Volkswagen scandal: there is nothing to enjoy

It is a normal human feeling to enjoy when the first of the class makes a mistake.

In the case of the VW scandal, we are not just talking about a good student, but about the excellence in the automotive market, one of the best symbol of Germany, the richest and most powerful country in Europe, our model and our inflexible teacher.



But few numbers can give us the dimension of this fraud.

11 million vehicles affected (around 3 only in Germany), 18 billion Euros as potential penalty by the Us environment Agency Epa, 35% of value lost in Stock exchange.

Moreover, the total production of VW in 2014 touched 10 million units, with an income of 11 billion.

Looking at the numbers, it seems like this fraud can delete the production of one entire year. The consequences of this scandal will deeply affect the brand of VW, but moreover, they will impact on the production.

The CEO already resigned, with a possible bonus of 25 million Euros. But we are not considering the most important number of Volkswagen: the 592,586 employees around the World. What will it happen to this people?

Read More

Greece - the elections of the disillusionment

The elections of the 20th September 2015 will be remembered as the most apathetic of the last years in Greece.

After the enthusiasm of July for the referendum about the new agreement between Eu and Greece, the defeat of Tsipras has made mostly indifferent the population towards who will lead the Country in the next years.

Tsipras has won with more or less the same percentage (around 35%) Syriza got in the last elections in January. Also Golden Dawn and Nea Democratia reached a similar result.

The real winner has been the abstention. Just the 53% of the Greeks went to vote, one of the lowest result ever registered in the elections.

Is this surprising?

Of course not, for people who voted 5 times in the last 6 years with no effects of the policies imposed by Brussels.

The real problem in Europe is that the lost of sovereignty of the States (Greece first), doesn't really correspond to an increase of power of the only democratic European Institution. The Parliament, of course.

Read More

Present and past in Wrocław: a complicate relationship

Have you ever been in Wrocław? 

Wrocław is one of the most dynamic city in Poland. Many Corporations have their delivery centers there, the local University is considered one of the best of the Country. It is also a very international city, with many foreigners who work and many Erasmus students attracted by the intense nightlife and by the low cost of life.

The new Bus Station

Huge investments have been made to give a new face to Wrocław. Now the city has a new airport and also the train station has been recently renovated. Wrocław hosted some matches of Euro 2012 and it will be also the European Capital of Culture in 2016.

The new Airport

The time of communism seems very far. Even if the heritage of that period is evident everywhere: from the typical communist blocks of apartments, to the architecture of the buildings, or in the structure of the streets.

But, which is the relation between the present and the past in Wrocław?

It seems complicated.

There is the strong will to show the new Polish development, but sometimes changing turns into deleting the past. Malls are everywhere in the city and recently also the old bus station have been demolished to give space to a new mall (the third in that area – for further information click here).

Market Square

The idea of building up new palaces instead of renovating the existing ones cannot be always the best option. In ten years we will see just malls and new buildings and no memories of the past.

Read More

The numbers of the Syrian Crisis

In these days migration is the key word on all the media in Europe. The increase of the numbers of refugees, especially from Syria, has brough different answers from the Eu Countries and the debate about how to manage the crisis is still open.

But what do we know about Syria war? Which are the numbers that can explain us the tragedy that is going on in this Country?

The Syrian war started in 2011 during the Arab Spring, with protests against the president Bashar al-Assad. The conflict sees many different actors: the national Army (supported also by Hezbollah), ISIS, the Free Syrian Army and other forces.

The number of victims seems currently close to 300 thousand, under severe human rights violations.

The gravity of this situation has caused the displacement of around 7 million of Syrians (out of 18 millions in total). It is estimated that 4 million people moved abroad from Syria to  Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.

More than a million is currently in Lebanon (that has a population of 4.5). Turkey accepted almost 2 million of refugees.

The situation in Syria is every day worst. And that is why people are leaving the Country.

At the same time the reaction of Europe has been, as always lately, incoherent and egoistic. Even if Eu is a leading donor for the crisis with 3.9 billion Euros, the treatment of the refugees has not been the best possible, as we have seen recently in Greece (left alone to face the immigration) and in Hungary.

Number of refugees per Country since 2011 (NYT)

Europe is the richest area in the World. It is not acceptable that it doesn't take actions in a humanitarian crisis that is happening at its borders.

The voice of Germany that wants to change the rules of the European immigration policy, seems finally a good start for changing direction. Let's hope that there won't be just words, but also facts.

Read More

Working abroad? Wonderful...but where?

Everyone, at least once in his life, has thought to live and work abroad. It can be interesting, usefull for language skills and a good plus on the curriculum.

Leaving your Country is a very good decision. Even if it can be the best place in the word, you will find always something more interesting abroad.

But the main question - once you have decided to move abroad - is: where to go?

Of course, if there is a "sentimental relation" as cause, the Country destination is obvious (almost always). But if you have to take this decision objectively the answer can be more difficult.

You can choose your destination on the basis of the average salary you can earn. In this case cities like Zurich or Copenhagen can be the right choice. But it is not so easy to get a job over there because the competition is very high and the skills required are very specific.

If the most important thing is to taste a multicultural environment, for sure the destination should be a European Capital. London or Paris, Dublin or Berlin, all can be the perfect city to discover new cultures, meet people from all over the World and find a good job. The only possible problem is that these cities attract many foreigners, so the competition is very high and it can pass a lot of time till you find a job.

The third option is to move to Eastern Europe. In Poland, Hungary or Bulgaria there are many positions available, less competition than in other most famous cities and at the same time an unexpected international environment (due to many corporations that installed outsourcing centers over there). The negative aspect is the salary, still much lower than in the Western Europe.

Anywhere you want to go, you should be patient and motivated. Moreover, you need to be optimistic and prepared to sacrifices.

Good luck!

Read More

The right to say NO

Yesterday Greeks decided. 

After many years of austerity that didn't bring any positive results in the economy and, overall, in the people life, Greeks have decided that was enough.

Celebrations in Syntagma Square (Athens)

It was enough to be oppressed by reforms that have made the Country much poorer that ten years ago. It was enough to be under a constant blackmail. It was enough to be considered the black sheep of Europe even after all the efforts done to respect what Europe wanted.

The result of the Greek referendum points out two political elements. The first is that asking people what they want, it is always the best way. Democracy works when it is really used. And in a community, people must be informed and must have the right to decide.

The second element is that Europe doesn't work at all. This vote is not a victory of Tsipras, it is the defeat of Brussels, the defeat of the IMF and overall, the defeat of the German idea of the European Union. 

And tomorrow? 

Greeks have been brave, as we don't know what will happen in the next weeks. They gave us a lesson: a small Country can decide its destiny also against the most important and powerful powers of the world. Let's hope that this vote will have positive effects on Greece and on the entire Europe.

Read More

The default of Greece is the default of Europe

Once again all Europe is focused on Greek crisis.

After the failure of the negotiations between Greece and Eu , Athens have decided to ask directly the population about the new agreement proposed by Europe.

Is this a good decision?

Definitely yes.

First, a referendum is the most democratic instrument possible. Population must be involved in such a decision that, in a way or in the other, will deeply touch their lives.

Second, the choice made by the Greek government has put pressure on the European Institutions. If Greeks will vote against the agreement, the crisis that can born in Europe is unpredictable. 

The small Greece represents the paradox of an Europe that has completely forgot its values. 

This situation is just the result of the contradictions of the European States. They don't want a strong Europe, as they don't want to lose power. So the rules of the game are not clear and strong enough. 

Greece got huge benefits to be part of Europe, but now it is smashed between the pressure of Germany and France and the fear of the population.

Many years of austerity didn't change anything. The situation got worse and worse. And today we are still here, looking at the Cradle of the democracy, that can collapse together with the ideal of a Federal European Union.

One thing is sure: the imminent default of Greece is the default of all Europe. 

Read More