COP 21, or the hysteria about climate “deregulation”. Back to 2010.

My Orchids. Ascocenda. Photo ET

COP 21, or the hysteria about climate “deregulation”. Back to 2010.

I need to reproduce hereafter myblog from February 8, 2010, in the aftermath of the “Wolrd Conference on Climate Change” in Copenhagen.

Actually not much has changed except some language: we went from global warming to climate change, and now to climate deregulation. Actually I do see some sort of uncertainty creeping into the terminology, from the absolute certainty of warming, to change, and deregulation. The IPCC, the UN body on Climate Change might get as afraid of the collective hysteria they unleashed as of the catastrophe they announced, thanks to their “settled science”.

Maybe some data over the last 6 years showing that IPCC’s detailed catastrophic forecasts for 2015 did not occur, reminded everyone to be more prudent. By now the settled science appears to be more and more junk science that is feeding the news with what appears to be more propaganda than science. By the end of the day, it is about much money. The most telling detail is the concept of “Climate Justice”. This says it all: compensation needs to get paid. To which countries? Well those receiving development aid in the UN’s Millennium Program, who are also often benefiting from UN peace-keeping, or who send out millions of refugees, excuse my language, migrants. Climate Justice will be some kind of promotion in pay for the eternal victims?

If COP 21 should be a success, it should agree on diminishing pollution, and stop the nonsense of Climate Justice and carbon trade. Being effective on pollution is all there should be. The rest is governing, not blaming imaginary scenarios.

Please see here an account and comments about the Copenhagen Conference from 6 years ago:

http://egidethein.blogspot.com/2010/02/global-warming-could-you-please-explain.html

The New York Times and Luxembourg’s nation branding

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The New York Times and Luxembourg’s nation branding

Yesterday’s New York Times carried an article with the title: “Luxembourg Goes in for an Image Makeover”.

As usual the story is well researched, though it may not please everyone in Luxembourg. In the meantime we are working on a slogan to get rid of the bad reputation we garnered over the last decade. The effort will cost $1 million in 2016.

Mario Hirsch is mentioned: “Mario Hirsch, a political scientist, said such marketing campaigns are “made to divert, to keep people from questioning things.”

Alright, may I suggest a slogan: “Luxembourg, we think we are better than you think?” Of course I'd offer a discount.

In plain view and sunlight, scammers are out in Florida

Preying Bird. Photo ET

In plain view and sunlight, scammers are out in Florida

This is what Florida businesses find in their mail, and it is going on for years. Does anyone care and investigate?

Even if this business is providing a service, the service is being offered under false pretense by making their forms confusing enough that they look like they must have come from the government.  They are designed to elicit a quick response from the business person, who doesn’t take the time to read, but senses an urgency to “Respond by” a certain date.  Therefore the target sends money that he or she wouldn’t if time was taken to read and understand what is being offered

BBB looked further into it. Here are their findings:

October 13, 2015

BBB Serving Northeast Florida & the Southeast Atlantic has been inundated with inquiries about a new misleading compliance solicitation scam targeting Florida small business owners. Businesses report receiving a letter that looks to be from a government agency stating that it is a final notice for failure to comply with 2015 labor law requirements.

After a quick investigation BBB has determined that this scam hoping to lure business owners into paying $114.00 to avoid a supposed $17,000 fine from the federal government. The letter is from an entity calling themselves FL Human Resources Compliance, a fictitious name registered to Gesher Enterprises LLC. Both entities are registered to addresses that are UPS Store PO boxes, there is no other contact information provided for FL Human Resources Compliance. The fine print on this final notice letter advises businesses to return the order form to order the required full set of state and federal notices.  

BBB received the following correspondence from a business owner regarding the solicitation she received: “My business is a new business and we have been receiving multiple requests for money from this business to purchase Labor Posters. However, the notice was developed in a way to imply that it is mandatory for us to purchase these posters from them or we could get fined or audited. I feel as if this is a scam to get us to pay them money, when in reality we can attain labor posters through the Department of Labor. I read about similar scams in other states. If they are a legitimate company and print these posters for a cost, they should not be able to try and force companies into buying their products by sending them official looking threatening letters. It is extremely unprofessional.”

Businesses are required by law to display labor law posters and BBB offers this advice for choosing a labor law poster service provider:

• Check with the Better Business Bureau to verify the seller's quality and service standards. Thoroughly investigate any business without a BBB rating, as this may indicate an unproven track record.
• Choose a partner that understands both state and federal laws. Florida businesses have to keep track of up to 11 federal and state postings issued by up to seven agencies.
• Confirm that the seller employs labor law attorneys to interpret regulatory changes.
• Ask for written assurance that the posters meet exact agency specifications for font size, poster size, color and layout.
• Choose a poster provider that guarantees unlimited protection from fines.

- See more at: http://www.bbb.org/north-east-florida/news-events/news-releases/2015/10/bbb-warning-florida-businesses-about-new-misleading-compliance-solicitation/#sthash.GnUU0dGP.dpuf

http://www.bbb.org/north-east-florida/news-events/news-releases/2015/10/bbb-warning-florida-businesses-about-new-misleading-compliance-solicitation/

But wait, there is more

Florida Compliance Scams - Numerous misleading solicitations have been circulating in the state, including a Florida Annual Minutes Solicitation and anAnnual Meeting of Shareholders and Directors solicitation, both sent from an entity called Compliance Services. In addition, a Florida Annual Minutes Requirement Form, is being sent by a company called Corporate Filing Services and one titled“2013 – annual Minutes Form” is being sent by a company called Corporate Records Service. A similar Annual Minutes Form solicitation is being sent by an entity called Business Filing Services and a company called Annual Business Services is also sending this type of solicitation. Several other scams are asking recipients to send in a "Certificate of Status Request form," including one being sent by an entity called United Certificate Services. View samples of these misleading solicitations from Center of Corporations and Florida State Compliance Center and an entity called F.C.F.S. Also, a Corporate Certificate of Status Reminder Notice is being sent by an entity called Florida Corporate Council. The Florida Division of Corporations has placed a notice on its Sunbiz website warning business about these scams. 

Luxembourg’s Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat, BCEE’s tax evasion imbroglio in Germany

My Orchids. Trichopilia "Cornucopia". Photo ET

Luxembourg’s Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat, BCEE’s tax evasion imbroglio in Germany

Though information was sparse since earlier news about a wide leak of banking data at the 100% State owned bank, and therefore AAA rated, came out last week, the German ARD Tagesschau served up amazing details today about the ongoing investigation.

German authorities have acquired data of 54,300 German clients at BCEE. This is the biggest amount of client data leaked from any bank. UBS in the US turned over a small percentage of that number. It agreed to be fined USD 780 million by US authorities in order to forego further problems.

In this case, it is supposed that most account holders evaded German taxes. German investigators showed up with search warrants at a first batch of big account holders, those with accounts of Euros 300,000 and more.

BCEE claims to have acted in total legality. An argument that was also used by Luxembourg authorities defending the tax rulings uncovered by Luxleaks. In this case we might see at a minimum a conflict of law, certainly a huge political fallout, and possibly some sort of a fine in the millions, similar to the ones other German banks in similar situations in Luxembourg had to swallow.

One has to consider the peculiar situation of a fine imposed by the German government on actually the Luxembourg government, owner of BCEE. But that wouldn’t be a first: when BNP-Paribas was fined USD 8.9 billion, the Luxembourg government’s share of the onslaught was 1.04% (its holdings in BNP-Paribas), or USD 92 million. Though this is Luxembourg’s theoretical and invisible share of what the company made as a payment.

The conflict with Germany isn’t the only oddity in this case. The most stunning detail is that the person who tried to sell the data to governments for several million Euros each, showed one half to the Germans, the other half to the French as solid proof of the quality of the data. Both German and French investigators realized that both halves represented the total list. Thus the leaker got leaked and didn’t make a buck. 

After the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Commission destroys the internet

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Photo ET

After the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Commission destroys the internet

So the CJEU has destroyed “Safe Harbor”. Now it seems the amateurs at the European Commission work at widening the chaos. They are bound to succeed, they are good at that.

For what is cooking, please sit down and read this article in Forbes. Enjoy the link as long as you can.

The Luxembourg State Savings Bank BCEE targeted by German Tax authorities

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The Luxembourg State Savings Bank BCEE targeted by German Tax authorities

This story was reported by “Der Spiegel” Friday, and has been widely circulated in the Luxembourg German and French speaking Press, despite the traditional quiet time imposed by the All Saints Day.

In a move that has become a routine, the German Land of North Rhine – Westphalia is reported to have acquired a CD with bank data showing about 50,000 transactions over a total of Euros 70 billion. It is not clear yet that the data all are BCEE data. But the CD has been called of “high quality”. The fact that it was paid Euros 5 million lets suppose that the return on investment will be a high multiple.

The operation is similar to former ones where the Land got access to secret bank data. It is not yet clear if it is also similar to the now classic attack on HSBC Geneva, where Hervé Falciana copied bank data and brought them to the attention of the French authorities.

BCEE reacted to the news calling the operation, if confirmed, a violation of Luxembourg law. It also declares that the bank’s business practices are in compliance with Luxembourg and European regulations.

BCEE Luxembourg is owned 100% by the Luxembourg government. An exceptionally unwelcome situation for the government, not to speak about the inevitable revival of Luxleaks and policies over the last decades.

We'll hear more about this in Luxembourg and Brussels.