Say No to the EU Death Penalty the Lisbon Treaty Allows Death Penalty and Killing of People by the State

September 2009 No 17 ISSN 1422-8831 Current Concerns PO Box CH-8044 Zurich Phone: +41 44 350 65 50 Fax: +41 44 350 65 51 E-Mail: [email protected] Current Concerns Website: www.currentconcerns.ch The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, AZB and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law 8044 Zurich English Edition of Zeit-Fragen

Say No to the EU Death Penalty The Lisbon Treaty Allows Death Penalty and Killing of People by the State. An interview with Professor Karl Albrecht Schachtschneider

Oliver Janich, “Focus-Money”: Professor Charter and under due consideration of the It is actually the normal case. If the Constitu- The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Schachtschneider, according to your lawsuit “explanations” listed in the Charter giving tional Court does not want to tackle an issue, European Union does not contain any prec- against the EU Treaty of Lisbon at the Bun- the sources of these provisions. it simply does not comment on it. edence or reservation of national fundamen- desverfassungsgericht (The German Federal tal rights or a principle of favorability with Constitutional Court), the treaty allows the Why so long-winded? Is this legally possible? respect to these rights. Those who claim this reintroduction of the death penalty and the Well, just to conceal this fact. The parliamen- Legally this is more than questionable, but it prove their ignorance of the Union legisla- killing of humanes. This sounds outrageous. tarians only get the text of the treaty which is being done. tion. What is the base of your argument? is difficult enough to understand and much Professor Karl Albrecht Schachtschneider: too long. According to the explanation, death penalty How is this possible? The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the can be introduced in case of war or danger of They argue with article 53 of the Charter of European Union, in its “explanations” and But is it now unambiguous that the killing of war. This is a very theoretical case. Fundamental Rights. But this article contains “negative definitions” accompanying the fun- people is allowed if the Treaty takes effect? Really? Are not we at war in Afghanistan? no such provision. It says: “Nothing in this damental rights, allows a reintroduction of Yes, the Charter of Fundamental Rights was Who is defining war? What is danger of war? Charter shall be interpreted as restricting or the death penalty in case of war or imminent declared in Nice in 2000. But since it was not What about the Yugoslavia war? adversely affecting human rights and funda- war, but also the killing of humans to sup- ratified by all countries, it was not binding mental freedoms as recognized, in their re- press insurgency or riot. This is in contradic- under international law. If the Treaty takes But is not it normal that deserters are execut- spective fields of application, by Union law tion to the abolishment of the death penalty effect, the Charter will become binding as ed in war or in times of war? and international law and by international in Germany (Article 102 of the German Con- well. Yes, in dictatorships. agreements to which the Union, the Commu- stitution), in Austria and elsewhere which re- nity or all the Member States are party, insults from the principle of dignity. But this clause is only part of the explana- It is even more frightening that in case of including the European Convention for the Pro- tions… surgency or riot, killings are possible with- tection of Human Rights and Fundamental But does not the Charter prohibit capital They are binding under article 52 clause 3 out law and without any approval by a judge. Freedoms, and by the Member States’ con- punishment? and 7 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Who is defining this? stitutions.” The crucial part is the clause “in The relevant text for this is not article 2, You can read the corresponding explanation Exactly. I think that Monday demonstrations their respective fields of application”. It means clause 2 of the Charter which prohibits con- of the comment in the Official Journal of the in Leipzig [which led to the overthrow of the that the EU fundamental rights are decisive if demning people to death or executing them, European Union. There is no room for diver- communist Regime in East Germany in 1989] the Union’s law is applicable and the nation- but the explanation of this article which was gent interpretations. And: why should it be can be defined as riot, like virtually any non- al fundamental rights are decisive if national incorporated into the treaty, originating from written there if it is not meant to be there? authorized demonstration. Or take the tur- law is applicable. There is no case when both the European Convention Human Rights of moil in Greece or the demonstrations recent- fundamental rights texts are decisive. 1950. But has not the German Constitutional Court ly in Cologne and Hamburg. All you need is a According to article 6, clause 3 of the rejected your interpretation by acknowledg- few punks [“Autonome”] throwing stones. But could not the European Court of Justice EU Treaty in the Lisbon Version, the rights, ing the Lisbon Treaty? declare that national law has precedence in freedoms and principles of the charter are Not at all. It has not commented on this ques- There are politicians and jurists who argue this case? interpreted according to the general provi- tion. that the fundamental rights of a country can sions of chapter VII of the Charter which de- only be improved by the EU treaty, but not fines the interpretation and application of this Is that the usual procedure? reduced. continued on page 2

The EU’s Satanic Plans: The Return of Death Penalty

The European Union has decided to re- mentary on the EU Charter of Fundamen- Democrats, Social Democratis, the Liberal introduce the death penalty for insur- tal Rights, which would come into force and Green parties, for relinquishing Ger- gents. Does this seem unbelievable to with the Lisbon Treaty. It seems that no man sovereignty in favour of the EU and you? Have you heard nothing of it in the one has taken notice of this particular the Lisbon Treaty and its provisions for re- press? Then you better sit down first and passage, since Article 2 of the new Fun- introducing the death sentence for insur- take a deep breath. damental Rights Charter also states: gents. During the debate, Chancellor An- All of the members states of the Eu- “No one shall be condemned to the gela Merkel (CDU) praised the EU reform ropean Union have abolished the death death penalty, or executed.” That seemed treaty as a “great project”. penalty. The worst punishment that the explicit – only the small print includes Once the Lisbon Treaty comes into head of an insurgent has to face at this these exceptions. force, the EU government will become time is a jail sentence. However, the Lis- The small print to the Treaty of Lisbon transformed into a powerful central gov- bon Treaty now allows the death penalty reads as follows: ernment – like the former Soviet Union. as punishment for insurgents. Against the “(2) Deprivation of life shall not be re- Individual republics will then become background of the financial crisis the Eu- garded as inflicted in contravention of meaningless and be forced to serve the ropean Union is expecting major revolts this article when it results from the use well-being of the EU empire instead of its in many of the member countries – and is of force which is no more than absolute- own interests. The Irish, who in contrast therefore pushing for the Lisbon Treaty ly necessary: to Germany were able to vote in a ref- to come into force as soon as possible. (a) in defence of any person from unlaw- erendum on the EU reform and on Ire- As a result of the Irish vote against the ful violence; land’s sovereignty, rejected the Treaty in Lisbon Treaty in June of 2008 its enforce- (b) in order to effect a lawful arrest or June 2008, particularly also because of its ment was initially blocked. The Treaty to prevent excape of a person lawful- implications of reintroducing the death seeks to extensively broaden the powers ly detained; penalty. In the autumn of 2009 Ireland sels to buy votes: Bishops preaching in held by the 27 EU commissioners, to es- (c) in action lawfully taken for the pur- will have to vote on the Treaty a second favour of relinquishing Irish sovereingty tablish the office of a powerful EU presi- pose of quelling a riot or insurrection. time. to the Treaty of Lisbon in their churches dent – which would practically transform The above was quoted in the official Eu- In order for everything to function should receive money from EU sources. At the national laws of member states into ropean Union’s newsletter of 14 Decem- smoothly, on 18 March the 27 EU com- the fore of all of this stood the EU parlia- historical relicts – and in some cases allow ber 2007. In effect, the abolishment of missioners in Brussels secretely agreed ment which even proclaimed that it want- for capital punishment. In this context, the death penalty is immediately relativ- to carry out a coup. This entailed break- ed to see the Irish ‘No’ corrected as soon once the EU reform treaty comes into ised and annuled by the small print in the ing Irish law on several points. Before the as possible, and that to this end Irish Bish- force, the death penalty would be explic- commentary. vote and despite the current Irish law ops should even be put under immediate itly allowed, whenever necessary, for the In the case that the capital punishment prohibiting political advertising, the EU pressure. Many EU commissioners appar- purpose of “[lawfully] quelling a riot or becomes necessary according to para- carried out a political advertising cam- ently considered this move too drastic insurrection.” The death penalty can also graph c) to “quell a riot or insurrection” paign through the state media to influ- – and agreed to secretely buy votes in- be sentenced in the EU in the future for then the death sentence willl be possible ence the people’s vote toward favouring stead. deeds “committed in time of war or on in the EU in the future – despite its official the Lisbon Treaty. This was financed by immediate danger of war.” All this was prohibition. Did you know that? In April the EU citizen’s taxes. In order to ensure Source: Udo Ulfkotte, Vorsicht Bürgerkrieg! published in small print in the the Euro- 2008 the German Bundestag voted with that the Irish vote go ‘right’ this time, the p. 361–363, ISBN 978-3-938516-94-2 pean Union’s official newsletter’s com- a 2/3 majority comprising of Christian 27 EU states decided on 18 March in Brus- (Translation Current Concerns) Page 2 Current Concerns No 17 September 2009 Reintroduction of Death Penalty Possible Due to Lisbon Treaty Europe’s citizens demand wide discussion by Dr Titine Kriesi, Switzerland Following a ruling of the Federal Constitu- the treaty for themselves. Ireland’s Prime Min- other things, its neutrality. In response to the numerous member states of the European tion Court of Karlsruhe, democracy in gen- ister, Brian Cowen, is said to have bragged on Irish misgivings, Brussels answered in sheer Council the possibility of the death penalty. eral, states under the rule of law and welfare television about not having read the treaty.1 Is contradiction of the truth that the treaty had Germany had only just abolished the death states remain at the mercy of the Brussels the treaty hushed up because they know exact- never foreseen any restriction on neutrality.8 penalty in 1949, but France, Great Britain and dictate. The supranationality of the EU is ly that the nations would reject it if they knew Any doubts were said to have been “abat- many other states still had it. And a declara- hardly debilitated. Not much change can be how many citizen rights it deprives them of? ed once and for all”9 thanks to the “warran- tion of human rights would never have been expected in terms of depriving national states ties” granted by the EU especially for Ireland. reached had there been a general demand to of their power and nations of their rights. Yet No law of citizen rights and freedom “The Lisbon treaty does not affect in any way abolish the death penalty.”12 only nations have the legitimate right to ex- Nicolas Sarkozy seems to be aware of this in Ireland’s traditional politics of military neu- This explanation dating back to 1950 was ercise legal power. Large or small scale pol- saying that if there were a referendum on the trality. [Neither is the Treaty said to pose any reintroduced deliberately in December 2007 itics requires a plebiscite free from manipu- Lisbon Treaty, in every country where such basis] for creating European armed forces or as a binding explanation to the Charter of lation. The Lisbon Treaty is a decision from a referendum would take place, it would be compulsory military service for any military Fundamental Rights. It was not an accident. the “top”, and not based on the knowledge of lost. Sarkozy added: “There is a cleavage formation.”10 We should be able to read and understand this free people of their rights. So called “guar- between people and governments. A refer- Yet in the Lisbon Treaty it says that the explanation, says Schachtschneider.13 antees” and “side laws” do not help get over endum now would bring [our] Europe into member states of the Union (Par. 42, subpar. this fact. Similarly, the possibility of reintro- danger.”2 Similarly the conservative British 3 2 TEU) not only commit themselves to “im- Death penalty in times of war ducing death penalty on the basis of the Lis- Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague: prove step by step their military abilities”, i.e. and perils of war and ... bon Treaty requires objective discussion and “Opinion polls carried out in 16 EU member to arm, but the treaty assumes in Art. 43 Par. l The fact that, besides the duty of the member a plebiscite. Whoever wants to build a Euro- states show that almost all persons entitled TEU a right to wage war (ius ad bellum). And states to arm, it says in a comment on a foot- pean Europe can still leave the Union (Art. a to vote would have rejected the Lisbon Trea- particularly so with the end of fighting glo- note that the death penalty will be feasible (50) EUC in order to force a treaty that is in ty, had they had a chance to go to the polls.”3 bal terrorism, including in one’s own country. again – and not just in times of war and per- the interest of nations and citizens and that The Irish EU commissioner for the home Thus the explicit ban on wars of aggression ils of war (Germany and Austria are at war), takes the freedom of citizens and peoples into market, Charley McCreevy even thinks all is played down (art. 26 par. l GG), i.e. wars but also in times of insurrection and upheav- serious consideration. political leaders are aware of the fact “that in of aggression are tolerated even though they al, is a blatant scandal. case of a referendum 95% of the population contravene the German Constitution (com- Brussels says: „Nothing in the EU Treaty Ireland is the only one out of 27 EU states of their respective countries would probably mitment to peace). Are we in for more wars of Lisbon (…) affects in any way the need for that allows its citizens to vote on constitution- have said no as well.”4 “We [in Ireland] do it because of the Lisbon treaty? The nations do protecting the right to live (…) as foreseen in al issues. On 2nd October the Irish people will by referendum. That’s democracy.”5 Howev- not want that. the Irish Constitution.”14 be asked a second time to go to the polls for er referendums do not take place in 26 EU Yet in the Lisbon Treaty it says: Contrary that same treaty, because those in power in states, including the UK, where “in breach Evidence of EU collusion to the right to live (Art. II-62 VV) the death the EU did not like the ‘No’ with which the of an election manifesto promise, the Labour and confusion tactic penalty, killing and execution in the event of treaty was rejected in a clear and well-found- government has denied British voters any say True, in the Treaty on the EU it says: “No war or imminent threat of war in accordance ed fashion back in 2008. The remaining al- on the Lisbon Treaty at all, either in a refer- person shall be sentenced to death, nobody with the detailed provisions of the EU Char- most 500 million EU citizens will not even endum or at a general election.”6 In fact, no should be executed.” (Art. 11-62 VV) But this ter of Fundamental Rights is to be introduced be asked! This starkly contradicts the ideal discussion whatsoever, or at least no honest is not the whole truth. For the Lisbon treaty by Council decisions on the general rules of of democracy where, as the Greek suggests, discussion is taking place on part of the gov- also states that any explanations on the Char- missions (Article 43 paragraph 2 P. l TEU. 43 it is the people that hold sway over the land, ernment in any of the 27 EU member states. ter of Fundamental Rights (ECHR) of the Eu- Abs. 2 S. l EUV).15 In the explanation on Fun- and not the governments. How sheep-like are millions of people con- ropean Union which have been adopted from damental Rights it says: “A state may forsee sidered by them? In the case of treaties of the European Convention for the Protection the death penalty in its rule of law for deeds Citizens not treated as citizens, such far-reaching consequences as the one in of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms that are committed in times of war or immi- but as immature beings question, citizens surely expect politicians to “have the same liability as the basic text it- nent threat of war. This penalty may only be Which government has honestly informed its enter into honest dialogue. Since this is not self”11 (ECHR). What does this mean? applied in those cases which are foreseen in people of the contents of this treaty so that happening, everybody is asking rightfully: Evidently the plain truth is only seen in the the rule of law and are in accordance with its each citizen can form his or her own opio- “How good can a treaty be if, after months explanations given on the Charter of Funda- regulations.”16 In other words, the death pen- nion? If anyone today does not know which of national debate, its merits cannot be com- mental Rights, and not in the Charter itself, alty is possible in times of war or imminent fatal consequences, including long-term re- prehensibly explained?”7 claims Professor of law K. A. Schachtschnei- threat of war, without there remaining any pro- strictions of citizen rights, the treaty entails, der: “The Charter of Fundamental Rights is tection by Fundamental Rights. It is true that it is not because he or she does not understand Duty to arm and fight terrorism based, at least as far as classical fundamental the death penalty is not listed in any law as yet, it. The reason is rather that party deputies just The Irish government has expressed doubts rights are concerned, on the ECHR of 1950. follow their party heads without having read about the Lisbon Treaty concerning, among At that time it seemed inevitable to leave the continued on page 3

“Say No to the EU Death Penalty …” What kind of resistance do you mean? continued from page 1 For example demonstrations and all forms of Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights public dissent, the way of Gandhi. – Right to life This is something that the ECJ has never done. It always holds itself authorized. Be- …which then can be interpreted as a riot. 1. Everyone has the right to life. sides, the prohibition of death penalty is no This sounds like a dictatorship. 2. No one shall be condemned to the death penalty, or executed. fundamental right. Hence, the argument that The word dictatorship is technically not cor- Source: Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, 14 December 2007, Official the fundamental rights can never be reduced rect. Since the Roman Republic, dictatorship Journal C 303/1 does not apply here. is defined as a fixed-term emergency constitution. I would rather speak of despotism which Explanation on Article 2 – Right to life Another argument from the vicinity of the can degenerate into tyranny. By the way: if 1. Paragraph 1 of this Article is based on the first sentence of Article 2(1) of the EU commission is that the article is there to in October the Irish approve of the Treaty of ECHR, which reads as follows: allow the admission of states like Turkey. Lisbon, the abolishment of the death penalty ‘1. Everyone‘s right to life shall be protected by law (…)’. But this is ridiculous. As a community, we is eliminated. • have to say that we do not admit countries Source: Focus-Money 35/2009, 19 August 2009 2. The second sentence of the provision, which referred to the death penalty, was where people are killed, not vice versa. superseded by the entry into force of Article 1 of Protocol No 6 to the ECHR, which reads as follows: Do the politicians know what they decide ‘The death penalty shall be abolished. No-one shall be condemned to such penal- on? Article 52 of the Charter of ty or executed.’ Maybe not all of them. But definitely the Article 2(2) of the Charter is based on that provision. CDU/CSU faction. I have distributed a five Fundamental Rights page summary of my lawsuit, so that the par- Scope and interpretation of 3. The provisions of Article 2 of the Charter correspond to those of the above Arti- liamentarians do not have to read too much. rights and principles cles of the ECHR and its Protocol. They have the same meaning and the same scope, But the topic should also be known within in accordance with Article 52(3) of the Charter. Therefore, the ‘negative’ definitions the SPD because one of its parliamentarians, (...) appearing in the ECHR must be regarded as also forming part of the Charter: Professor Meyer, has tried to stop the ruling 3. In so far as this Charter contains (a) Article 2(2) of the ECHR: in Nice. rights which correspond to rights guar- ‘Deprivation of life shall not be regarded as inflicted in contravention of this ar- anteed by the Convention for the Pro- ticle when it results from the use of force which is no more than absolutely nec- Can you imagine one reason why anything tection of Human Rights and Funda- essary: like this is passed? mental Freedoms, the meaning and (a) in defence of any person from unlawful violence; Obviously, the governments expect riots. scope of those rights shall be the same (b) in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawful- Skepticism towards the governments and the as those laid down by the said Conven- ly detained; EU apparatus is growing and growing. The tion. This provision shall not prevent (c) in action lawfully taken for the purpose of quelling a riot or insurrection.’ financial and economic crisis increases the Union law providing more extensive pressure on the population. protection. (b) Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the ECHR: (...) ‘A State may make provision in its law for the death penalty in respect of acts So they want to be allowed to shoot them? 7. The explanations drawn up as a way committed in time of war or of imminent threat of war; such penalty shall be ap- This is what it looks like. of providing guidance in the interpre- plied only in the instances laid down in the law and in accordance with its provi- tation of this Charter shall be given sions (…)’. What can we do against it? due regard by the courts of the Union I think that the EU Treaty permits resistance, and of the Member States. Source: Explanations relating to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, (2007/C 303/02) because it undermines democracy. September 2009 No 17 Current Concerns Page 3 Brave New EU: Hospitals and Schools are Closed Down in Latvia by Dieter Sprock, Switzerland Under the spell of the attacks against Swit- than a half and the biggest Latvian bank, the second quarter of 2009 and the correspond- Due to the budget shortening combined zerland – this time orchestrated around the Parexbank, could only be saved from collapse ing decrease in tax incomes, the IMF and EU with almost halved wages and the skyrocket- banking secrecy and fiscal issues – the dis- through nationalisation. That again forced have meanwhile increased the permitted def- ing unemployment, many people cannot af- cussion about an EU membership of Swit- Latvia’s national debt to such height that a na- icit limit to 8 %, but on the other hand they ford their medicines any more. Many people zerland received fresh impetus. Even in the tional bankruptcy could be only prevented by have basically put the country’s public sector leave the hospital too early against the doc- Bundeshaus (seat of the Swiss government in a “rescue package” of the International Mone- under their administration”, writes “Die Tag- tor’s orders, because they cannot afford to pay Berne) some parliamentarians seem to have tary Fund IMF. Today Latvia is facing ruin. eszeitung” in its foreign column on 14th Au- the percentage excess. Today, the percentage wondered out loud about an Anschluss of gust. The government is no longer allowed to excess amounts to 18 Euros a day, but is to be Switzerland, arguing that the attacks would Latvia’s public sector under IMF make decisions having effects on the national raised to 50 Euros. “Since July all heart and perhaps have been less violent if Switzerland and EU administration budget, without consulting the IMF and get- vascular operations have been delayed unless were a member of the European Union. How- The credit of 7.5 billion Euro, one third of ting its permission. In order to comply with they are mandatory due to a life threatening ever, these parliamentarians forget that the the GDP, was linked to the condition that the conditions, schools and hospitals will now state of the patient’s health. All knee and hip attacks are supposed to prepare Switzerland the deficit of the Latvian national budget be closed and thousands of teachers and em- operations are delayed alike – unless one can for a takeover, since “big brother” in Brus- should not pass the limit of 5 %. When the ployees in the health care will be dismissed. pay the 10,000 Euros out of one’s own pock- sels does no longer want to tolerate the only government in Riga did not reach this aim, 32 of altogether 56 hospitals are to be closed. et.” The state allows every hospital a certain free country in Europe, which is socially and the IMF blocked the payment of one credit Until the end of the month, all 570 employees quota of operations per month. If this quota economically better off than the EU’s vas- tranche amounting 200 million Euros. “Fac- of Riga’s largest hospital, Rgas Pirma Slim- is run out, no further operations are to be sals. They also forget what happened to other ing a decrease of the economic performance nca, will be given notice, since the hospital is carried out. A wholesaler for pharmaceuti- small countries which submitted to the Brus- by 18 % in the first and even 19.6 % in the going to be closed by the end of the year. cals threatened some hospitals with a deliv- sel’s headquarters. Latvia, which – only at ery block, since their debts have meanwhile the beginning of last year – was hotly tipped amounted to 6 million Euros. According to as a model country for the advantages of the a study of the physicians’ magazine Latvijas EU membership, could serve as an example. rsts, 20 to 30 doctors leave the country each month. They are welcomed in Europe with After Latvia’s EU membership five years ago, open arms. The editor in chief of the maga- foreign investors sensed new sales markets zine reminds of the fact that the medical com- and pumped money into the country, partic- petence and future of the Latvian health serv- ularly into the building and real estate indus- ices are seriously endangered. Gunta Ana of try. The huge amounts of money boosted the the Latvian umbrella association of the pa- consumption and forced up wages and pric- tient organizations Sustento says: “Latvia ob- es. Especially Scandinavian banks served the viously does not mean much for Europe. We new purchasing power and offered credits at are left alone and can not even determine our low interest rates. Many Latvians seized the affairs autonomously. We wrote to the Euro- opportunity and bought a dwelling on tick. pean Union and described our desperate situ- Farmers extended their stables and yards with ation, but we only received meaningless an- the most modern technology using cheap swers.” credits into the millions. The thoughtless granting of credits by the banks promoted *** real estate sales on speculation, thus bestow- Switzerland does well to maintain its inde- ing big investors at home and abroad fat prof- pendence instead of thoughtlessly submitting its and forced housing prices up. itself to Brussels’ dictate. Even if we must When the economic crisis arrived, many Unemployed people in front of the job centre. Due to the budget shortening combined with almost tighten our belts – and that will certainly be Latvians were not able to repay their credits halved wages and the skyrocketing unemployment, many people cannot afford their medicines any the case – it is nevertheless better to decide any more. The real estate prices sank by more more. (picture reuters) our affairs independently.

5 “Reintroduction of Death Penalty …” event, will be responsible for measuring the Charly McCtreevy, Irish Independent, 29 June gebremsten Kapitalismus. Zeit-Fragen Nr. 14/15 2009. vom 6.4.2009. continued from page 2 extent of violence? 6 William Hague, Irish Times, 26 July 2008. 16 Karl Albrecht Schachtschneider: Europa nicht als 7 Irish Times, 26 July 2008. Grossstaat, sondern als “Republik der Republiken” Citizen right to live not secured 8 at least in Germany. But if the EU issues de- Focus Online, 16.6.09, Erklärung zum EU-Reform- organisieren. BüSo, Juni 2005, S. 5. Since in the Lisbon Treaty the death penal- vertrag soll Weg für zweites Referendum ebnen, p. l. tailed rules for missions (Article 43 paragraph 17 Cf. ibid. 2 P. l TEU) i.e. if it takes military action (war) ty is again permitted under certain circum- 9 Ibid. 10 18 K. A. Schachtschneider: Argumente gegen die as a reaction to some crisis and issues legal stances, the right to live is not secured. This Ibid. 11 Ibid. Zustimmung zum Vertrag über eine Verfas- regulations for such an event of war which fa- is a crime, all the more so because this is just 12 Ibid. sung für Europa, Kurzfassung, S. 3 f. cilitate the death penalty, then any contradict- mentioned in the footnote of a footnote and 13 Cf. Ibid. 19 Cf. ibid. 14 ing fundamental right in the EU Constitution can thus be reintroduced through the back- Focus Online, 16.6.2009, Erklärung zum EU-Re- 20 What Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen should now or any national set of fundamental rights will door. Which politician has explained this formvertrag soll Weg für zweites Referendum do on Lisbon. In: Point 12, p. 4/PANA Peace and ebnen, p. l. be to no avail. But, as stated before, the actual clearly to his or her voters? 15 Neutrality Alliance by Anthony Coughlan, 25 Sep- Prof. Dr. iur. Karl Albrecht Schachtschneider: Der tember 2008. explanation on the Fundamental Rights would The Irish Senior Lecturer Emeritus in So- Vertrag von Lissabon ist ein Grundgesetz des un- apply, and not the Right itself!17 cial Policy, Anthony Coughlan expresses his outrage at the reintroduction of the death ... Death penalty in times of riot and in- penalty in the the Lisbon Treaty, too, saying surrection that “most people in Ireland and Britain have EFTA as an Alternative In the notes on explanations it states: “3. a) never heard of it.” 20 (!) Art. 2 para 2 of the ECHR: A killing is not Both the German Constitution (Art. 102 to the EU-Reform Treaty considered a violation of this article when it GG) and the principle of human dignity of by Dr Titine Kriesi, Switzerland results from the use of force which has been the UN Human Rights Charter command the absolutely necessary to a) protect any person abolition of the death penalty. The peoples The European Free Trade Association The EFTA never aimed at establishing from unlawful violence; b) lawfully arrest or of Europe have fought hard for this principle EFTA was founded in the 1960s in order a common market. It only regulated the prevent the escape of someone who is lawful- after the two horrible world wars in which 55 to achieve economic growth, full employ- free trade on a commercial basis under just ly deprived of liberty, or c) to lawfully fight a million people were slaughtered and which ment, an increase in productivity, financial competitive conditions. The member states riot or insurrection.”18 So even in case of re- paralized the countries involved for decades. stability and a constant improvement of liv- excluded agrarian products as a common volt or rebellion the death penalty would be Reintroducing the death penalty would mean ing standards by abolishing trade restric- market for agricultural products would have possible if it accurately reflects the explana- a step backward, falling behind the Enlight- tions among the member states. contradicted the basic structure of a loose tion. And because it is a European act of law enment principle of “freedom, equality and Today there are four member states re- association and restricted the free range of it cannot be measured against either the Irish, fraternity”, the Human Rights Declaration of maining, among them Switzerland, Nor- activity for the individual states. German or any other national constitution, 1948, any right to justice and the hard-fought- weiga, Iceland and the Principality of The EFTA states acknowledged the prin- even if it states that the death penalty has for freedom of our nations. Liechtenstein; the others have joined the ciple of self-supply as a national task and is been abolished. Since European law over- The EU would do well to cooperate with EU. a credible and proven alternative to the EU. rules national law, the death penatly would its citizens in a mutual effort to fashion our The EFTA never aimed at becoming a Through their establishment of a free trade be possible.19 Well, somebody will ask: Who society reasonably and to aim at living and political body and was strictly against the zone in Europe, the EFTA countries could defines what is an insurrection or a riot? The working together in dignity and equality principle of supranationalty. This com- maintain their own political interests und EU is entitled to interpret ad libitum what based on human standards. Anything else is pared to today’s EU, which is an undem- were able to resist any political centralism. and how it deems. Could this apply to sit- mere striving for power which the peoples of ocratic centralistic colossus. Without giv- This was of special importance for coun- uations as we used to have in Leipzig (the Europe do not want. ing up their state sovereignty, the EFTA tries like Switzerland as it served the se- Monday demonstrations) or riots like we had 1 Cf. Eberhard Bort, Mit ihrem Nein stürzen die member states agreed on a gradual reduc- curity of self-supply and helped to support recently in Latvia etc.? I.e. demonstrations Iren die EU in eine tiefe Krise. In: News aus Ir- tion of customs duties on industrial prod- traditional small-scale agricultural units accompanied by violence which could be in- land. Deutsch-Irischer Freundeskreis, 14.6.2008; ucts. Since 1994, the EFTA has with great which is so typical for this country. terpreted as insurrection? Or when people Premier Brian Cowen, Spiegel online, 19.6.2009, p. success established free trade agreements Moreover, it added a humane dimension: gather because they do not agree with some- l. with countries of the former Eastern Bloc, the active self-help, self-determination, and 2 Nicolas Sarkozy, November 2007. In: Euro-med, thing and then some “black bloc” is smug- March 7, 2008. with Israel, the Palestinian National Au- the right to decide on the countries’ own gled in from somewhere? Will Brussels in- 3 William Hague, Irish Times, July 26, 2008. thority. Moreover, there are cooperation food supplies. This is another reason why terpret the social disturbances expected even 4 Propagandaschock, Nein zur EU-Diktatur, agreements with Albania, Egypt and Mac- the EFTA is a viable and genuine alterna- by Germany on the grounds of the economic 2.7.2009. edonia. tive to the EU. crisis as upheavels or riots? And who, in that Page 4 Current Concerns No 17 September 2009 “We Will Overcome the Crisis, Backwardness and Corruption” A Speech from the Russian President Dmitri Medwedew, 10 September 2009 cc. On 10 September the Russian President but that is not the worst part. The trouble is that by someone else, but never by the person who is ment, sophisticated diagnostic tools, medicines Dmitri Medwedew addressed the Russian people it seems that owners, directors, chief engineers actually there. The desire to make a career from for the treatment of viral, cardiovascular, and with a detailed message via Internet. It provides and officials are not very worried about this. scratch, to achieve personal success step by step neurological diseases and cancer. the reader with an extremely differentiated As a result Russia’s influence in global eco- is not one of our national habits. This is reflect- insight in Russia’s problems today, which are nomic processes is, quite frankly, not as great as ed in a lack of initiative, lack of new ideas, out- Five strategies for success often skewed in Western media. Moreover, the we would like. Of course, in the era of globali- standing unresolved issues, the poor quality of in high-tech spheres message shows how Russia tries to deal with its sation the influence of any country cannot be public debate, including criticism. Public ac- As we follow these five strategies for success in problems. As the text is of great interest for the unlimited. That would even be harmful. But our ceptance and support is usually expressed in high-tech spheres, we will also pay constant at- other countries in the world, we publish it here. country must have substantial opportunities, as silence. Objections are very often emotional, tention to the development of our most impor- befits Russia’s historic role. scathing, but superficial and irresponsible. Well, tant traditional industries and, first of all, the In a few months Russia will enter a new decade As a whole democratic institutions have been this is not the first century that Russia has had to agro-industrial complex. One in three of us live of the twenty-first century. Of course, important established and stabilised, but their quality re- confront these phenomena. in rural areas. The availability of modern social junctures and significant dates are more sym- mains far from ideal. Civil society is weak, the People tell us that we cannot completely services for rural residents, increasing their in- bolic than practical. But they give us a reason levels of self-organisation and self-government cure chronic social diseases. Those traditions comes, improving their working conditions and to reflect on the past, evaluate the present, and are low. are steadfast, and history tends to repeat itself. daily life will always remain our priority. think about the future. Think about what awaits Every year there are fewer and fewer Rus- But at one point serfdom and rampant illiteracy Of course Russia will be well-armed. Well each of us, our children, our country. sians. Alcoholism, smoking, traffic accidents, seemed insurmountable. However, we overcame enough so that it does not occur to anyone to First, let’s answer a simple but very serious the lack of availability of many medical tech- them all the same. threaten us or our allies. question. Should a primitive economy based on nologies, and environmental problems take mil- Of course traditions have a considerable in- These goals are realistic. The targets we have raw materials and endemic corruption accom- lions of lives. And the emerging rise in births fluence. But they nevertheless fit in with each set for achieving them are difficult but attaina- pany us into the future? And should the invet- has not compensated for our declining popula- new era and undergo changes. Some simply dis- ble. We have already developed detailed, step- erate habit of relying on the government, for- tion. appear, and not all of them are useful. For me, by-step plans to move forward in these areas. eign countries, on some kind of comprehensive only unquestionable values which must be pre- We will encourage and promote scientific and doctrine, on anything or anyone – as long as it’s Managed to gather the country together served may be regarded as traditions. They in- technological creativity. First and foremost, we not ourselves – to solve our problems do so as to stop centrifugal tendencies clude interethnic and interfaith peace, military will support young scientists and inventors. Sec- well? And if Russia can not relieve itself from We managed to gather the country together to valour, faithfulness to one’s duty, hospitality ondary and higher education will prepare a suf- these burdens, can it really find its own path for stop centrifugal tendencies. But many problems and the kindness inherent in our people. Brib- ficient number of specialists for promising in- the future? still remain, including the most acute ones. Ter- ery, theft, intellectual and spiritual laziness, and dustries. Academic institutions will concentrate Next year we will celebrate the sixty-fifth an- rorist attacks on Russia are continuing. Resi- drunkenness, on the other hand, are vices that major efforts on the implementation of break- niversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. dents of the republics in the North Caucasus offend our traditions. We should get rid of them through projects. Legislators will take all deci- This anniversary reminds us that our present day simply do not know peace. Military and law en- by using the strongest terms. sions to ensure comprehensive support for the is the future of the heroes who won our free- forcement personnel are dying, as are govern- spirit of innovation in all spheres of public life, dom. And that the people who vanquished a ment and municipal employees, and civilians. Of course today’s Russia creating a market place for ideas, inventions, cruel and very strong enemy back in those days Of course these crimes are committed with the will not repeat its past discoveries, and new technologies. Public and must today overcome corruption and backward- support of international criminal groups. But Of course today’s Russia will not repeat its past. private companies will receive full support in all ness. To make our country both modern and vi- let’s face up to it, the situation would not be so Our time is truly new. And not just because it is endeavours that create a demand for innovative able. critical if the socio-economic development of moving forward, as time does, but also because products. Foreign companies and research or- Southern Russia were more viable. it opens up before our country and each one of ganisations will be offered the most favourable Have received a huge inheritance To sum up, an inefficient economy, semi- us tremendous opportunities. Opportunities of conditions for establishing research and design As the contemporary generation of Russian Soviet social sphere, fragile democracy, nega- which there was no trace twenty, thirty, or much centres in Russia. We will hire the best scientists people, we have received a huge inheritance. tive demographic trends, and unstable Caucasus less a hundred or three hundred years ago. and engineers from around the world. Most im- Gains that were well-deserved, hard-fought represent very big problems, even for a country The impressive legacy of the two greatest portantly, we will explain to our young people and hard-earned by the persistent efforts of our such as Russia. modernisations in our country’s history – that that the most important competitive advantage is predecessors. Sometimes the cost of hardships Of course we do not need to exaggerate. of Peter the Great (imperial) and the Soviet knowledge that others do not have, intellectual really was terrible casualties. We have a huge Much is being done, Russia is working. It is not one – unleashed ruin, humiliation and resulted superiority, the ability to create things that peo- territory, large amounts of natural resources, a half-paralyzed, half-functioning country as it in the deaths of millions of our countrymen. It ple need. As Pushkin wrote: “There is a high- solid industrial potential, an impressive list of was ten years ago. All social systems are oper- is not for us to judge our predecessors. But we er courage: the courage of invention, creation, outstanding achievements in science, technolo- ating. But this is still not enough. After all, such must recognize that the preservation of human where an extensive plan is overwhelmed by the gy, education and art, a glorious history regard- systems only propagate the current model, and life was not, euphemistically speaking, a gov- creative idea.” Inventors, innovators, research- ing our army, navy, and nuclear weapons. By do not develop it. They cannot change current ernment priority in those years. Unfortunately, ers, teachers, entrepreneurs who introduce new using its authority Russian power has played a ways of life and therefore bad habits remain. this is a fact. Today is the first time in our his- technologies, will become the most respected significant – and in some periods determinate Achieving leadership by relying on oil and tory that we have a chance to prove to ourselves people in society. In turn, society will give them – role in events of historic proportions. gas markets is impossible. We must understand and the world that Russia can develop in a dem- everything they need to be productive. How should we manage that legacy? How and appreciate the complexity of our problems. ocratic way. That a transition to the next, higher to magnify it? What will the future of Russia We must frankly discuss them in order to act. stage of civilization is possible. And this will be Part of a culture based be for my son, for the children and grandchil- In the end, commodity exchanges must not de- accomplished through non-violent methods. Not on humanistic values dren of my fellow citizens? What will be Rus- termine Russia’s fate; our own ideas about our- by coercion, but by persuasion. Not through sup- Of course an innovative economy cannot be sia’s place, and hence the place of our descend- selves, our history and future must do so. Our pression, but rather the development of the cre- established immediately. It is part of a culture ants, heirs, and future generations, among other intellect, honest self-assessment, strength, digni- ative potential of every individual. Not through based on humanistic values. It is grounded in nations in the global labour market, in the sys- ty and enterprise must be the decisive factors. intimidation, but through interest. Not through our efforts to transform the world and guar- tem of international relations, in global culture? confrontation, but by harmonising the interests antee a better quality of life, liberate individ- What must we do to steadily improve the qual- Five priorities of the individual, society and government. uals from poverty, disease, fear and injustice. ity of life of Russian citizens today and in the My starting point while setting out five priori- Talented people who want reform, people who future? To allow our society to become richer, ties for technological development, offering spe- A chance to build a new, free, can create new and better things will not come freer, more humane and more attractive? So that cific measures for the modernisation of the po- prosperous and strong Russia here from another planet. They are already here Russian society can give to those who desire it litical system, as well as measures to strengthen We really live in a unique time. We have a among us. And that is clearly proven by the re- a better education, an interesting job, a good in- the judiciary and fight corruption, is my views chance to build a new, free, prosperous and sults of international intellectual competitions, come, and comfortable environment for both on Russia’s future. And for the sake of our fu- strong Russia. As President I am obliged to do the fact that inventions made in Russia are pat- personal life and creative activity? ture it is necessary to liberate our country from everything in my power to make sure that we ented abroad, and the fact that our best special- I have answers to these questions. And be- persistent social ills that inhibit its creative en- fully take advantage of this opportunity. ists are headhunted by the world’s largest com- fore I turn to them, I would like to assess the ergy and restrict our common progress. These In the coming decades Russia should be- panies and universities. We – the government, current situation. ills include: come a country whose prosperity is ensured not society and the family unit – must learn to find, 1. Centuries of economic backwardness and so much thanks to commodities but by intellec- nurture, educate and take care of such people. Far from being in the best state the habit of relying on the export of raw ma- tual resources: the so-called intelligent econo- The global economic crisis has shown that terials, actually exchanging them for finished my, creating unique knowledge, exporting new Inextricably linked our affairs are far from being in the best state. products. Peter the Great, the last tsars and the technologies and innovative products. with the progress of political systems Twenty years of tumultuous change has not Bolsheviks all created – and not unsuccessful- I recently identified five strategic vectors for I also think that technological development is spared our country from its humiliating de- ly – elements of an innovative system. But the the economic modernisation of our country. First, a priority public and political task because sci- pendence on raw materials. Our current econ- price of their successes was too high. As a rule, we will become a leading country measured by entific and technological progress is inextrica- omy still reflects the major flaw of the Sovi- it was done by making extreme efforts, by using the efficiency of production, transportation and bly linked with the progress of political sys- et system: it largely ignores individual needs. all the levers of a totalitarian state machine. use of energy. We will develop new fuels for use tems. Experts believe that democracy originated With a few exceptions domestic business does 2. Centuries of corruption have debilitated on domestic and international markets. Second- in ancient Greece, but in those days there was not invent nor create the necessary things and Russia from time immemorial. Until today this ly, we need to maintain and raise our nuclear no extensive democracy. Freedom was the priv- technology that people need. We sell things that corrosion has been due to the excessive govern- technology to a qualitatively new level. Third, ilege of a select minority. Full-fledged democra- we have not produced, raw materials or import- ment presence in many significant aspects of Russia’s experts will improve information tech- cy that established universal suffrage and legal ed goods. Finished products produced in Rus- economic and other social activities. But it is nology and strongly influence the development guarantees for the equality of all citizens be- sia are largely plagued by their extremely low not limited to governmental excess – business of global public data networks, using supercom- fore the law, so-called democracy for everyone competitiveness. is also not without fault. Many entrepreneurs puters and other necessary equipment. Fourth, emerged relatively recently, some eighty to one This is why production declined such much, are not worried about finding talented inven- we will develop our own ground and space in- hundred years ago. Democracy occurred on a more than in other economies, during the cur- tors, introducing unique technologies, creating frastructure for transferring all types of informa- mass scale, not earlier than the mass produc- rent crisis. This also explains excessive stock and marketing new products, but rather with tion; our satellites will thus be able to observe tion of the most necessary goods and services market volatility. All this proves that we did not bribing officials for the sake of ‘controlling the the whole world, help our citizens and people began. When the level of technological devel- do all we should have done in previous years. flows’ of property redistribution. of all countries to communicate, travel, engage opment of Western civilization made it pos- And far from all things were done correctly. 3. Paternalistic attitudes are widespread in in research, agricultural and industrial produc- sible to gain universal access to basic ameni- The energy efficiency and productivity of our society, such as the conviction that all prob- tion. Fifth, Russia will take a leading position in ties: to education, health care and information. most of our businesses remains shamefully low, lems should be resolved by the government. Or the production of certain types of medical equip- continued on page 3 September 2009 No 17 Current Concerns Page 5

“ ‘We Will Overcome the Crisis, …’ ” Russian democracy will not bloated Soviet social security system, and ben- models, and the manifestations of the best fea- continued from page 4 merely copy foreign models efits are not distributed from the sky. A welfare tures of our national character. Every new invention which improves our qual- Russian democracy will not merely copy for- state is a complex, balanced system of economic incentives and social benefits, legal, ethical and We will be attentive to our history ity of life provides us with an additional degree eign models. Civil society cannot be bought and we will respect it of freedom. It makes our existential conditions behavioural standards, a system whose produc- by foreign grants. Political culture will not be In any case, we will be attentive to our histo- more comfortable and social relations more eq- tivity crucially depends on the quality of work reconfigured as a simple imitation of the politi- ry and we will respect it. First and foremost we uitable. The more intelligent, smarter and effi- and level of training of every one of us. cal traditions of advanced societies. An effective must respect our country’s role in maintaining cient our economy is, the higher the level of our Whatever is distributed to society by govern- judicial system cannot be imported. Freedom is a balanced world order for centuries. Russia has citizens’ welfare, and our political system and ment should only be what it has earned. Living impossible to simply copy out of a book, even always, at all stages of its development, sought society as a whole will also be freer, fairer and beyond our means is immoral, unwise and dan- a very clever one. Of course we’ll learn from to achieve a more equitable world order. more humane. gerous. We need to make the economic system other nations – from their experiences, their suc- Russia has often sought to protect small na- The growth of modern information technolo- cesses and failures in developing democratic in- more productive so that we can earn more. Not just wait for the oil price rising at a given mo- tions, those confronted with the threat of en- gies, something we will do our best to facilitate, stitutions. But no one will live our lives for us. slavement or even destruction. This was the gives us unprecedented opportunities for the Nobody is going to make us free, successful and ment – we’ve got to earn our way. We will improve the efficiency of social serv- case only recently, when Saakashvili’s regime realisation of fundamental political freedoms, responsible. Only our own experience of demo- launched its criminal attack on South Ossetia. such as freedom of speech and assembly. It al- cratic endeavour will give us the right to say: we ices in all spheres, paying special attention to problems of material and medical support for Russia has often put an end to the plans of those lows us to identify and eliminate hotbeds of are free, we are responsible, we are successful. bent on world domination. Russia has twice ap- corruption. It gives us direct access to the site veterans and pensioners. Democracy needs to be protected peared in the vanguard of the great coalitions: in of almost any event. It facilitates the direct ex- the 19th century to stop Napoleon and in the 20th Democracy needs to be protected. The funda- Use the intellectual resources change of views and knowledge between people by defeating the Nazis. In war and peace, when mental rights and freedoms of our citizens must of post-industrial societies all around the world. Society is becoming more a just cause has demanded decisive action, our be as well. They need to be protected primari- The modernisation of Russian democracy and open and transparent than ever – even if the rul- people have been there to help. Russia has ally from the sort of corruption that breeds tyran- establishment of a new economy will, in my ing class does not necessarily like this. ways been a staunch ally in war and an honest ny, lack of freedom and injustice. We have just opinion, only be possible if we use the intel- partner in economic and diplomatic affairs. Russia’s political system will be extremely begun to develop such protective mechanisms. lectual resources of post-industrial societies. In the future, Russia will be an active and re- open, flexible and internally complex Our judicial system must be a central compo- And we should do so without any complexes, spected member of the international community nent here. We have to create a modern efficient openly and pragmatically. The issue of harmo- Russia’s political system will also be extremely of free nations. It will be strong enough to exert judiciary, acting in accordance with new legis- nising our relations with western democracies open, flexible and internally complex. It will be a significant influence on the formulation of de- lation on the judicial system and based on con- is not a question of taste, personal preferenc- adequate for a dynamic, active, transparent and cisions that have global implications. It will be temporary legal principles. We also have to rid es or the prerogatives of given political groups. multi-dimensional social structure. It will cor- able to prevent anyone’s unilateral actions from ourselves of the contempt for law and justice, Our current domestic financial and technologi- respond to the political culture of free, secure, harming our national interests or adversely af- which, as I’ve said repeatedly, has lamenta- cal capabilities are not sufficient for a qualita- critical thinking, self-confident people. As in fecting our internal affairs, from reducing Rus- bly become a tradition in this country. But the tive improvement in the quality of life. We need most democratic states, the leaders of the polit- sians’ level of income or damaging their secu- formation of a new judicial system cannot be money and technology from Europe, America ical struggle will be the parliamentary parties, rity. which will periodically replace each other in achieved by competitions or campaigns, or idle and Asia. In turn, these countries need the op- power. The parties and the coalitions they make talk about how the system itself is rotten and portunities Russia offers. We are very interest- Priority is given to modern ideas of equal- will choose the federal and regional executive that it would be easier to create new judicial and ed in the rapprochement and interpenetration of ity and fairness authorities (and not vice versa). They will be law enforcement systems than to change them. our cultures and economies. For these reasons, along with other countries responsible for nominating candidates for the There are no entirely new judges, just as there Of course no relationship is free from contra- we are trying to reform the world’s supranation- post of president, regional governors and local are no new public prosecutors, police, intelli- dictions. There will always be controversial top- al political and economic institutions. The aim authorities. They will have a long experience of gence personnel, civil servants, businessmen ics, reasons for disagreement. But resentment, of this modernisation is the development of in- civilized political competition: responsible and and so on. We need to create normal working arrogance, various complexes, mistrust and es- ternational relations in the interests of as many meaningful interaction with voters, inter-party conditions for the law enforcement agencies and pecially hostility should be excluded from the peoples and countries as possible. We want to cooperation and the search for compromises to get rid of the imposters once and for all. We relations between Russia and the leading demo- establish rules of cooperation and dispute set- resolve acute social problems. They will bring have to teach law enforcement officers to pro- cratic countries. tlement, in which priority is given to modern together in one political entity every element of tect and defend rights and freedoms, to justly, We have many common goals, including ab- ideas of equality and fairness. society, citizens of all nationalities, the most di- clearly and effectively resolve conflicts in the solute priorities which affect every inhabitant on These are my views on the historical role of verse groups of people and territories of Russia legal field. We need to eliminate attempts to in- Earth such as the non-proliferation of nuclear our country and its future. These are my answers endowed with ample powers. fluence judicial decisions for whatever reasons. weapons and reducing the risk of adverse effects to some of the questions that affect us all. The political system will be renewed and im- Ultimately, the judicial system itself has to un- from man-made climate change. I would invite all those who share my convic- proved via the free competition of open polit- derstand the difference between what it means tions to get involved. I would also invite those We must have interested partners ical associations. There will be a cross-party to act in the public interest or in the selfish in- who do not agree with my ideas but sincerely consensus on strategic foreign policy issues, so- terests of a corrupt bureaucrat or businessman. We must have interested partners and involve desire change for the better to be involved as cial stability, national security, the foundations We need to cultivate a taste for the rule of law, them in joint activities. And if we need to well. People will attempt to interfere with our of the constitutional order, the protection of the for abiding by the law, respect for the rights of change something ourselves in order to do so, work. Influential groups of corrupt officials and nation’s sovereignty, the rights and freedoms of others, including such important rights as that abandon previous prejudices and illusions, then do-nothing ‘entrepreneurs’ are well ensconced. citizens, the protection of property rights, the re- of property ownership. It is the job of the courts we should do so. I am of course not referring to They have everything and are satisfied. They’re jection of extremism, support for civil society, with broad public support to cleanse the coun- a policy of unilateral concessions. Lack of will going to squeeze the profits from the remnants all forms of self-organisation and self-govern- try of corruption. This is a difficult task but it is and incompetence will not gain us any respect, of Soviet industry and squander the natural re- ment. A similar consensus exists in all modern doable. Other countries have succeeded in doing gratitude, or gains. This has already happened sources that belong to all of us until the end. democracies. this. in our recent history. Naive notions of the infal- They are not creating anything new, do not want This year we started moving towards the cre- lible and happy West and the eternally underde- development, and fear it. But the future does not Economic and humanitarian ation of such a political system. Political parties veloped Russia are unacceptable, offensive and belong to them – it belongs to us. And we are an programmes for the South of the country were given additional opportunities to choose dangerous. But no less dangerous is the path of absolute majority. We will act patiently, prag- those occupying leadership positions in the fed- We will do everything possible to allow the confrontation, self-isolation, mutual insults and matically, consistently and in a balanced man- eral regions and municipalities. We relaxed the people in Russia’s Caucasus to lead normal recrimination. ner. And act now: act today and tomorrow. formal requirements for the creation of new par- lives. Economic and humanitarian programmes Nostalgia should not guide our foreign poli- We will overcome the crisis, backwardness ties. We simplified the conditions in place for for the South of the country will soon be re- cy and our strategic long-term goal is Russia’s and corruption. We will create a new Russia. Go the nomination of candidates for election to the viewed and fleshed out. We will set up some modernisation. Along with this Russia is one of Russia! • State Duma. We passed legislation guarantee- very clear criteria to assess the performance of the world’s leading economies, a nuclear power Source: www.kremlin.ru ing equal access to public media for parliamen- heads of governmental structures dealing with and a permanent member of the UN Security tary parties. A number of other measures were the Caucasus. This applies primarily to feder- Council. It should openly and explicitly explain Current Concerns is an independent journal produced adopted as well. al and regional ministries and departments re- its position and defend it in all venues, without by volunteers that is not supported by advertising. sponsible for policy in industrial production, weaselling or giving in to pressure to conform. Any financial contribution is greatly appreciated. We will not rush finance, social development, education and cul- And in the case of a threat to our own interests Not everyone is satisfied with the pace at which ture. At the same time, law enforcement author- we must strongly defend them. I talked about we are moving in this direction. They talk about ities will continue to stamp out the bandits who these principles of our foreign policy in August Current Concerns The international journal for independent the need to accelerate changes in the political seek to intimidate and terrorise the population last year. thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, system. And sometimes about going back to the of some Caucasian republics with their crazy In addition to this active work on the western and for the promotion and respect ‘democratic’ nineties. But it is inexcusable to ideas and barbaric customs. front, we must increase our cooperation with the of public international law, human rights return to a paralyzed country. So I want to dis- Negative demographic trends must be slowed countries of the EurAsEC [Eurasian Economic and humanitarian law appoint the supporters of permanent revolution. and stopped. We need to improve the quality of Community], CSTO [Collective Security Treaty We will not rush. Hasty and ill-considered po- medical care, promote fertility, ensure safety on Organisation] and CIS [Commonwealth of Inde- Publisher: Zeit-Fragen Cooperative litical reforms have led to tragic consequenc- the road and in the workplace, combat the pan- pendent States]. These are our closest, strategic Editor: Erika Vögeli es more than once in our history. They have demic of alcoholism and develop physical cul- partners. We share the common goal of mod- Address: Current Concerns, P.O. Box, CH-8044 Zurich pushed Russia to the brink of collapse. We can- ture and mass sport. This requires both a stra- ernising our economies, regional security, and a Phone: +41 (0)44 350 65 50 not risk our social stability and endanger the tegic approach and making such things the more equitable world order. We must also devel- Fax: +41 (0)44 350 65 51 safety of our citizens for the sake of abstract everyday tasks of the government. op worldwide cooperation with our partners in E-Mail: [email protected] theories. We are not entitled to sacrifice stable Whatever the scope or effects of these trans- the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organisation] Subscription details: life, even for the highest goals. In his time Con- formations, their goal is ultimately the same, and BRIC [Brazil-Russia-India-China]. published regularly fucius remarked: “Impatience in small matters improving the quality of life in Russia. Creat- Like every great people, the Russian peo- annual subscription rates: SFr. 72. – destroys a great idea”. We have all too often ex- ing better conditions by providing citizens with ple are brilliant and heroic, they command the € 45. – / £ 28. – / $ 66. – (incl. postage and VAT) perienced this in the past. Reforms for the peo- housing, employment, medical care, care of world’s respect and admiration, and at the same Account: Postscheck-Konto: PC 87-644472-4 Printers: Druckerei Nüssli, Mellingen, Switzerland ple, not the people for reform. At the same time time our history has been a controversial, com- pensioners, protection of children, and support The editors reserve the right to shorten letters to the this will displease those who are complete- for people with disabilities – these are the duties plex, ambiguous one. It means different things editor. Letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect ly satisfied with the status quo. Those who are of the authorities at all levels. to different people in different countries. And the views and opinions of Current Concerns. afraid and do not want change. Changes will Russian politicians often remind us that, much remains to be done to protect our histori- take place, but they will be gradual, thought- under our Constitution, Russia is a welfare cal heritage from distortion and political specu- © 2009. All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. through, and step-by-step. But they will never- state. This is true, but we must not forget that lations. We must look clearly at our past and see theless be steady and consistent. the modern welfare state is not some kind of our great victories, our tragic mistakes, our role Page 6 Current Concerns No 17 September 2009

Voluntary Vaccination

Novartis CEO for Largely Untested on the Market Immunisation only by Choice Did you know that up to this spring a pan- tested for side effects? This happens because demic could only be proclaimed if a high- there is simply no time to carry out the neces- In his interview by the daily newspaper er than average number of dead had to be sary tests. In order not to let the pharmaceu- “Blick” of 29 August, Novartis leader Dan- mourned? For the swine fl u, this criterion was tical companies perish (only the vaccinated iel Vasella gives the following answer to the simply cancelled. To my knowledge scarce- persons will do so), the United States’ and the ly one thousand people have died up to now British Health Departments have signed a de- question whether he would vaccinate with worldwide. Yet according to WHO investiga- cree safeguarding the producers from having blanket coverage: tions 500,000 people die of the ordinary kind to pay compensation, should the public con- “Risk groups should be vaccinated. But only of infl uenza every year without our getting tract a disease from the side effects. if the people volunteer”. to hear anything about it. Did you also know There is a simple reason for that. As early that the vaccine against the swine fl u will as in 1976, after the outbreak of a swine fl u, come on the market in October largely un- forty millions citizens were vaccinated by the authorities in the US in the course of a special campaign, and afterwards thousands of them British Nurses Will Refuse to Have the Swine Flu Jab demanded compensation, because they had contracted the so-called Guillain-Barré syn- The British paper “Daily Mail” reports in its would defi nitely have the jab. Of those who it’s not just government propaganda.” The jab drome. Even though I do not want to put Swit- online edition of 18 August 2009 that a recent said they would refuse the jab, 60 % said their currently pushed forward has not suffi ciently zerland on a level with the US, I feel ever more poll by Nursing Times Magazine has found that main reason was concern about the safety of been tested before use. uncomfortable the longer I think of the health up to a third of nurses will say no to the swine the vaccine. There will be no tests at all carried out on emergency measures states can nowadays put fl u jab because of concerns over its safety. A further 31 % said they did not consider children under three, even though babies and into action, just because the swine fl u has been According to the report, NHS workers are the risks to their health from swine fl u to be children at high risk will be among the fi rst declared a pandemic by the WHO. the fi rst to be vaccinated but a survey of 1,500 great enough, while 9 % thought they would to get the vaccine. Finally a savoury detail: The WHO, re- nurses found many will reject it. not be able to take time off work to get im- There are also concerns the jab can cause sponsible for watching over the outbreak of A government scientist recently con- munised. Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), which can so-called pandemics or epidemics all over demned the results saying nurses who do not Some 91 % described themselves as front- lead to paralysis and even death. the world, informs us on its website that it have the jab are putting patients at risk. line nurses. A mass swine fl u vaccination in the US in will not track the development of the swine Nevertheless the poll “will raise questions According to “Daily Mail Online”, one 1976 caused far more deaths than the disease fl u any longer. How long will it take until we over the Government’s planned mass vacci- nurse said: “I would not be willing to put my- it was designed to combat and the Health will not be tracked any longer by the security nation programme”, the report says. self at risk of unknown long-term effects to Protection Agency watchdog has asked doc- measures launched against it? Of 1,500 readers of Nursing Times Maga- facilitate a short-term solution.’ tors to be on the lookout for cases of GBS. • Priska Bühler, Müllheim/Germany zine, 30 % would not say yes to the vaccine, Another nurse added: “I have yet to be while 33 % said maybe. Just 37 % said they convinced there is a genuine health risk and Source: Daily Mail Global Research, 18 August 2009 (Translation Current Concerns)

Oligarchs are Planning Genocide of Two-Thirds of the World Population Kevin Trudeau personally spoke with Bilderberg members by Paul Joseph Watson Billionaire entrepreneur Kevin Trudeau, who pseudo-science of eugenics which fi rst fl our- “I’ve been sitting on the boats off the coast some people are more talented than others, has been constantly harassed and sued by the ished in Britain, and the ideology of racial of Barbados with the guys who basically said some people are more motivated to work … FTC (Federal Trade Commission) for pro- and genetic superiority that was later adapt- we need to get two-thirds of the dumb people but everyone should be allowed to succeed moting alternative health treatments, told The ed by the Nazis with the aid of Rockefeller off the planet – I’ve been in the meetings,” or fail based on their own choices or initia- Alex Jones Show yesterday that elitists and funding. said Trudeau, adding that such words were tive … and that’s where there’s a split and a Bilderberg members who he had personally “Some of the conversations you have on not spoken in an evil manner, but in a “mat- division right now at the highest levels,” said conversed with spoke of their desire to see the 200 foot yachts off the coast of Monaco – ter of fact” way under the pretext that such a Trudeau. “two thirds of the dumb people” wiped off you can’t believe what really goes on behind thing would be for the good of planet earth. We would urge people to listen to the full the planet. closed doors,” said Trudeau, noting that Alex Revealingly, Trudeau said that elitists see interview with Kevin Trudeau via You Tube 2, Trudeau admitted that he was in Greece re- Jones had exposed such issues in his docu- Alex Jones as an annoyance but tolerate him as it is packed with eyebrow-raising informa- cently and implied that he attended the Bil- mentary fi lms, notably Endgame. The billion- because they believe Jones as well as Trudeau tion about the mind set of the elite and their derberg Group meeting, while also stating aire said that he had recently spent time in himself are, “desensitizing people to these re- future agenda, particularly in relation to the that he personally knew many Bilderberg Monaco with Crown Prince Albert II. alities,” – which in a way works to their ben- economy. • members who he “conversed with on a regu- Trudeau stated that elitists he had talked to efi t. lar basis.” thought their plans were for the greater good “I’ve been told that’s why I still get invited Article printed from Alex Jones’ Prison Planet.com: www.prisonplanet.com, 27 May 2009 Overpopulation is a primary concern of the of humanity but that they believed there were on the yachts,” added Trudeau. elite, and it was the subject of a recent clan- two classes of people on earth, the ruling elite Trudeau aid that the elite was divided into destine meeting of billionaire “philanthro- and the “worker bees,” and that the elite were two camps, one larger faction that, “Categor- 1 1 subject of a recent clandestine meeting of billion- pists” in New York. Elitists veil their agenda defi ned not necessarily by money or power, ically believes they are genetically superi- aire “philanthropists” in New York: http://www. with the humanitarian rhetoric of the need to but by their genetic ancestry. or than the rest of the population,” and an- prisonplanet.com/secretive-rich-cabal-met-to-dis- naturally reduce world population by means Trudeau shockingly detailed conversations other smaller faction, mainly comprising of cuss-population-control.html of contraception and education, whereas in with elitists during which they brazenly ad- younger people, that are feeding Trudeau in- 2 full interview with Kevin Trudeau via You Tube: reality, as we have exhaustively documented, mitted their desire for massive global popu- formation who, “Have come to the conclu- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejbBJfk61mY& their program has its origins in the inhumane lation reduction. sion that some people are smarter than others, feature=channel_page ... Reduce World Population ... Adviser of Gordon Brown Wants As long as the Bilderbergs do not reveal their Athens agreement to Reduce UK Population to 30 Million they are under suspicion of following Nazi paths minutesminutes toto ppresentresent theirtheir favouritefavourite According to a “Sunday Times Online” re- Gordon Brown’s leading green advisers, is to cause.cause. OverOver dinnerdinner theythey discusseddiscussed port of March 2009 by Jonathan Leake and warn that Britain must drastically reduce its howhow theythey mightmight settlesettle onon anan ‘um-‘um- Brendan Montague, Jonathan Porritt, one of population to 30m. brellabrella cause’cause’ thatthat couldcould harnessharness Porritt’s call came at this week’s annual theirtheir iinterests”nterests” aandnd whatwhat ttheyhey dde-e- conference of the Optimum Population Trust cidedcided wwasas tthathat ““theythey aagreedgreed tthathat “In the event that I am re- (OPT), of which he is patron. overpopulationoverpopulation w wasas a p priority.”riority.” The trust will release research suggest- FinallyFinally “ “aa c consensusonsensus emergedemerged incarnated, I would like to ing UK population must be cut to 30m if the that they would back a strategy in return as a deadly virus, in country wants to feed itself sustainably, the cc. The British paper The Sunday Times re- which population growth would be tackled as report says. ported on 24 May that “America’s leading a potentially disastrous environmental, social order to contribute some- This is part of the thinking behind the call billionaires have met secretly to consider how and industrial threat.” Moreover, they agreed thing to solve overpopula- for Britain to cut population to 30m – rough- their wealth could be used to slow the growth that “they need to be independent of govern- tion.” ly what it was in late Victorian times. • of the world’s population” and “discussed ment agencies, which are unable to head off Source: The Sunday Times Online, 22 March 2009 joining forces to overcome political and reli- the disaster we all see looming.” Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Hus- gious obstacles to change.” Most interesting, A guest said that they wanted to speak rich band of Queen Elizabeth II., quoted from “the informal afternoon session was so dis- to rich without worrying anything they said the foreword to Fleur Cowles, If I Were an Note: Optimum Population Trust is the leading think creet that some of the billionaires’ aides were would end up in the newspapers, painting Animal (William Morrow, publisher, 1987, tank in the UK concerned with the impact of popula- told they were at ‘security briefi ngs’.” More- them as an alternative world government. • ISBN 9780688061500) tion growth on the environment. (www. optimumpop- over, “the billionaires were each given 15 Source: The Sunday Times of 24 May 2009 ulation.org) September 2009 No 17 Current Concerns Page 7 Preventing Violence – Considerations and Suggestions by Dieter Sprock, Switzerland The act of violence of three Küsnacht (Swit- There are tasks to be tackled: How can we zerland) pupils in Munich was shocking. develop something else with our children and The victim will suffer from permanent in- young people and conceive of another world, juries and will probably be handicapped for in which justice and peace prevail? How can life. Munich, Winnenden, Blacksburg and we address our youth, which forces can we the many other juvenile violence excesses mobilize in them? How do we succeed in are alarming indicators of both an alarming connecting the children with their parents and trend and an expression of a profound crisis other people so that they find deep friend- of meaning in our society. Effective media ships in the world? headlines are however only the visible part of Which position should school have in the problem. In some places, conditions pre- our society, and which contents and val- vail, which demand too much of all the peo- ues should it teach the pupils for their lives? ple involved: Teachers report that they can For 30 years, teachers have wrongfully been hardly teach. Pupils indicate in polls that they made responsible for any problem in socie- fear violence of schoolmates most. In each ty, because many of them do an outstanding village, drugs are available. The consumption job; they are teachers with all their hearts. of alcohol is increasing. Moreover, in psychi- Their reputation and their authority must be atrists’ and psychologists’ offices the cases of repaired; those responsible for their being juvenile depression and suicidality among the defamed must be named and their goals re- young accumulate. vealed. With all these difficulties in mind, we may In order to enable school to accomplish its not forget, however, that the larger part of mission for education, a union between par- our youth still tries to find a reasonable way ents, schools and municipalities is required. despite the difficult times. The majority of 2nd year pupils of a Zurich Secondary School maintain public footpaths in Valais. “Curricula must Parents, teachers and children must succeed youth is not violent. be established in such a way that they serve the promotion of public welfare. They should in establishing an alliance, which contrib- contain tasks in the social field which are obligatory for everyone.” (picture rr) utes to the co-operation and development of A violent potential for political purposes? all. This includes moral concepts and shared The violence of young people shows a new out a massacre. In the virtual world, the he- delegate prevention to some “responsible rules for all. School is not a business in the “quality”. It serves the purpose of having fun roes of power and murder govern. The win- person” or “expert”. The honest discussion service sector, which has to satisfy all the and demonstrating power and it is directed ner is the one who kills most human beings by among citizens is required, in which solu- needs of its customers. The schools’ mission against completely innocent people, where shooting them in their heads. It looks as if the tions are developed by a common effort. for education does not only refer to instruc- no conflict preceded. The action is very often virtual competition will shift into the materi- A field, in which the considerations for vi- tion and professional training, although both announced beforehand on the Internet or by al life, if we do not change something crucial. olence prevention must certainly be included, are important for the development, but also to SMS, as was the case with the three pupils, The stupid twaddle of the highly paid compu- is the field of education. We must answer the the education of the whole human being, his who wanted to hit out once again. The of- ter game “specialists”, who try to confuse the question of how we want to live. Which world, manual and mental abilities and to character fenders show no sympathy and do not leave public opinion on behalf of the games manu- i.e. which educational ideas do we want to formation. Curricula must be established in the victim alone even when it is already de- facturers, cannot be taken serious. pass on to our children? The child knows ex- such a way that they serve the promotion of fenselessly lying on the ground; the kind of A part of the youth developed a violent po- actly what rejoices his parents’ hearts. Which public welfare. They should contain tasks in violence aims at the destruction of the vic- tential, which is on call at any time. The per- attitudes and views do we want to train and the social field which are obligatory for eve- tim. After the act, the offenders do not show petrators of violence have a network whose promote in our children? Which ones do they ryone. Today’s youth can easily be won for any sense of guilt or regret. On the contra- members are easily to be mobilized. Thus, the need for their life in a difficult time with eco- solidarity with the third world. We could also ry, they film the terrible act with their mobile rampaging young people in the burning Paris nomic drawbacks and misery? How can our co-operate with church youth organizations, phones, boast about their act and lampoon suburbs were directed via mobile phone, and children become capable human beings, who which have great experience in this field. their victims by sending the films off all over immediately provided with the incendiary are able to think and contribute to the com- Today large parts of the young people have the world. Some the offenders are described mixtures by certain political wirepullers. mon weal in order to solve the problems? also started to think likewise. Many feel un- as quiet, nice and completely inconspicuous Youth violence in the service of sinister po- An “all inclusive service mentality” in ed- easy. They fear to be victims of chicaneries children and young people. For many years, litical interests behind it is still another hor- ucation has produced bad-tempered children. and violence themselves. We should summon they have been living in parallel worlds, in ror vision in our countries today; however, it They lack nothing, they are well-fed, cared the magnanimity to stand by their side and which completely different rules and laws are may become reality, if in times of crisis un- for around the clock and nevertheless dissat- suggest shared effort taking, without wanting valid. Whereas in the one world, the material employment and futility spread in the cities. isfied with themselves and the world; they are to anticipate the solution, which we intend to one, they go to school on time, behave politely children, whose only aim is to get a blue car develop together. and unobtrusively and their mothers prepare Form alliances – find common solutions even if they already possess a red, green and Let us invite the pupils to contribute their hot chocolate for them in the morning, they It is a matter of reason and responsibility yellow car. They suffer from an inner vacuum ideas. They know the internal processes among develop their dreams of rulers over life and for our children to look for solutions, which and they are not linked to other people. The themselves and can contribute their experi- death in the virtual world, which lends power prevent a further escalation of violence and service mentality has produced a society, in ence. If we succeed in addressing the positive and prestige to them. Feeling lonely in their strengthen social coherence on the grounds of which many people tumble from one event forces in our youth, a large variety of ideas is hearts, insignificant, without being emotion- philanthropic ethics and the respect for life. to the other, ill their time with fun, shopping certain to emerge. What about using this mood ally bound to any values they are the masters The act of Munich initiated reflections on and meeting others, who dance and laugh and of embarrassment and reflection and arranging of the world in their games, until one day they the issue. Many people are looking for a way do not take any notice of wars, the contam- a competition in school buildings or even all turn their dream, which they dreamed and out, and each of us is called to keep this in ination of the world, hunger and misery. We over Switzerland to develop the best ideas for trained thousandfold, into reality and carry mind and make a contribution. We cannot live, as if all that did not exist. violence prevention? •

Book review also impairs un-irradiated cells of the body. er similarity to the victims of the Hiroshima According to Zucchetti, there are strong indi- bomb than to diseased workers of uranium Massimo Zucchetti: cators that the radiological and chemical ef- mines. The child cemetery in Basra resem- Depeted Uranium. A scien- fects of the uranium ammunition have so far bles the cemeteries in Serbia: For a long time been underestimated. they have become too small to host those who Letter to the Editor tific approach to the hazards Since the 1990s, there has been a politi- died young. of military use of depleted cally motivated controversy on the recogni- According to Karen Parker, American in- Current Concerns publishes absolutely uranium tion of uranium ammunition as a cause for ternational law activist, uranium ammunition marvellous news we do not hear from any cancer and leukemia cases, often shifted to complies with all 4 criteria of humanitarian other source. In New Zealand the people bha. Whether we talk about Iraq, Somalia, the scientific literature, which in the first in- international law for illegal weapons. Massi- have no idea how the Swiss system works former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan or Lebanon stance makes it difficult to look at the medi- mo Zucchetti’s publication confirms this as- and what a model for the world it should – the cancer rates obviously increase in those cal facts. sessment. be; instead, when we tried to change our countries maltreated by the western war al- Who would lay the burden of proof with system to “Referenda” we were ignored liance. Both the civilian population and the the physicians of a Serbian hospital in Ko- by the media, and finance did not permit military are concerned indiscriminately. Even sovska-Mitrovica who in 2001 had already us to fight on. The attacks you describe in the soldiers of the “own” troops could not es- claimed that the rate of the patients suffering Current Concerns coming against Swit- cape. Multiple cancers occur and an immedi- from malicious illnesses has increased about zerland are incredible, but according to ate occurrence of the illness can be observed 200% since 1998? Why could their voice not the plan, “World Government” is to be with young people – the reports from Kosovo be heard? Or does the ill victim have to prove pointed on us all and the Swiss model, the indicate that e.g. the 30 to 40 year-old people that he or she fell ill due to the employed greatest in the world, must be destroyed. die from aggressive tumors. weapons? Should we not apply the reversal It is important that the people with the Massimo Zucchetti, professor for radiation of the burden of proof in this case, a prin- help of referenda fight these imperialists protection and nuclear security of the Poly- ciple that has been applied in environmental and madmen. technic Institute in Turin/Italy, explains the law for long? The USA appears on track for a “revo- physical characteristics of this type of ammu- Zucchetti dedicates a whole chapter to lution”. Switzerland and your militia sys- nition used by the ton, which burns at the im- Iraq. Dust and dryness of the agriculturally tem must not back down to the Commu- pact on a hard target: Uranium ammunition. used grounds in Iraq multiply the effects of nist EU and must continue to be free. The radioactive and chemically toxic urani- the use of uranium weapons on the people’s Keep up the good fight for the truth. um metal disintegrates into particles, often health. The brochure contains pictures of nanoparticles, which unfold their devastat- malformed children and patients with enor- The book can be ordered at: [email protected] Leo Helleur, New Zealand ing effect primarily when inhaled. By the so- mous tumors. Concerning the illustrations, Meppel Netherlands 2009, called “bystander-effect”, the alpha radiation experts in radiation biology suggest a great- ISBN/EAN: 978-90-9024147-0 Page 8 Current Concerns No 17 September 2009 Love – with a View on the Entire World, on the Human Being as an Entity The Social Encyclical Letter of Pope Benedikt XVI., “Caritas In Veritate” by Bishop Dr. Elmar Fischer*

self is able to correspond with “the people lem of developing countries: Paul VI in “Pop- Society, municipalities and their institu- of this generation”, particularly the Phari- ulorum progressio” (1967). Developmental aid tions can only cope with their tasks, if they sees, “wisdom” (a Messiah title repeatedly given to the people may not only concern tech- do not only promote people in different sec- used in Old Testament) nevertheless comes nical aid. Effective assistance requires the ex- tors of their existence (as a worker, as a spe- into its own. tension of knowledge, education, and respect cialist, as someone of political importance for The substantial statement of these passag- for the dignity of man, the acknowledgment a party, as donators for funds and financial es: The Messiah with his life, death and res- of eternal values, and the acknowledgment of resources…) but figure on man as an entity, urrection obviously proved the true rescue God as source and aim of values. In a further knowing about his developmental task: to be- and redemption. He respects, however, the relevant letter “Solicitudo rei socialis” (1987) come able to love with all his gifts and con- freedom of the human being, and it is this Pope John Paul II points to the fact that busi- vert all his capabilities into love. human being who has the possibility of con- ness initiatives may not be suppressed, but Looking at a human being equipped with verting his personal and social ideas of re- have to be promoted and the developing coun- various drives and forces, love may sound demption. If, however, a minimum of Jesus’ tries have to correct their own errors. very emotional. In this regard, the Pope cares spirit is not innate to these conversions, the 3. For the statements of Pope Benedikt for veritas, for truth and austerity. Emotion ideas are doomed to fail, they make them- XVI on the various aspects for the social sit- and feeling are not to determine love. He selves the footstool of “wisdom”. It is wis- uation and development this basic view is es- wants the makers of the social world help the dom whose acts are right. sential: Jesus Christ is the person, who con- people properly, in sympathy and with a view 2. Differently from the past social en- tains the representation of the people in each on the network of different situations, to de- cyclical letters, Pope Benedikt XVI consid- dimension. velop and cooperate in the establishment of a ers the word globalization and its influence Thus, looking at the procedure, which we profound public welfare. on today’s world and takes into view the en- call globalization, justice is to be strived for The church cannot give isolated orders or tire world in its various relations, and makes aiming at coming up to the people, the world concrete concepts for action from its fund of pointing landmark statements for the holistic and its ecological requirements, for the com- Christ’s messages, but it wants to contribute Bishop Dr Elmar Fischer (picture zvg) development of human beings. mon good and in solidarity. For Pope Ben- with its insights to the full development of The encyclical letter “Rerum novarum” edikt, justice in this sense is the minimum of the world, of the people and the community. cc. In the following we publish the speech of (1899) of Leo XIII took a stand on the “lab- love. He mentions the manifold needs and In all the possibilities, which are offered to Bishop Dr Elmar Fischer, held at the Con- orers’ issue” considering the then strongly tasks, which are to be regulated, and his sug- the people’s success today, only that one will ference “Mut zur Ethik” on the topic “Sover- expanding industry. In 1931 Pius XI took a gestion is to create an authority similar to the succeed in the long term, which carries the eignty of the people or imperialism – what is stand in “Quadragesimo anno” on the lib- UN, which is able to steer the entire world in wisdom, as Christ lived it, in himself. • true democracy?”, 4 to 6 September 2009 in eral-capitalistic system. Johannes XXIII in a binding way, rather than bringing a world Feldkirch/Austria. his 1963 encyclical letter “Pacem in terris” government into being, He calls this a chal- states that each human being has inaliena- lenging demand for the world of today, since How does the Pope see the chances of a ben- ble rights and obligations by his nature, by the single states are no longer able to steer the eficial development of the world and the his humaneness. He clearly professes a con- development sufficiently. * Dr Elmar Fischer is bishop of the diocese of Feld- human being in view of today’s situation stitutional state based on freedom and the “Caritas in Veritate”, charity in truth, in kirch/Austria. He was born on 6 October 1936 in marked by the financial crash? rule of law. Democracy, which respects the truthfulness, this is how the encyclical let- Feldkirch-Tisis. From 1970 to 1982, Elmar Fischer 1. Important references from the word human rights, becomes the “required aim” ter starts and thus attracts the view particu- was rector of the Diocesan Boarding School Mari- of God: Hebr 10, 8-18, esp. 12f: “But and is to be pursued. Pope John Paul II par- larly to the development of human beings, anum in Bregenz. From 1974 to 1990, he was at the same time director of the officially approved Dioc- when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all ticularly emphacizes in “Laborem exercens” to their task of the holistic development of esan Institute for Marriage, Family and Life Coun- time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at of 1981 that human work is to be regarded their nature, a task given to them by their cre- seling. Starting from 1979 to 1990 Elmar Fischer was the right hand of God. Since that time he not only as a monetary value, but must also ator. Pope Benedikt takes up the statements director of the Marriage and Family Center of the waits for his enemies to be made his foot- be profoundly considered in also its person- by Paul VI in “Populorum progressio” on (as Diocese Feldkirch. In 1991 he was listed as a state stool.” Why does he wait passively, until al value. Man unfolds his person by work quoted above) and refers in remarkable detail approved psychotherapist. His predecessor, Bishop Klaus Küng, appointed him Vicar General of the Dio- the enemies are made his footstool? as well. to Paul VI’s statements in “Humanae vitae” cese Feldkirch on 6 March 1989. In May 2005, Elmar Luke 7, 28-35: Although he, Jesus, states In two encyclical letters, the Popes took a (1968), in which the ability to establish rela- Fischer was appointed bishop of Feldkirch by Pope that neither John (the Baptist) nor he him- stand on the increasing priority of the prob- tions in marriage and family are worked out. Benedikt XVI.

Dialogue is the True Alternative to War Appeal for peace from the leaders of the world’s great religions on the occasion of the Crakow Meeting from 6 to 8 September 2009

“Men and women of different religions, we We pay tribute to the memory of John ty, the horror of terrorism, the many victims not weaken anyone’s identity but enables us convened in the ancient city of Crakow, sev- Paul II, a son of this land. He was a mas- of hatred. Here, we heeded the plea of many to rediscover the best of ourselves and of the enty years after the outbreak of World War II, ter of dialogue and a tenacious witness of people who suffer. Entire peoples are hostage others. Nothing is lost with dialogue! Dia- to pray, to dialogue with each other, to foster the holiness of peace, capable of provid- to war and poverty, and many are forced to logue writes a better history, while conflict a spiritual humanism of peace. ing the world with a vision even in diffi- leave their homes. Many have just vanished, opens up abysses. Dialogue is the art of liv- cult times: it is the Spirit of Assisi. were kidnapped or lack a secure life. ing together. Dialogue is the gift we want to That very spirit has blown through a Our world is disoriented by the crisis of a make to this 21st century. number of peaceful changes that took market that believed it was almighty, and by Let us start afresh from the memory of place in the world. It blew in 1989, twen- an often faceless and soulless globalization. World War II, from the prophecy of John Paul ty years ago, when Poland and other Globalization is a unique opportunity, yet the II, and be pilgrims of peace. With patience Eastern European countries were re- world has often preferred to live it as a clash and courage, let us give shape to a new era stored to freedom. In September 1989 of civilisations and religions. There can be of dialogue, uniting together in peace those men and women of different religions, no peace when dialogue between peoples is who hate and ignore each other, all peoples, gathered in Warsaw by the Communi- extinguished. No human being, no people, is and all humankind. May God grant the entire ty of Sant’Egidio, firmly stated their ever an island! world, every man and every woman, the won- love for peace: “War never again!” Regardless of their differences, our reli- derful gift of peace!” We have remained faithful to this spir- gious traditions strongly testify that a world it even when many people, in recent with no spirit will never be human. They Cracow, 8th September 2009 years, maintained that violence and war show us the path to return to God, the source can solve problems and conflicts in our of peace. world. Spirit and dialogue will give courage to The bitter lesson of World War II has our globalized world! A world without dia- often been forgotten, though it was a tre- logue will be enslaved by hatred and fear for cc. On Pope John Paul II’s suggestion, mendous tragedy in human history. We the other. Religions do not want war and do the Christian community Sant’Egidio went as pilgrims to Auschwitz, aware not want to be used for war. To speak of war of the Roman Catholic church organis- of the abyss into which humankind had in the name of God is blasphemous. No war es a peace meeting of the world religions fallen. We needed to come back here, is ever holy. Humanity is always defeated by every year. This year the meeting took into the abyss of evil, to better under- violence and terror. place in the Polish city of Cracow. For fur- stand the heart of history! Such im- Spirit and dialogue show the way to live ther information about this year’s peace mense pain cannot be forgotten! together in peace. We have discovered, even meeting see the community’s website at We need to look at the pains and sor- more clearly, that dialogue delivers from fear www.santegidio.org. rows of our world: people at war, pover- and distrust. It is an alternative to war. It does