You have to give it to Greenpeace: their speedboat stunt at the G-8 summit was truly spectacular. If climate-change campaigners ever tire of trying to save the world, a lucrative career in Hollywood surely beckons.

But just as Tinseltown must conjure up ever-more dramatic special effects to capture jaded audiences’ attention, … Continue Reading…

According to an IPSOS poll released today, the level of salary is the first and major preoccupation of more than half (52%) of the French employees, before the quality of work and the time spent at work. Only 33% of them declare to be happy at work (a drop … Continue Reading…

Sixty years ago today, on June 5, 1947, then Secretary of State George Marshall delivered a short speech at Harvard University’s commencement that would change history. The resulting Marshall Plan provided substantial U.S. financial assistance to a war-torn European continent. By the time the Marshall Plan ended in 1952, the US had invested $13.3 billion.

The Marshall Plan is not only an example of successful U.S. diplomacy or U.S. magnanimity, but also of self-interest. The United States wanted to prevent further stagnation of world trade, promote the economic recovery of Europe, and stop any further Communist gains on the continent.

For GMF, June 5 is important for another reason beyond Marshall’s famous speech. Today marks the 35th anniversary of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. GMF was conceived of and established as a permanent memorial to the Marshall Plan. On June 5, 1972, Willy Brandt, then Chancellor of West Germany, in a speech at Harvard University, announced a significant financial gift to establish GMF. Continue Reading…

Nicolas Sarkozy has been elected on a strong political platform about reforms. He and his new government will have to wait for the results of parliamentary elections June 10th and 17th to make sure they will have a majority within the French national assembly, but reforms have already been announced … Continue Reading…