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Today in history:June 20

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发表于 2016-7-9 23:21:31 | 显示全部楼层 |阅读模式
  June 20
          John Major calls the currency "hard Ecu"
          1990: Major proposes new Euro currency
          England have
          British Chancellor John Major is proposing a new European currency which
would circulate alongside existing national currencies.
          Mr Major"s plan, to be announced in a speech to German businessmen later,
is a response to European Commission President Jacques DeLores" more radical
proposal for a single currency and European bank.
          The Conservative Government is sceptical about full monetary union and
regards this new proposal as a way of putting forward a genuine alternative.
          It is envisaged that the currency, which Mr Major calls the "hard Ecu",
would be used initially by businesses and tourists, and managed by a new
European monetary fund.
          Although the proposal does not rule out the abolition of national
currencies, it represents a more cautious substitute to Mr DeLores" plan for
economic unity.
          "Without a doubt it"s a victory for common sense."Euro-sceptic Bill Cash MP
said.
          Mr Major said: "What we"re seeking to do is to provide a currency that
those who wish to use it could use, either for business transactions or personal
transactions, without going down the route of a single currency across the whole
of Europe, which we think has enormous difficulties and enormous dangers
too."
          The announcement follows Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher"s comments
earlier this week that she did not believe a commitment to a single currency
would be made in her lifetime.
          Reaction from Conservative MPs was mixed.
          From the Euro-sceptic wing of the party, Bill Cash MP said: "Without a
doubt it"s a victory for common sense, a victory for the prime minister and for
the cabinet, and a victory for Britain."
          But others were disappointed by the plan"s caution, fearing that it might
be perceived as another delaying tactic by Britain"s European neighbours.
          Hugh Dykes MP said: "It seems a pity that always when these proposals are
coming forward we"re always holding back".
          Shell ships use water cannons against Greenpeace activists on board the
rig
          1995: Shell makes dramatic U-turn
          Artificially 1969:
          The Oil giant Shell has given in to international pressure and abandoned
plans to dump its Brent Spar oil rig at sea.
          But the company"s decision, which came just hours before the 14,500-tonne
structure was due to be submerged under the sea off the west coast of Scotland,
has left the government in an embarrassing situation.
          Just yesterday in the House of Commons, Prime Minister John Major was
defending the plans to dispose of the structure 6,000ft (1,828m) under the
sea.
          But a spokesperson for environment group Greenpeace, which has been
campaigning against the proposals for several weeks, hailed Shell"s decision a
victory.
          "It is a victory for us but more importantly it is a victory for all the
people who campaigned against the dumping," she said.
          Marine pollution
          Greenpeace activists claim that dumping the structure under the sea would
release highly toxic chemicals into the water and cause widespread marine
pollution.
          Its ship, the Altair, has been shadowing tugs pulling Brent Spar to its
North Atlantic dumping ground since it set off last week.
          Just three days ago two activists boarded the installation from a
helicopter and vowed to remain "until the death" in an attempt to prevent the
deep-sea disposal going ahead.
          Thousands of British motorists have also boycotted the company"s filling
stations in protest and Shell was forced to call off its environmental awards
ceremony due to be held on 21 June.
          In a statement Shell UK denied that Greenpeace"s actions had forced the
U-turn, but conceded that the company had found itself in an "untenable
position" due to widespread objections from international governments.
          The statement said: "Shell UK has decided to abandon deepwater disposal and
seek from the UK authorities a licence for onshore disposal.
          "Shell UK Ltd still believes that deep water disposal of the Brent Spar is
the best practicable environmental option, which was suported by independent
studies."
          Michael Heseltine, President of the Board of Trade, criticised the company
for relenting.
          He said: "I think they should have kept their nerve and done what they
believed was right."
          The fate of the concrete and steel Brent Spar rig which, for 15 years,
served as a crude oil storage tank and loading buoy, is now unknown.
          But energy minister Tim Eggar warned that the government would not
automatically give permission for it to be broken up on land.
          He said: "If Shell wishes to propose an alternative course of action the
government will consider it.
          "That proposal will have to contain solutions to the problems which led to
the identification of deep sea disposal as the best practicable environmental
option.
          "Until solutions acceptable to the government departments concerned have
been found, no agreement on abandonment will be available."
          Vocabulary:
          oil rig : (石油钻塔)
          submerge: to cover with water; inundate(浸没;淹没)
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