Going green French style; 999, please hold; and Doing the voo-doo that you do
Well, we figured that today would probably be a good day to focus on some of weirder, whackier news out there in the other 194 countries of the lovely planet earth. Hopefully today’s news highlights can put a smile on some people who now have some spare time on their hands (like those two awesome dudes from Lehman we met yesterday on the subway).
Anyway, here’s what’s going on the world today, September 16, 2008:
Out of France: Just when you thought the price of plastic cutlery was skyrocketing out of control, along comes France and makes matters worse. That’s right, folks. France is doing their small part to save mother earth by levying a tax on throwaway cutlery that is non-recyclable.
Now, we have to give France their props because they’ve already been doing something similar – with cars. We kid you not. Heavy polluting vehicles are subject to taxes, whereas lesser polluting vehicles get you a tax break. Well done on starting small and slowly but surely transitioning to the big ticket items, like refrigerators, washing machines and wooden furniture.
"Tax this, baby!"
Unfortunately, mother earth will have to wait a wee bit longer. According to the environment minister of France, one Jean-Louis Borloo, the French government is “not completely ready” and decisions haven’t been made definitively.
Baby steps, France, baby steps.
(Link from the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/world/europe/16france.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin)
Out of Scotland: Even in the United States, law enforcement officials, especially those in the movies and television, can’t seem to track down an international fugitive without calling their friends at Interpol and Scotland Yard. Jack Bauer and Seeley Booth (c’mon, everyone needs a good “Bones” reference every now and again) might want to rethink dialing up Scotland Yard.
It turns out that Central Scotland Police, with its 999 number, has been busy with more pressing matters than helping to track down terrorists, warlords, arms dealers, drug smugglers and diamond thieves. That’s right, folks, according to The Telegraph, a UK daily, 999 has been busy dragging down the vicious criminals who drove through a puddle and soaked a man; the criminal masterminds who put too many onions in one man’s takeout food; and the notorious evildoers who sold a bunny with ears that were, according to the caller, not as floppy as she was promised.
"999...sure, I'll hold."
Seriously, stop laughing. Those are some of the calls that Central Scotland Police has received according to the Telegraph, which, naturally, distracted the dispatchers from more pressing duties. Umm, folks, Jack Bauer’s on a timetable here.
(link fron NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/world/europe/16briefs-HELPPOLICEMY_BRF.html?scp=1&sq=central%20scotland%20police&st=cse)
Out of Congo: Riots at a soccer match in Kivu province of Congo led to the death of 13 people, most of them kids between the age of 11 and 16. It’s obviously really a sad story because it involves the loss of live (what international news stories these days don’t?) but what we find so amazing is what caused the riots.
The riots started when an accusation of witchcraft was levied against a player. The ensuing panic caused people to flee. This caused police to fire shots into the air, which, of course, caused more panic. The officials reporting on the issue didn’t mention anything about witchcraft but we find it hard to imagine that in a place as politically stable as the Congo, such events couldn’t have possibly been caused by anything else.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those who lives were lost in this tragedy. We also hope that peace will come to the Congo in our lifetimes.
(Link from NY Times: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/15/news/Congo-Soccer-Riot.php )
