Impresa Donna Italy – Emirates

ITALY-EMIRATES: BUSINESSWOMEN SHARE IDEAS

AKI – June 23, 2007

“Italy is not a country to go on holiday but a place to do business” said Italian trade minister Emma Bonino, summing up the message of a high profile international seminar “Voices of Arab Women” which opened Thursday in the central Italian town of Perugia. The first session – “The business of being a woman” – is dedicated to women as vehicles of enterprise. The seminar – which has attracted more than 100 Arab woman business leaders – takes place within the framework of the Assisi Endurance Lifestyle 2007, which combines sport, tourism and business to promote exchange between the UAE and Italy.

The meeting was above all “a precious opportunity for exchanges to help better understanding of each others situation” said Bonino, particularly ahead of the 2008-2010 biennale during which the United Arab Emirates, and more in general the Gulf Cooperation Council coutries, will be the focus of intense trade exchange.

Among those present Maryam Mattar, the UAE under-secretary for Health recalled that for several years now there is an active Womens Business Council which helps women create space in the local business sector, supporting them “in setting up small businesses from home” she said. It is a vibrant movement which respects the traditions of the rich Muslim majority gulf nation, she added.

Appealing to the various Italian businesswomen present in the conference hall Mattar urged them to participarte in the annual meeting of the Emirates council which, she said, was “aware of the risks of transforming the sector of women’s business into a form of antagonism against men.” The Emirates’ businesswomen, she said, carry on their activity without “putting themselves in competition with their male counterparts.”

Commercio Internazionale

COMMERCIO EXTRA UE, DEFICIT IN CALO

Il Sole 24 Ore – 23 giuno 2007

MILANO – Bilancia commerciale meno rossa negli scambi coni Paesi extra-Ue. In maggio le esportazioni sono cresciute del 6,3% e le importazioni dello 0,4%. Il saldo commerciale risulta negativo per 1.106 milioni di euro (a maggio 2006 il deficit fu di 1.796 milioni), calato quasi di un terzo. Rispetto ad aprile 2007 al netto della stagionalità, le esportazioni sono aumentate del 2,6% e le importazioni dello 0,5%.
Nei primi cinque mesi dell`anno – spiega l`Istat – si alleggerisce il peso della bolletta energetica e si conferma una dinamica tendenziale dell`export superiore a quella dell`import per il quarto mese consecutivo. Le esportazioni crescono soprattutto verso i paesi Opec (+33,1%) e Russia (+28,8%). Positivi anche i dati verso la Cina (+7,8%). In calo invece l`export verso il Giappone (-1o,9%), Mercosur (-6,1%) e Usa (-0,2%). Quanto alle importazioni, le cifre mostrano una certa stabilità con incrementi più elevati per i Paesi del Mercosur (+16,1%) e la Cina che pur in rallentamento continua a correre (+12,8%). I cali più significativi hanno riguardato gli acquisti dai Paesi Opec (-14,3%), Giappone (-10,4%) e Usa (-10,2%).
Quanto ai settori gli aumenti più rilevanti – rispetto a maggio 2006 – riguardano i prodotti petroliferi raffinati (+82,7%). In crescita anche i metalli e prodotti in metallo (+16,3%), le macchine e gli apparecchi (+11,4). Bene l`export del tessile-abbigliamento (+6,5%), del cuoio (+6,9%). In calo i mezzi di trasporto (-15%), l`export di carta e prodotti di carta, stampa ed editoria (-9,7%). Gli aumenti più elevati delle importazioni hanno riguardato i prodotti petroliferi raffinati (+25,9%), metalli e prodotti in metallo (+23,8%), minerali non energetici (+18%). In calo energia elettrica (-24,1%), apparecchi elettrici (-18,8%), minerali energetici (-10,5%).
Soddisfatta per i dati di maggio Emma Bonino: « È un vero e proprio exploit di made in Italy nel mondo – ha detto il ministro del Commercio internazionale -. L`export cresce più della media Ue» spiega in una nota sottolineando il forte aumento delle vendite nei paesi Opec. Ma resta aperto il problema dei mercati più maturi fuori dall`area euro: «come quello giapponese, dove la flessione di maggio (-10,9%), conun euro forte e uno yen declinante, deve suonare come un campanello d`allarme».
Come quello sollevato da Coldiretti sull`agroalimentare italiano, in controtendenza rispetto all`andamento generale: aumenta infatti il deficit commerciale (+18,3%) che fa segnare un saldo negativo (-1,205 miliardi di euro) soprattutto per la frenata dell`export e dell`aumento delle importazioni. «La nostra politica per l`internazionalizzazioneva nella giusta direzione – ha precisato il ministro Paolo De Castro – e da un`adeguata e completa lettura dei dati emergono segnali più che incoraggianti».

 

dal Telegraph, l’Europa ritorna sulla Parigi – Berlino

Paris and Berlin to dominate new era

 

Last Updated: 2:51am BST 23/06/2007

 

Angela Merkel is the listening, practical fixer and Nicolas Sarkozy is a persuasive charmer, with overtones of menace, in a new deal-making Franco-German alliance that emerged at the summit.

The pairing of the EU’s two most powerful leaders signals the beginning of a new era on the European stage as Tony Blair departs.

Gordon Brown may find himself on the outside looking in as a powerful new relationship is forged between a German chancellor and French president who both played for high stakes during tense Brussels talks over the past two days.

Both leaders checked into the Amigo Hotel, adjacent to the summit venue at the Brussels Grand Place, on Thursday night to keep in close contact as negotiations over a new treaty to replace the EU constitution dragged on.

 

A new division of labour emerged during meetings in the small hours of Friday morning, especially at a fraught and potentially explosive meeting between Mrs Merkel, Mr Sarkozy and the Polish president Lech Kaczynski.

Playing a conciliatory role, Miss Merkel declined to mention comments made earlier that day by the president’s twin brother and prime minister, Jaroslaw.

He went on Polish national radio demanding more EU votes to compensate Poland for its six million Second World War dead at the hands of Germany 60 years ago.

As Miss Merkel soothed and placated, a “hyperactive” French president combined honeyed compliments with loud aggression to put the Polish leader off balance, diplomats reported.

In a classic bad cop, good cop routine, Mr Sarkozy shouted down Mr Kaczynski, accusing the Pole of “nonsense” fears that Germany, the EU’s largest country, would exploit a new vote weighting system based on population size to dominate its eastern neighbour.

Miss Merkel was then able to come to the Polish president’s defence, neatly taking the moral high ground and putting a chastened Poland on the path to compromise.

Mr Brown, who steps into the prime ministerial shoes next Wednesday, will lack this experience and will not have his EU summit debut until October.

Mr Brown will have to contest and win a place in the new relationship at the heart of the EU. “The Merkel-Sarkozy duo must become a trio,” said a diplomat.

 

Prodi: «Bene, ma non del tutto soddisfatti»

BRUXELLES - «Gli obiettivi essenziali indicati dall’Italia per il negoziato sulla riforma del Trattato europeo sono stati raggiunti, ma ciò non significa che ci possiamo dire completamente soddisfatti». Il presidente del Consiglio Romano Prodi è contento a metà dell’accordo raggiunto al termine del vertice Ue sulla riforma del trattato comunitario. «La situazione è ripartita. Gli obiettivi principali sono stati raggiunti – gli ha fatto eco il ministro degli Esteri Massimo D’Alema -. Uscivamo da una crisi drammatica, bisognava uscirne e ne siamo usciti».

FRENATORI - Secondo Prodi l’Europa «esce comunque più forte» dal passaggio del Consiglio europeo. Ma c’è l’amarezza di aver dovuto fronteggiare un gruppetto di «frenatori», capeggiato dalla Gran Bretagna. Londra «ha portato avanti una concezione diversa di Europa, e questo va detto con chiarezza e onestà intellettuale» ha spiegato il premier in una lunga conferenza stampa dicendo non solo di non aver cambiato idea sull’allargamento ma anche di non poter più accettare che vengano frustrate «per troppo tempo le aspettative di quanti desiderano avanzare più velocemente in un determinato settore, formando un’avanguardia di paesi». Il Professore indica la sua ricetta: se necessario si può e si deve pensare a una cooperazione rafforzata, a una sorta di Europa a due velocità, per completare il processo istituzionale.

I PUNTI - I punti irrinunciabili per l’Italia, afferma, sono la presidenza del Consiglio stabile, una figura istituzionale che rappresenti una unica voce dell’ Europa sul piano internazionale, l’estensione del voto a maggioranza qualificata a nuove materie, una personalità giuridica unica. Tra qualche settimana sarà aperta una conferenza intergovernativa e in quella sede il nostro paese «farà valere le sue ragioni e la sua visione». Un concetto confermato dal vicepremier e ministro degli Esteri D’Alema: «Dal 2009, e non dal 2017, avremo istituzioni più forti» e l’Italia ha dato un contributo non irrilevante all’avvio di questo processo», ha detto auspicando la chiusura di un accordo per il nuovo trattato entro ottobre.

23 giugno 2007

La cristianità in Cina

100-year Old Catholic Sanctuary Ordered to be Destroied in China

Posted by chinaview on June 22nd, 2007

chinaaid.org, Jun 21 2007-

A decree defines the sanctuary and the pilgrimages which stretch back over a hundred years involving over 40 thousand faithful each year as “illegal religious activity”. Catholics promise to resist this violation of their right. Perhaps the sanctuary grounds are wanted for the construction of hotels and villas.

Rome (AsiaNews) – Next June 16th pilgrims and faithful from Henan will not be allowed to go on pilgrimage to the sanctuary in Tianjiajing. The government from the province of Henan has in fact decreed that the historic sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be blown up with dynamite; a complete ban on Catholics organizing their annual pilgrimage; a complete ban on any religious gathering or function being celebrated in the area. A statue of the Virgin, over one hundred years old, is destined to be destroyed along with 14 stations of The Way of the Cross which punctuate the entrance to the shrine.

The sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel lies in Tianjiajing (Linxian district), in the diocese of Anyang, in the reaches of a mountain which dominates majestic scenery. It was ordered built by PIME missionary Msgr. Stefano Scarsella, then apostolic vicar to northern Henan, to thank the Virgin for preserving them from the dangers of the Boxers persecution in 1900. The shrine was built in1903-1905.

The elegantly styled neo-roman Church was almost completely destroyed first by the Japanese in the Second World War, then by the Red Guard in the 60’s. Since 1979, the faithful returned to celebrating their faith with solemn liturgies and pilgrimages, travelling many kilometres on foot to the sanctuary ruins and representation of the Lourdes Grotto, where still today the original Marian statue can be seen.

According to AsiaNews sources, May 12th last, on the feast of Our Lady of China, the diocese of Anyang distributed leaflets on the upcoming annual pilgrimage to Tianjiajing on July 16th feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Usually the pilgrimage gathers 45-50 thousand people. Since then the Department for Religious Affairs has kept strict surveillance of all priests, forcing them to hold “discussions” to convince them not to go ahead with the pilgrimage.

May 11th last the secretary general of Henan province gave a personal order to cancel the pilgrimage and spread the order to the neighbouring provinces of Hebei and Shanxi.

To occupy the site and prevent any form of sit-in, the provincial government began holding military exercises in the area of the shrine on May 12, mobilizing over 700 soldiers.

Still today all roads leading to the sanctuary are closed. All cars and pedestrians who pass by are stopped and searched.

The provincial governor’s decision has shocked the faithful of the diocese because just this year they began rebuilding the sanctuary, offering money and hours of work, repairing the road and the stations of the Way of the Cross which lie along it.

In answer on May 14th the government of Anyang city revoked the sanctuary’s permit and the permit for the pilgrimage, defining them as “illegal religious activity” and May 16th he issued a resolution which denies access to the land to Anyang Church, requisitioning the sanctuary site.

“It’s unbelievable that they have done this “, one faithful tells AsiaNews. “These local communist leaders don’t even know the central governments laws governing religious polices, they only create useless and dangerous tension”. “We will never give in “says another faithful. “We are not afraid and we will defend our legitimate rights to the very end”.

In the meantime, since the end of May a “working group” from the local government has installed itself in Tianjiajing.

According to some suppositions, the local government move requisitioning the lands and abolishing the pilgrimage is due to the geographical position of the Church, on the summit, above a valley ideal for the building of a hotel or perhaps country villa of some Party member.

Faithful from the diocese of Anyang have launched an appeal through AsiaNews: “We ask all our brothers and sisters in the Lord – they say – to pray for us and spread our message to all the faithful of the world”.

- report from China Aid : Henan government: destroy the sanctuary of Our Lady of Carmel in Tianjiajing