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This year on 14th June it will be exactly 25 years since the signing of the Schengen agreement between most of the countries within the EU.
With this occasion in mind, Schengen received a section of the Berlin Wall yesterday straight from Potsdamer Platz in central Berlin.
Transport of the 2,8 tons of wall section, 3m 60 tall was not that easy and the was blocked for several days in the snow as it crossed Germany.
Yesterday it was placed in front on the Centre Européen where it will remain for the time being, but will eventually move to its final home along the Esplanade just before the festivities that are due to take place on 14th June.
“It is a section of wall that ties in with Schengen, that has a lot to do with borders” stated Roger Weber the Major of Schengen.
The wall, with a woman's face painted on it, can be viewed in Schengen from today onwards.
Published on: 08/02/2010
A cruel person in the Tetange area is torturing cats as a second time now a cat has been reported as tortured suffering from serious injuries.
Yesterday morning in Tétange, a cat had to be rushed urgently to the vet. It had most likely been the target of air rifle shots.
This is not the first time this has occurred on a defenceless cat in Tétange. Two weeks ago, another cat was abused after being beaten with a stick.
The police have launched an investigation to find the perpetrator and have ask the public to always report such incidents.
Published on: 08/02/2010
A city nearly destroyed by a hurricane five years ago exploded with joy late Sunday as the New Orleans Saints upset the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17 to win their first-ever appearance in the Super Bowl.
"Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints! Who dat? Who Dat!," a crowd in a French Quarter restaurant chanted, after the team scored their first touchdown.
A city famous for diversions - Mardi Gras, music and colorful politics, to name - set aside distractions to focus on the big game.
Even the strippers on bawdy Bourbon Street stopped dancing. Instead, thousands of revelers cheered the Saints on live television sets at nearby bars.
"We have no music, no stages. It's the first time I've seen a club shut down and I've been doing this for five years," said Sam Stonebraker, 34, a host at Rick's Cabaret, a gentleman's club. "The game is pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime event in this city."
On a typical night, the club has 40 "entertainers" dancing on stage - not tonight.
A few doors down, the Temptations strip club was also upstaged by the Saints Super Bowl.
"We've stopped, too," said "Holly," 30, the petite hostess of the club. "Everybody's watching the game. It's been great for the energy for the city. After they won the NFC championship two weeks ago everybody rushed into the streets. The Saints are really good reason to rally around the city."
After a pass by Colts quarterback fluttered harmlessly to the ground in the final seconds -the Alpine restaurant near Jackson Square - exploded in a familiar chant: "Who dat! Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints!"
On Sunday morning, Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu announced that he would yield the limelight over his landslide election last night to three days of local delirium over the Saints, the Super Bowl, the team's return from Miami on Monday and - win or lose - Carnival parade for the hometown heroes on Tuesday.
Carnival "krewes" changed parade schedules. Churches moved services so worshippers could watch the big game.
Forward by email After the New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl for the very first time, the whole of the city errupted in celebration.Published on: 08/02/2010
In collaboration with the University of Luxembourg and the European Study CEPS / INSTEAD Emons publishing company, the new “Atlas du Luxembourg" – showing many different angles of the Grand Duchy, has been released.
The book contains about 100 contributions from more than 70 authors from the academic and industrial world with an impressive range of maps, aerial photos, pictures and texts – all about Luxembourg and available in German and French.
The book is extremely colourful, as are the lives of the people of Luxembourg it portrays. This means that alongside the normal atlas subjects such as geography and history, it also covers mobility (from tourist route and travel information to Findel Airport details), proposed trams details and routes, and information concerning Luxembourg as a financial centre.
Of course, cultural life is also covered, such as the Schueberfouer get a mention and the subject of foreigners in Luxembourg gets a separate chapter.
Overall, the book pretty much covers everything Luxembourg related that you would expect an atlas to cover and more. Very nice presentation too and well laid out.
It’s just a shame it’s only available in French and German as I am sure the Anglophone community of Luxembourg would appreciate this book and of course beyond the borders.
If you know people that still say “Isn’t Luxembourg part of Germany?” This could be a gift for them.
If you are interested in buying the book here’s a few details:
" Der Luxemburg Atlas / Atlas du Luxembourg" published by Emons Verlag
Cost: 59.80 EUR,hardback 224 pages.
ISBN: 978-3-89705-692-3
Published on: 05/02/2010
On the roads of Luxembourg certain bad habits while driving seem to be all too common. One can be forgiven for thinking, for example, that using indicators is an option in the Grand Duchy – It is not.
Whether on the motorway, on roundabouts or crossroads, driving around Luxembourg can sometimes be frustrating as the car in front of us makes an unexpected move with no indication.
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This is not simply a Luxembourg problem of course and is a Europe-wide issue. A study by ADAC, the German breakdown service estimates that a third of motorists don’t indicate correctly in Europe.
In Switzerland a campaign is currently running to educate people that indicating is not an option. Swiss police state that many road accidents stem from not indicating or forgetting to switch off an indicator. Educational leaflets are being handed out and 100 Swiss Franc fines slapped on offending drivers. Wouldn’t this be a good idea for Luxembourg?
On roundabouts it seems a big issue as motorists often don’t indicate their intention to leave it, or do it only at the last second. Motorways with higher speeds can of course have far greater consequences for not indicating when changing lanes, a major issue on Luxembourg’s often dense motorways.
Once the driving test is passed, all too often the basics of driving are forgotten, like warning other drivers of our intention to overtake or checking blind spots. Those who have taken a British driving test will no doubt remember the phrase “mirror – signal – manoeuvre” , steps that some drivers need to re-study.
So what is the actual law in Luxembourg?
Well first of all, indicating is not an option it is obligatory (despite what some drivers might think) and has been the law since 1955 so nothing new. If you are caught by police not indicating correctly, then you can be fined 49 EUR. This also applies for indicating too late or the misuse of indicators.
Finally as an extra note: The name of the flashing yellow lights are called “indicators” in English for a reason as they indicate your intention to other drivers as to what you plan to do. They aren’t for showing other drivers what you are actually doing – a lesson that many drivers in Luxembourg could learn from!
Published on: 05/02/2010
While international stars like Lionel Ritchie, Uscher, Celine Dion or Susan Boyle rally to raise funds for Haiti, local Luxembourg artists have agreed to perform on stage at the Rockhal on 13th March to make their contribution for Haiti aid.
Babyoil, Benny & the Bugs, Dream Catcher, Ezio, Kate, Nukular and Toxkäpp give have already agreed to perform in on March 13th from 6pm at the Rockhal to help the people of Haiti devastated by the terrible earthquake on 12th January, and possibly more artists will join the list soon.
The organisation has been named “Listen to Haiti” and set up by two charities, Action Avenir Haïti and Objectif Tiers Monde.
There will be no presale of tickets for the event; the idea is that everyone is free to contribute what they feel right for Haiti aid.
If you would like more information: Click here
Published on: 05/02/2010
