On October 24^th, Eric Jonckheere finally saw the trial against the mighty industrial family Emsens, more precise, against one of their companies, Eternit, appear.
Eric's mother started the procedure before her death in 2000 (sic) and after many postponements, the case finally appeared before court. Eternit has been producing asbestos since the late 1940's.
Eric's father was active as an engineer at Eternit, and as such, had been exposed many years to asbestos.
Although many countries have forbidden the production of asbestos since the 1950's, Eternit was able to continue its production and to keep on contaminating the regio as well as exposing it's employed.
Father Jonckheere passed away in the late 1980's, due to mesothelioma, directly caused by exposure to asbestos.
The court will make a decision on November 28^th
meanwhile, the company's juridical expert has pleeded the role of asbestos hasn't been clear for a period of time and claims that Eternit is free of any possible infliction on the health of its former employed as well as on that of people living in the neighbourhood of the plant.

But it gets even sicker!
When asbestos had been forbidden, finally, and the role of asbestos in various forms of cancer had been proven, the gouvernment, with the family Emsens, set up a funds, Asbestfonds, which has no English page, unfortunately, or conveniently?

However, when one addresses this funds, one also resigns of any legal prosecution!
Secondly, this funds is paid for by every taxpayer and company, regardless their involvement!!
You're reading this correctly, the company causing the problem has been protected by the gouvernment for prosecution ( once the funds get addressed ) and for full financial liability.

Sick, you say?
In 2005, the chief of clan, Stanislas Emsens receives a visit from the royal palace.
No other than the crown prince comes to congratulate the family with the 100 year existence of the plants and the newly ennoblement.
Stanislas had been ennobled baron.
For killing several hundreds of people!

I need more coffee!

I've just watched a somewhat older documentary called "Darwin's Nightmare".
This documentary focuses on the Nile perch, introduced into Lake Victoria in the '50's.
Shot mainly at Mwanza, Tanzania they are following and reporting on the fisheries, side industries and mainly the human conditions in this area on one side and on the results of the introduction of this fish on the other.
Although each "factory is said to create about a 1000 jobs, that hardly helps the area, so the documentary shows.
This perch is a predator, that has since it's been set out - only one bucket in the 50's - succesfullly conquered the lake and virtually caused the extinction of the native cichlids.
The Nile perch can grow to be about 180 cm ( 6 feet ) and as such is popular for sports fishing as well. It's quite understandable that sports fishing is not going to help Tanzania's economy, though.

Many people are trying to find a job either as a fisherman, either in the industry/fisheries.


Planes from the Ukraine and Europe, land and take back up to 500 ton a day.Meanwhile , the producers show the majority of the local people, suffering from famine or HIV and living in poor conditions, right before the "meeting" with th EU delegates, praising the quality of the industry.
A Ukrainian pilot testified he imports weapons and heavy artillery for Uganda or neighbouring countries.
Business must go on, of course and high profits are good, but higher profits are even better.
It's what some people refer to as shrewed and clever business men, but it sort of makes me sick. What even disgust me more and deeper is the hypocrisy, surrounding it all.
Like the radio show reporting that the UN claims Tanzania needs 17 million dollar to fight the famine.
In the shadow of the factories, women sell themselves, men work for a dollar a night (a night guard protecting western investment with his life ), kids are homeless, violent and addicted to glue, people are starving, or dying from aids and HIV, etc ...
Aside from this all, my oldest is dreaming of the iPod she'll soon purchase.
The contrast couldn't be bigger if I tried editing it.

Not quite.
ESM is the latest invention, and after a well orchestrated drama, soon to be ratified treaty.
ESM stands for European Stability Mechanism, and now you can start shivering, European and non- Europeans alike.
Woot, it already brings us together!

Anyway, what is it about?
It's all about commitment to ensuring the financial stability of the euro area.
Now where's the harm in that?
Personally, I'm not sure, but I do know I haven't found anything even referring to this treaty on any of the traditional parties' websites, nor have I heard or read a word in/on any of the traditional media.
Maybe, there's been a shift of meaning of the word tradition.

Fortunately, some people have been reading the treaty and published about it.
The document can be freely downloaded at The Consortium's page.
Note that this is the only version of the text, in English, a language spoken by 98.7% of the members.
Now tell me again that the EU doesn't have an eye for minorities!!

Now, I'd like to share what some have found a bit puzzling about this treaty, that is to be ratified before December 31^st.
They have been so kind as to make a video of it, so here's for our convenience: