SUMMARY IN ENGLISH
CONTRA # 6 2009
The Copenhagen Climate Meeting – the politicians want
to rule the world
by C G Holm
In December you are financing a gigantic meeting in Copenhagen which deals
with climate change and what politicians should do against higher levels
of CO2 in the atmosphere. The presumptions of the meeting are that we
are experiencing a period of climate change, that this change has been
caused by man, that the change is negative and that it is up to the politicians
to take measures to stop the change. Contra doubts all the four presumptions.
Animal rights or human rights
by Fredrik Runebert
The more decent of animal rights activists use non-violence as method
of promoting their views. But their ideology in its basics also creates
the foundation for militant activists using violence against animal owners,
hamburger restaurants and people who are destroying other people’s
property. Animal rights activists advocate that animal have rights similiar
to the rights of man, but they do not fully realize that animals lack
the sense of responsibility that is connected with the human race, and
that responsibility is also the foundation of human rights.
Twenty years after the Wall: We remember the fall of communism
and the fall of the Berlin Wall
by Tommy Hansson
In November 1989 the Berlin Wall fell and within a couple of years a couple
of hundred million people were liberated from Communist tyranny.
John Paul II – one of the most important people behind
the fall of Communism
by David Stavenheim
Today twenty years have passed since the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. Three people were more important than other in the struggle for freedom for Eastern Europe: Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and John Paul II.
A life with Karol – My Forty-Year Friendship with the Man Who Became
Pope is the title of a new book written by Stanislaw Dziwisz, the private
secretary of the Pope. The book is a portrait of John Paul, but at the
same time a dramtic narrative of the struggle between the Pope and Communism
in Eastern Europe.
Christian Copts are persecuted in Egypt
by Roni Doumit
The Copts in Egypt are openly persecuted in their historic homeland along
the shores of the Nile. Political islam has since a long time a stronghold
in the country, with the Muslim Brotherhood as the strongest party in
the country. During the past couple of years the moslem majority has developed
an attitude of hatred towards the Coptic population The development is
seen, but not acted on, by the authorities.
My Smuggling Trips to Tallinn
by Ann-Mari Lahti
Ann-Mari Lahti smuggled Bibles to Estonia during the 1970s. In practice
the Bible was forbidden in the Soviet Union, although a small number was
allowed to show that this was not the case. For a common member of a parish
the Bible was unachievable, if it wasn’t smuggled into the Soviet
Union or printed on secret underground printing presses. KGB soon found
out about Ann-Mari and they had full control over her journeys to Estonia.
The Political Crisis in Moldavia
by Frank Gordons
During the past years political conflicts in Moldavia have grown. For
a long time Moldavia has been controlled by people that were closely linked
to the old guard in the Soviet Union. The country was focused on relations
with Moscow, in spite of the common language, the cultural similarities
and the shorter distance to Buchares. The present situation is fragile
after a victory for the pro-Moscow party in a fake election in April and
a narrow majority for the anti-Moscow parties in a freer election in July,.
The pro-Moscow president Voronin has resigned, but there is only a temporary
successor. New Contra contributor on East European affairs, Frank Gordons,
writes on the development in Moldavia.
The Law on Employment Security is a threat to young, old,
immigrants…
by Roger Klang
The Law on Employment Security was passed in 1981. Part of the structure of the law was intended to force old people to leave the labour market. Another part made it harder for young people to enter the market. And all combined the law weakens Sweden’s international competitiveness.
