| Carla Cohen | Michael Tomasky Today we learn that Carla Cohen, the co-owner of Washington's Politics & Prose, one of America's greatest bookstores, passed away at 74 after a battle with cancer.If you live in or around Washington, you surely have visited the upper Connecticut Avenue independent store, which is known far and wide not only for its stock and its knowledgeable staff and its great anchoring presence in this city, but also for the rather amazing roster of people who have spoken there over the years. I can't imagine there's a book store in the country with a more vibrant list of speakers, or with a more dedicated following in its community. Even if you've never been there, if you watch any C-SPAN books coverage, you have seen people speaking from P & P dozens of times.I had the privilege of speaking there twice, in 1996 and 2008. To whatever extent that I'm "known" today, which is an arguable proposition, I was certainly less well-known in 1996, at the time of my first book. I was due to start at 7. I arrived at 6:45 and saw that sight that appears in a nervous first-time author's nightmares - rows and rows of empty seats. Helping matters, a violent thunderstorm unleashed itself just about then, darkening my prospects even further.But lo and behold, by 7:15 or so, 50 or 60 people were there - not for me, I'm sure, but because they were part of this excellent community of people interested in books and ideas that Cohen and her co-owner, Barbara Meade, had built. Carla was incredibly kind and it all went off wonderfully.In 2008, I appeared with Guardian colleagues Suzanne Goldenberg and Jonathan Freedland, and my New York Review of Books co-contributor Elizabeth Drew. By then, we were able to draw maybe three times the old number for a great conversation about the election. There are hundreds of authors and journalists across the country who can tell similar stories, all, I'm sure, with gratitude and affection.I've been to many of America's great bookstores: Elliott Bay in Seattle, Powell's in Portland, City Lights in San Francisco (oddly, it's hard to think of one in New York these days, or maybe it's not so odd - it's a function of commercial rents; there's the Strand, but last I knew it didn't have speakers and serve the community in the same way). These are all wonderful stores, but I have trouble imagining that any of them is any more important to their communities than P & P has been to this one. The store is for sale, and several groups of people have expressed interest.Carla's husband, David, is a friend and a lovely guy who worked in the Johnson administration's anti-poverty programs, among other accomplishments. My sympathies to him and to all involved.United Statesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Niger's uranium mining carries on despite al-Qaida kidnappings Niger keen to reassure foreign mining interests and maintain a vital exportThere is no question of stopping uranium production: that is the message the Niger authorities have been repeating since the Arlit kidnapping in the middle of September. "The challenge for us is to maintain output and not be discouraged by these dramatic events," the military junta's minister of mines and energy, Souleymane Abba, said. The kidnap of seven hostages by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb has not affected uranium production at the two mines in Niger in which Areva, France's nuclear conglomerate, is the main shareholder. Only construction work at the future mega-mine at Imouraren has stopped.Uranium is Niger's top export and vital to the economy of one of the world's poorest countries. "The only thing that works here is the mines," says a French expatriate who knows the country well. But its mineral riches, of little benefit to the population, are the main source of corruption and a symbol of Niger's dependence on foreign buyers, starting with France, the former colonial power.Recent upheavals - the Tuareg rebellion in 2007-09 and the military takeover that ousted former president Mamadou Tandja - all fit into this larger picture. After 1971 uranium exports to France qualified as a "privileged outlet", decided by the two states as part of an agreement on economic co-operation signed in 1961 when Niger gained its independence.When President Nicolas Sarkozy, accompanied by Areva CEO Anne Lauvergeon, visited Niamey in March last year there was no longer any talk of privilege but rather a "win-win partnership". Tandja and his guests celebrated the decision to allow Areva to operate the Imouraren mine, ending a two-year dispute.In 2007, wishing to take advantage of the high price of uranium, Niger scrapped France's monopoly and started granting prospecting rights - 158 so far - to companies from all over the world. The president's inner circle, the main beneficiary of this move, was nevertheless divided. Due to pressure from one of Tandja's sons, under Chinese influence, Areva almost lost Imouraren. Tandja demanded that Paris adopt a firm line on the Tuareg rebels, who wanted a fair share of mining revenue. He also obtained a 50% increase in Areva's payments to Niger.In March 2009, when Tandja was accused by the opposition of wanting to change the constitution so he could stay in power, Sarkozy hailed the regime's "democracy and stability". Reassured by this support, the ageing president dissolved parliament and awarded himself an unlimited term of office, abruptly cut short in February by Lieutenant-General Salou Djibo.The new regime added rules on transparency in the management of mineral resources to the draft constitution up for approval by referendum on 31 October. But some fear that the insecurity caused by al-Qaida and its threat to Areva may compromise the election set for January and the subsequent return to civilian rule.The authorities are keen to reassure foreign mining interests, but are wary of legal provisions they deem contrary to the interests of Niger. "The Niger people wishes to maintain its relations with Areva, providing that resources are exploited in its best interests and that the environmental costs are covered," says Marou Amadou, a former anti-corruption campaigner and now speaker of the transition parliament.He also desires construction of "a civil nuclear power station". "The country is full of uranium," he points out, yet less than one in 10 inhabitants are connected to the power grid.Also: Safety concerns dog uranium minesThis article originally appeared in Le MondeNigerMiningguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
BHP locks horns with Canada over Saskatchewan taxes in Potash bid The deal is opposed by 55% of the residents of Saskatchewan, Potash's home province, as well as the provincial governmentBHP Billiton is prepared to defer by several years about C$2bn (£1.23bn) of tax credits in its hostile bid for Canada's Potash Corporation, the world's biggest fertiliser producer, as it fights to get the deal done in the face of mounting opposition.The Anglo-Australian miner is locked in discussions with the Canadian federal government after Potash's home province of Saskatchewan rejected the $39bn (£24bn) offer, saying the deal would cut local tax revenues by about C$3bn over the next 10 years.The federal government ultimately makes the decision to clear or block the deal, but will be heavily influenced by Saskatchewan, where the deal is opposed by 55% of residents as well as the provincial government.About C$2bn of the losses Saskatchewan is claiming relate to tax credits BHP is due as a incentive for the Jansen plant, a separate potash mine planned to start production in 2015. If it acquires Potash, BHP will be able to transfer the tax credits and claim them early.The other C$1bn of lost tax receipts relates to write-offs that BHP would be able to make from the money it borrows to finance the deal. A spokesman said: "BHP is confident it can address this [Saskatchewan's] concern and ... is prepared to make commitments which go beyond the requirements of prevailing Canadian legislation that should effectively address the tax loss concerns of the province."But Brad Wall, Saskatchewan premier, said: "I still do not see how this BHP takeover of Potash Corp is a net benefit to Saskatchewan. In order for this takeover to be neutral in our view the province would need to see C$3bn come from somewhere."A BHP source said the C$3bn would be made up by deferring the bulk of the Jansen tax credits until after the plant opened.It is understood that BHP has no intention of satisfying additional requests from Saskatchewan, which is asking for a one-off special upfront tax payment of more than C$1bn.BHP BillitonMiningCanadaguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Italian town plans miniskirt ban to preserve 'decency' A seaside city in Italy is planning to ban miniskirts and other revealing clothing to improve what the mayor calls standards of public decency. bbc.co.uk |
What Americans Are Thankful For - Video Despite Bad Economy, Americans Feel Thankful This Year feedproxy.google.com |