators, the State and Parliament have an interest in maintaining that stability.

What is the social aspect?

We should sign in the coming days a collective agreement with the 2520 group of journalists and then we will negotiate the provisions concerning the technical and administrative staff, which represents 7,900 people. Over time, wages, hours and qualifications will be harmonized. This will have a cost but an investment that will pay off in productivity and simplified structure.In terms of attrition, which runs until 2012 and on 900 stations, we should see 550 starts, some of which permit and enable the recruitment of new skills including digital.

That represent the digital in five years?

The digital will be involved in the group. We will develop an information platform in November and another sports in spring 2012. Our role is to be an editor own content (information, drama, sport, culture …) that will become a commodity that we will provide all the screens. With the spread of television connected, it will be essential to have strong brands belong to us. Thus, we will not be dependent on American series to be broadcast directly by U.S. companies.

What is your position on the chains bonus?

On principle, I support the diversity of supply. On the economic front, although this is less about France Televisions, I note that many players call for a pause to allow to "digest" the introduction of DTT. With regard to the broadcast standard DVBT2, I have no principled position. But it is certainly worth, at this pivotal time, to ask any questions. For there is the issue of bonus channels, there are new channels announced, there is also the arrival of HD channels available. All this requires a resource that is often valuable, and called a real strategic choice. I look forward to the report of Michel Boyon.

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