My Life on this planet.

Recently, again, some people showed themselves from their smallest side: a few Americans published a video of which they knew some people of the targeted religion would regard it as insulting and become angry and aggressive. In France, a newspaper published in the name of press freedom some cartoons that they knew would be considered insulting to the Islam and its followers; as a result the French government had to remove the freedom to protest and show disapproval for fear of violence. Here I will argue why I think this has nothing to do with press freedom but simply with racism. But of course, the people who agree to become angry with what those racists publish also show themselves from their smallest side by killing innocent people and during the violence they may become a victim themselves (and Gods say that those who want to die for Gods are allowed doing so) . Unfortunately, many innocent people die as well in those attacks. And then there are good politicians and others (the ...

I quickly return to the publication of photos of the Duchess of Cambridge in some magazines. A photographer took photos with a long-distance lens because he was not allowed in the area. The Duchess and her husband are angry and a French court has banned the publication or distribution of the photos. The magazine can't understand the ruling. I don't understand that female editors of newspapers defend the publication of those pictures. E.g. Laurence Pieau, editor of the French magazine Closer that published the photos, says the Duchess is a beautiful woman who is in love and that can be seen in those pictures. Therefore, she reasons she should be able to publish pictures taking at a private place. Also Mrs Delphine Pando, representing Closer, said that topless photographs were no longer considered shocking in modern society. She is right, many women don't mind as long as they can decide for themselves that photos can be published but many other women would disapprove with t...

There is at this moment a war between the Belgian government, i.e. Mr Vande Lanotte (Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy) en Electrabel. Here I write what I understand of the dispute because it involves quite a lot. Electrabel, a company ones owned by the government but now part of Suez-GDF, makes and delivers electricity to companies and the general public. For historical reasons (Electrabel was the only company in Belgium to make electricity owning all infrastructure), the company is still the largest company in Belgium to make electricity and uses a number of methods, including nuclear energy while the decisions are now made in France. Since the law of 31 December 2003 it knows that the nuclear energy in Belgium will be reduced from 2015 onwards until the last nuclear reactor is closed by 2025 (see website ), thus it had a minimum of 12 years to invest in alternative energy. However, over these years the company invested insufficiently in new and clean energy because it ho...

Movement of stars in this 345s shot. During a nice night, I noticed many stars in the sky and decided to take some photos. As it was dark, I needed long exposures, up to 345 s. Using such long recording periods it is possible to show the movement of the Earth because the stars are no longer visible as dots but as curved lines. While taking these pictures, it became quite windy and cloudy and thus I couldn't take that many star pictures but then I tried to capture the clouds. It is quite amasing that, although I live in a city (Brussels), there are still quite a number of stars visible, and then to imaging you can see some many more stars when there is no light. But then, you can capture the glow of the city in the moving clouds. It is a pity I haven't been able to see the Milky Way; I hope to see it one day because it seems is very beautiful and overwhelming. Stars and moving branches (270s) Still, I find these pictures nice: one can see movement in the stars b...

This article is a continuing of my previous publication. Here I will discuss (1) why we need press freedom (it informs and thus is part of the democracy), (2) when should the press publish about things people want to hide from others (to expose illegal activities) and (3) what measures can be taken to prevent the media oversteps invisible but well-known lines so that the public continue to have respect for the media (via control and the threat of punishment). Freedom of the Press is important First of all, like many other people, I like reading newspapers and scientific magazines, much more than reading books (also because I have not much time reading books, therefore I read reviews and commentaries so I know something about newly published books) . They inform me about changes in society and the forces that try to stop these changes. I prefer reading serious newspapers such as " The Guardian " or the BBC-website because they allow the publication of different voices on ...

While working on this article, Prince Harry of the UK was mentioned in the news: pictures were published showing him naked in a hotel room with other people . Buckingham Palace and Prince Charles were not amused. The media in France (and elsewhere) is upset with Mrs Valerie Trierweiler, journalist and partner of the President of France, Mr Hollande, because (according to the media), she is trying to restrict press freedom: Mrs Trierweiler is threatening to go to court if media go ahead publishing beach photos of her and the president. Her actions are different from those of the previous president, Mr Sarkozy and his wife who allowed the publication of "their" beach photos. Of course, it is difficult for media to know whether one person allows the publication of certain pictures or not. And Mrs Trierweiler made it clear she doesn't want it. At this moment also Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Crown-Prince William of the UK, was exposed in a French journa...