Who questions doing something about climate change these days?

The chief economist of Chrysler, apparently, claiming that the Europeans had a 'Chicken Little' view of the problem. This comes as the European Commission is preparing to unveil a new environmental policy including plans for a 20% cut in greenhouse gases from the 1990 levels by 2020. The problem is that he's not completely incorrect. At this point in time, the cost associated with we would have to do to make even a marginal change in increasing temperature would be huge compared to what with could accomplish putting it elsewhere (welcome to opportunity cost). Still, it's this sort of attitude that prevents Americans from doing anything at all, and that's clearly not the optimum strategy.

Meanwhile in Poland the scandal facing the Church over Communist spying continues on, as other priests, including 3 bishops, are accused of similar deeds. A story from the CSM talks about how the massive migration out of Poland and other Central/Eastern European countries has spawned new programmes trying to draw them back. It's an interesting economic experiment in a way, because the shortage of labour (all things being equal, of course) should increase real wages within these countries, making the wage disparity between the West and East more equitable. However, this effect will be depressed by the fact that the people most likely to leave are also the most productive - the economic theory assumes that they migrants are being drawn from a random population, which is likely not the case.

Belarus has given into Russian demands and removed a transit tax on oil shipments, but the effects of the shutdown are still being felt in Europe, leading to a continuing questioning of their current reliance on Russian energy. Der Spiegel has a profile on Semyon Vainshtok, the president of the Russian pipeline company who made the decision.

Also:
- There is apparently a move about by reformers in the Iranian Parliament to impeach President Ahmadinejad.
- More of Germany's attempts to fight neo-Nazi movements.
- European businesses are now more confident in the future than their American peers.
- Britain eyes making a probe to orbit the moon.
- Astronomers have found the first celestial object to have more than two poles.
- The rumour mill has Justin Trudeau contemplating a run for a federal seat in Montréal. Let the love-in begin!