The Challenge in Europe

English ??? one language for everybody: a view from Russia
English is the obvious candidate for the role of a single international language, it is an international language already, most elaborate and best adapted to all modern purposes, to the use with computers etc. The drawback of the single-language concept is that non-native English speakers would be disadvantaged. Besides, some small and also great languages create advantages for the bearers because of incomprehensibility for others. Obviously, it is disruptive and contradictory to the interests of the whole mankind. Introduction of English as a sole international language will face an opposition, whereas those, who are most persistent in opposing, will be most disadvantaged in a long run. Theoretically, all problems can be solved under the conditions of égalité and fraternité, if peoples will help each other, and will take no advantages from their numerical growth, from the fact that they are native speakers, that they have oil under earth or grain in the fields etc. If all humans will be brothers, nobody should be deceived any more, and the obvious truth must be clearly said: the concept known today as civilization is largely European civilization, which has presented the rest of the world with modern science and medicine, with democracy and human rights, with sanitation and canalization, extermination of slavery and cannibalism. European civilization evolved, explored and created; only she was able to free her citizens from fears??? and only those who are free from fears can be creative. All other great civilizations tended to stagnate for some reasons. The concluding point is that the first step away from global linguistic nuisance should be introduction of English as a first or second official language in all countries. Russia, welcoming today more and more foreigners as a result of economic growth, must be among the pioneers on this noble way??? otherwise the foreign fellow-citizens, temporary or permanent, will lose themselves in our administrative and legal corridors. S. Jargin (Moscow) http://www.freewebs.com/overpopulation1/

English ??? one language for everybody: a view from Russia

English is the obvious candidate for the role of a single international language, it is an international language already, most elaborate and best adapted to all modern purposes, to the use with computers etc. The drawback of the single-language concept is that non-native English speakers would be disadvantaged. Besides, some small and also great languages create advantages for the bearers because of incomprehensibility for others. Obviously, it is disruptive and contradictory to the interests of the whole mankind. Introduction of English as a sole international language will face an opposition, whereas those, who are most persistent in opposing, will be most disadvantaged in a long run. Theoretically, all problems can be solved under the conditions of égalité and fraternité, if peoples will help each other, and will take no advantages from their numerical growth, from the fact that they are native speakers, that they have oil under earth or grain in the fields etc. If all humans will be brothers, nobody should be deceived any more, and the obvious truth must be clearly said: the concept known today as civilization is largely European civilization, which has presented the rest of the world with modern science and medicine, with democracy and human rights, with sanitation and canalization, extermination of slavery and cannibalism. European civilization evolved, explored and created; only she was able to free her citizens from fears??? and only those who are free from fears can be creative. All other great civilizations tended to stagnate for some reasons. The concluding point is that the first step away from global linguistic nuisance should be introduction of English as a first or second official language in all countries. Russia, welcoming today more and more foreigners as a result of economic growth, must be among the pioneers on this noble way??? otherwise the foreign fellow-citizens, temporary or permanent, will lose themselves in our administrative and legal corridors. S. Jargin (Moscow) http://www.freewebs.com/overpopulation1/

Misquoting of law
According to Russian legislation, if a property, including real estate and securities, has been owned by a taxpayer longer than three years, the amount received on the sale is allowed to be exempted from taxation. This exemption can be arbitrarily denied by fiscal authorities under an invented pretext. A foreign investor should know that, even in the course of simple transactions, he or she can encounter red tape up to misquoting of the Codes of Law by civil servants in their official correspondence. Registered letters from taxpayers can be left without response or embezzled. Objectively presented arguments of the taxpayers are sometimes overtly disregarded. Jargin SV (Moscow) http://www.freewebs.com/overpopulation1/