Budget Airlines Whine About Environtmental Concerns

by Catherine Bodry on

Budget Airlines, like Europe’s EasyJet, complain that they’re carrying the burden of concern about air travel’s environmental impact. EasyJet’s Chief Executive Andy Harrison argues that taxes should be based on the efficiency of planes and the distance traveled rather than being a per-passenger duty, claiming that budget airlines’ fleets are newer and thus more efficient than traditional airlines.

While I don’t think that budget airlines alone should be charged with “ruining the planet,” I do think it’s difficult to ignore the impact of cheap and quick airfare on less environmentally-damaging overland travel, like rail. That’s not necessarily the airlines’ fault though — they’re simply meeting travelers’ demands.

What do you think?

Pope Urges Europeans to Have More Children

by Iva Skoch on

Here is a good opportunity for tourists with good sperm! Europe needs more children. At least the Pope thinks so. During his recent trip to Austria, he blasted Europeans for beings selfish and not wanting to procreate. As a result, Europe is aging rapidly.

Nothing seems to help Europeans have more kids though: they have tried bonuses for child delivery, generous benefits, cheap daycare…now the Pope.

Consequently, statistics show the Austrian Church has lost about one million followers since 1983, and only 67 percent of Austrians are still officially Catholic, compared to almost 92 percent in 1900.

Amsterdam to Extinguish One-Third of Red Light District

by Catherine Bodry on

A chunk of one of Amsterdam’s most famous tourist draws, the red light district, will soon be transformed into housing. The 700-year-old district is a maze of alleys lined with brothels, sex shops, and “coffee shops” selling marijuana and other mind-altering substances. This darker side of Amsterdam is as much a tourist destination as Anne Frank’s house or the Van Gogh Museum. However, the city’s Mayor, Job Cohen, opines that the concentration of sex in the city center is too high.

The brothel owner got a pretty sum for his 51 windows — 25 million euros, or $35 million. Real estate must pay more than sex these days.

[via Reuters]

Which European Country has the Worst Drunks According to YouTube Videos

by Neil Woodburn on

Europe has a long tradition of drinking. While this may not be such a bad cultural norm, there are a few bad apples who embrace their love of alcohol just a little too enthusiastically.

If you’ve been to Europe, you know what I’m talking about. Sure, my home country of America has its share of drunks, but for whatever reason I always see far more stumbling, incoherent, word-slurring reprobates on the streets of Europe than I ever do back home.

So which country is the worst? Which European country is plagued with too many drunks encountering difficulty riding bikes, crossing the street, holding a tune, or otherwise trying to go about their daily lives while debilitatingly inebriated?

Well, now thanks to YouTube, you can be the judge. Just click the play button on any of the below videos and then vote for Europe’s most intoxicated country at the end of the post.

Cheers!

Poland

Poland #2

Russia

Germany

Switzerland

Czech Republic #1

Czech Republic #2

Slovakia

Croatia

France

England

Ireland

Scotland

Ukraine #1

Ukraine #2

Romania

%Poll-3050%

Bluefin Tuna Fishing Banned in Europe

by Iva Skoch on

Blame sushi! The 2007 quota of nearly 17,000 tonnes of bluefin tuna has already been exhausted for this year, forcing the European commission to impose a ban on bluefin tuna fishing in Europe, specifically in Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Portugal and Spain for the rest of the year. Italy and France closed their own fisheries in July and August.

Experts say that the rising popularity of sushi is to be blamed for the rising demand for bluefin tuna. Unlike most tuna, bluefin grows slowly and matures late, making it vulnerable to intensive trawling. The typical size is 2 m (6.6 ft) at about 500 kg (1,100 lb).

Based on what I saw (or I should say did not see) diving in Crete last week, I seriously doubt there is a single fish of that size in the Mediterranean any more.