Europe
Europe
Fair Observer provides insightful and informed analysis about important European issues, events and trends.
-
Kinetura designs adaptable lamps and building applications that react to the surrounding light. Designing lamps is like conceiving architecture on a micro scale. A light source with its fixture, and the natural light surrounding a building are obviously related. The design and architecture of both buildings and lamp fixtures need to maximize the utility and aesthetics of light Interactive transformable lighting Since 2005 we have been trying to connect artificial light more intimately with its surrounding architecture without losing the light’s functionality. We made the first prototypes of flexible transformable lamps. Such lamps regulate the intensity of their light by gradually...
-
Kinetura designs adaptable lamps and building applications that react to the surrounding light. Designing lamps is like conceiving architecture on a micro scale. A light source with its fixture, and the natural light surrounding a building are obviously related. The design and architecture of both buildings and lamp fixtures need to maximize the utility and aesthetics of light Interactive transformable lighting Since 2005 we have been trying to connect artificial light more intimately with its surrounding architecture without losing the light’s functionality. We made the first prototypes of flexible transformable lamps. Such lamps regulate the intensity of their light by gradually...
-
The Europe (to the power of) n project is an international collaborative art project founded to explore the possibilities of a European identity without transforming it into a substantial and exclusive one. Answering the questions of where and what Europe actually is, or what it could one day become, is impossible. As we come closer to Europe in a geographical sense, a series of different configurations overlap: the European Union, the Council of Europe, the European Broadcasting Union, the European Club Association, to name but a few of the most prominent associations. Also, the eastern border has continually shifted during the course of the centuries: in ancient Roman times ‘Europe...
-
The Europe (to the power of) n project is an international collaborative art project founded to explore the possibilities of a European identity without transforming it into a substantial and exclusive one. Answering the questions of where and what Europe actually is, or what it could one day become, is impossible. As we come closer to Europe in a geographical sense, a series of different configurations overlap: the European Union, the Council of Europe, the European Broadcasting Union, the European Club Association, to name but a few of the most prominent associations. Also, the eastern border has continually shifted during the course of the centuries: in ancient Roman times ‘Europe...
-
Why Occupy Germany has not become an important political factor. “Is capitalism eating its children?” asked a newspaper. “Wall street first, now all over the world” read another headline. When Occupy Hamburg activists stormed Josef Ackermann, CEO of Deutsche Bank AG’s speech in November last year to protest against the largest German bank’s economic power, and when activists chained themselves to stairs in an Apple store to protest Apple’s business with Foxconn, the media echo was huge. Six months later, however, Occupy events in Germany are smiled upon and even seen as nostalgic while protests in the US and other countries still hold public and...
-
Andrew Pollen and economist Edward Hugh find an unexpected link between Europe's ageing population and its ongoing financial crisis Developed country societies have been steadily getting older ever since the coming of the industrial revolution. But now they are ageing more quickly as birth rates in many developed countries continue to remain well below replacement rate and life expectancy continues to rise. Median ages in several countries are now around the 45 year mark, and during the late 2020s will even near the 50 year barrier. According to UN data, the proportion of the world's population aged over 65 is set to more than double by 2050, rising to 16.2% from 7.6% currently. The...
-
Andrew Pollen and economist Edward Hugh find an unexpected link between Europe's ageing population and its ongoing financial crisis Developed country societies have been steadily getting older ever since the coming of the industrial revolution. But now they are ageing more quickly as birth rates in many developed countries continue to remain well below replacement rate and life expectancy continues to rise. Median ages in several countries are now around the 45 year mark, and during the late 2020s will even near the 50 year barrier. According to UN data, the proportion of the world's population aged over 65 is set to more than double by 2050, rising to 16.2% from 7.6% currently. The...
-
By Amy HenslinBackground Ever since the Industrial Revolution, steady advances in medical technology, changing patterns in education and gender roles, and a wide range of other factors have caused populations around the world to reach old-age in growing numbers. For some time the problem of ageing populations seemed to be an affliction particular to developed nations, but United Nations (UN) data suggest that it is now a “global phenomena”, affecting developed and developing countries alike. Although in terms of technology and infrastructure, developing nations may be several decades behind developed nations, the problem still remains; populations are changing, causing nations with well...
-
Why the world should care about the European debate on bank capital requirements. The European Union’s finance ministers are furiously debating a piece of legislation known as CRD4/CRR (the acronyms stand for the fourth Capital Requirements Directive and the Capital Requirements Regulation). The measure is intended to implement the Basel III accord on bank capital, leverage, liquidity and risk management, which was adopted at the global level by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in late 2010. There are two main unresolved issues. First, the legislation’s departures from the Basel III Accord; and second, whether individual member states should be allowed to impose core...