Metro subway in Luxembourg

The ADR (Alternative Democratic Reform Party*) thinks that the best solution for the future of public transportation in Luxembourg would be a metro, not the tramway. The building of a subway tunnel in only three years in Leipzig is cited has an example. Leipzig has 500 000 habitants, five times more than Luxembourg (surrounding comunes included). The city tunnel was built to complete the suburban train system, and it's not a metropolitan subway. A similar project in Luxembourg would mean extending the train lines from the Gare up to Kirchberg, with an additional central station in the Centre-Ville. By the way, Leipzig's suburban tunnel is a seven years project, with the following anounced benefits: "More than 320,000 car km per day will be avoided. This will considerably increase the City’s share in short-distance public transport. Shorter travelling time between medium level centres and the city centre of Leipzig. Better connection and development of the airport, New Fair Ground, the media centre and the city centre. Better connections of the south west region of Saxony to Greater Leipzig and the city centre. Additional axis for high-speed long distance traffic from Berlin via Leipzig, Nuremberg to Munich. Positive influence on employment situation (directly and indirectly) by creating up to 1,500 jobs during the construction phase."
(in http://www.citytunnelleipzig.de/english/english_information.html)


Let's get real?



Leipzig's Central Station is one of the largest terminus train stations in Europe. A few years ago sections of the Station were altered to house a state-of-the-art shopping and service centre.

More posts about the tramway here.

The Marcel Kalmann incident: updated news

I've received new comments about the Marcel Kalmann incident in Bruges. It's only fair to publish them. Check them out in the above link.
(read one more update here)

The Battle of Kosovo

The Battle of Gazimestan or Amselfeld was fought in 1389, Northwest from Priština, between the Serbs (or a Balkan coalition: see comment below; and Wikipedia, under "Army composition", footnote 6) and the Ottoman Empire. A memorial marks the site of Serbia’s greatest national shrine, Kosovo Polje, the Field of Blackbirds. The battle is celebrated on St Vitus' Day, June 28. Four months from now.

A picture of Che Guevara hangs in Barack Obama’s Houston office

Someone has hung a Cuban flag with a picture of Che Guevara on it in Obama’s Houston campaign office. America (and the blogosphere) is going crazy about it.

Living in Luxembourg

"In order to involve citizens in the discussion and decision making processes concerning the development of the city, the council of aldermen and the mayor cordially invites you to participate in an information session, during which the progress made in the implementation of the coalition agreements between the Democratic Party and the Green Party during 2007 will be presented."

For the first time (that I know), English and French translations will be provided. Is this city getting nicer or what?

Hacker's war against Scientology has begun

Guerrilla action has so far included the temporary disabling of its international website and "Google bombing", a manipulation of the search engine which has resulted in the website being the first result returned by Google when users type "dangerous cult".

Luxembourg has not recognized Scientology as a religion.

More information here: http://www.partyvan.info/index.php/Project_Chanology

Transcription:

"Hello, Scientology. We are Anonymous.
Over the years, we have been watching you. Your campaigns of misinformation; suppression of dissent; your litigious nature, all of these things have caught our eye. With the leakage of your latest propaganda video into mainstream circulation, the extent of your malign influence over those who trust you, who call you leader, has been made clear to us. Anonymous has therefore decided that your organization should be destroyed. For the good of your followers, for the good of mankind--for the laughs--we shall expel you from the Internet and systematically dismantle the Church of Scientology in its present form. We acknowledge you as a serious opponent, and we are prepared for a long, long campaign. You will not prevail forever against the angry masses of the body politic. Your methods, hypocrisy, and the artlessness of your organization have sounded its death knell.
You cannot hide; we are everywhere.
We cannot die; we are forever. We're getting bigger every day--and solely by the force of our ideas, malicious and hostile as they often are. If you want another name for your opponent, then call us Legion, for we are many.
Yet for all that we are not as monstrous as you are; still our methods are a parallel to your own. Doubtless you will use the Anon's actions as an example of the persecution you have so long warned your followers would come; this is acceptable. In fact, it is encouraged. We are your SPs.
Gradually as we merge our pulse with that of your "Church", the suppression of your followers will become increasingly difficult to maintain. Believers will wake, and see that salvation has no price. They will know that the stress, the frustration that they feel is not something that may be blamed upon Anonymous. No--they will see that it stems from a source far closer to each. Yes, we are SPs. But the sum of suppression we could ever muster is eclipsed by that of the RTC.
Knowledge is free.
We are Anonymous.
We are Legion.
We do not forgive.
WE DO NOT FORGET.
Expect us. "

JCDecaux in Luxembourg and the bicycle contract

The bicycle agreement with JCDecaux has started a political discussion in Luxembourg City. The ten-year contract for the self-service bicycles signed by the City government is being questioned by the biggest opposition party (CSV). In exchange for the 250 self-service bicycles and 25 docking stations, the French company sold the city 80 new advertising panels (or MUPI, Mobilier Urbain Pour l’Information). A previous contract had already granted JC Decaux the instalation of 200 bus shelters. This deal is said to be economically disadvantageous for the City, and the number of MUPI too high and visually polluting, even dangerous for traffic visibility in some places. "Mir wölle bleiwen wat mir sin" or "We want to remain what we are." A suivre.